IT Category Manager

Axalta; Glen Mills (Delaware County); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Axalta is seeking an IT Category Manager, Global Procurement. The role focuses on developing IT category strategies, negotiating software and cloud contracts, and aligning with IT partners across the globe to optimize spend and value.

The successful candidate will lead major vendor negotiations, maintain expertise in global supply markets, and collaborate with Legal, InfoSec and Privacy to mitigate risks while achieving best deals for the company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business management or supply chain management is required; MBA preferred.
• 5–10 years IT software procurement experience including contract negotiation and red-lining.
• Proven success negotiating large enterprise software agreements (SAP, Microsoft, Workday, ServiceNow) and niche contracts.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence across levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement IT category strategies to optimize company spend and drive business efficiencies.
• Build relationships with internal IT partners to understand global spend and improve value for money.
• Plan and execute negotiation strategies with vendors, including financial analysis and needs assessment.
• Lead contract negotiations for software and cloud services.
• Develop knowledge of global supply markets, competitors and product innovations.
• Ensure adherence to IT protocols and guidelines.
• Advise stakeholders to align strategy, needs, and timing for best deals.
• Collaborate with IT planning for RFPs, renewals, and new initiatives.
• Collaborate with Legal, InfoSec, Privacy to mitigate risks and ensure policy compliance.
• Own category accountability and track savings and competitive events as source of truth.
• Partner with IT Procurement peers to ensure cohesion.

Skills

IT software procurement

Software negotiations

Customer focus

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Procurement best practices

Ariba

Professionalism

Adaptability

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor's degree in business management, supply chain management, or equivalent field

MBA

Job description

• Develop and implement IT category strategies to optimize company spend and drive business efficiencies.


• Build strong relationships with the internal IT business partners to understand the global spend and identify opportunities to increase quality and improve value for money.


• Plan and execute effective negotiation strategies and competitive processes with vendors to best position the company for success, including financial analysis and business needs assessment.


• Lead contract negotiations with major vendors for Software and Cloud services.


• Develop and maintain expert knowledge of respective global supply markets, competitors and product innovations.


• Excellent understanding of IT protocols and guidelines.


• Act as a trusted advisor to relevant stakeholders (e.g. Business, IT) to ensure alignment on strategy, support needed, and timing of best deals and outcomes for the company.


• Collaborate with IT stakeholders on strategic planning efforts in support of both IT and company-wide objectives (e.g. RFPs to be launched in the following year, renewal negotiation timing depending on complexity, and net new initiatives/projects).


• Collaborate with company matrix partners (e.g. Legal, Information Security, Privacy) to ensure best deals and outcomes are realized by the company in compliance with company policies while mitigating any related risks.


• Own accountability of categories assigned that leverage the company as the source in tooling contracts to track savings and competitive events as the source of truth.


• Partner with peers in the IT Procurement team and across Procurement to ensure cohesion.

Job Title

IT Category Manager, Global Procurement

Position Description

Open to fully remote candidates.

Roles Responsibilities

• Develop and implement IT category strategies to optimize company spend and drive business efficiencies.


• Build strong relationships with the internal IT business partners to understand the global spend and identify opportunities to increase quality and improve value for money.


• Plan and execute effective negotiation strategies and competitive processes with vendors to best position the company for success, including financial analysis and business needs assessment.


• Lead contract negotiations with major vendors for Software and Cloud services.


• Develop and maintain expert knowledge of respective global supply markets, competitors and product innovations.


• Excellent understanding of IT protocols and guidelines.


• Act as a trusted advisor to relevant stakeholders (e.g. Business, IT) to ensure alignment on strategy, support needed, and timing of best deals and outcomes for the company.


• Collaborate with IT stakeholders on strategic planning efforts in support of both IT and company-wide objectives (e.g. RFPs to be launched in the following year, renewal negotiation timing depending on complexity, and net new initiatives/projects).


• Collaborate with company matrix partners (e.g. Legal, Information Security, Privacy) to ensure best deals and outcomes are realized by the company in compliance with company policies while mitigating any related risks.


• Own accountability of categories assigned that leverage the company as the source in tooling contracts to track savings and competitive events as the source of truth.


• Partner with peers in the IT Procurement team and across Procurement to ensure cohesion.

Skills

• Experience managing at least $50M contract spend.


• Bachelor's degree in business management, supply chain management, or equivalent field required with MBA preferred.


• Minimum of 5-10 years IT software procurement background inclusive of contract negotiation and red-lining experience (e.g. master agreements, statements of work, orders).


• Demonstrated success negotiating both large enterprise software agreements (e.g., SAP, Microsoft, Workday, ServiceNow) and niche software contracts.


• Customer-centric attitude with prior success integrating services with stakeholders and aligning strategies.


• Exceptional written, communication and presentation skills.


• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence others at all levels of the organization.


• Proven planning, organizational, analytical, and financial skills.


• Strong understanding of Procurement and Supply Chain best practices.


• Experience with Ariba Procurement tooling a plus.


• Credible, respected, and respectful to company members and suppliers at all levels.


• Confidence amidst ambiguity navigating across a dynamic environment to meet critical milestones and deliverables.


• Self-starter and able to work independently.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in business management, supply chain management, or equivalent field required.


• MBA preferred.