Lead Category Manager - IT Software

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.; Towson (MD); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k)

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Tuition reimbursement

Tool discounts

Job summary

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. is hiring a Lead Category Manager - IT Software for a hybrid role across IT procurement and strategic sourcing.

You will negotiate software contracts, guide category initiatives, and manage vendor relations with IT, Finance, Legal, and Cybersecurity. With 5+ years in procurement and 3+ years in IT software, you’ll drive savings, governance, and continuous improvement using strong Excel and negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement/strategic sourcing experience.
• 3+ years of IT software category experience.
• Experience with vendor management and negotiations.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a quantitative field.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate IT contract renewals with IT stakeholders and advisory partners.
• Manage software category initiatives from usage forecasting through contract execution.
• Execute strategic sourcing initiatives including vendor evaluations, negotiations/awards, contract management and supplier analytics.
• Support IT procurement escalations and work with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and MSPs to resolve issues.

Skills

Procurement experience

IT software knowledge

VAR/reseller management

Stakeholder management

Independent project management

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Excel proficiency

Contract negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/IT/Engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

Lead Category Manager - IT Software – Hybrid

Charlotte, NC USA

Towson, MD USA

New Britain, CT USA

Valley City, OH USA

Come build something that matters.

It takes great people to achieve greatness. People with a sense of purpose and integrity. People with a relentless pursuit of excellence. People who care about making things better For Those Who Make The World™. Sound like you? Join our top-notch team of approximately 43,500 diverse and high-performing professionals globally who are making their mark on some of the world’s most beloved brands, including DEWALT®, BLACK+DECKER®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, CUB CADET®, and HUSTLER®.

The Job:

As a Lead Category Manager - IT Software, you’ll be part of our Global Supply Chain Sourcing team working as a hybrid employee. You’ll get to:

• Negotiate IT Contract Renewals: Manage and support contract negotiations, including contract/license management, in partnership with IT stakeholders and advisory partners.
• Manage assigned Software category initiatives from usage forecasting through contract execution, including savings and detailed tracking.
• Strategic Sourcing: Execute assigned strategic sourcing initiatives, including vendor evaluations, negotiations/awards, contract management, supplier relationship management, implementation, governance/compliance, and procurement business operations (e.g., approvals, supplier analytics, reporting, etc.).
• IT Escalation Support: Support IT procurement escalations and work with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and Managed Service Providers to resolve assigned issues. Escalate complex or high‑risk matters to senior category leadership as appropriate.
• IT Day-to-Day Contract Management Operations: Execute and support IT Software Procurement activities through contract review, approvals, detailed/tactical tracking, and administration while supporting SOP and continuous‑improvement initiatives.

The Person:

You love to learn and grow and be acknowledged for your valuable contributions. You’re not intimidated by innovation. Wouldn’t it be great if you could do your job and do a world of good? In fact, you embrace it. You also have:

• 5+ years of Procurement (Strategic Sourcing, Contract Management) experience with strategic sourcing initiatives and/or a corporate environment preferred.
• 3+ years of IT Technology category experience (software, IT‑related labor) preferred, with software sourcing experience strongly preferred.
• VAR/reseller management experience.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management across IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business teams.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage assigned sourcing initiatives, prioritize workload, and drive activities through completion.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Strategy, Finance, IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Legal, or other quantitative discipline. Advanced degree a plus.
• Strong proficiency in Excel and demonstrated contract negotiation capabilities.

The Details:

You’ll receive a competitive salary and a great benefits plan, including:

• Medical, dental, life, vision, disability, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement in addition to programs & benefits in support of your well‑being.
• Discounts on Stanley Black & Decker tools and other partner programs.

And More:

We want our company to be a place you’ll want to be – and stay. Being part of our team means you’ll get to:

• Grow: Be part of our global company with 20+ brands to grow and develop your skills along multiple career paths.
• Learn: Have access to a wealth of learning resources, including our digital learning portal.
• Belong: Experience an awesome place to work, where we have mutual respect and a great appreciation for a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
• Give Back: Help us continue to make positive changes locally and globally through volunteerism, giving back, and sustainable business practices.

What’s more, you’ll get that pride that comes from empowering makers, doers, protectors, and everyday heroes all over the world. We’re more than the #1 tools company. More than a driving force in outdoor power equipment. More than a global leader in industrial. We’re visionaries and innovators. As successful as we’ve been in the past, we have so much further to go. That’s where you come in. Join us!

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship (H1B, OPT/CPT, TN etc).

The Salary range for this position is $77,600.00 - $124,900.00

• This is the lowest to highest annual full‑time salary range we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. The salary offered within the range may vary depending on multiple factors including job level, geographic location, job‑related knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience and in compliance with local wage requirements. Please note that salary is only one component of total rewards at Stanley Black & Decker.
• The salary range listed in this job posting reflects the range for the primary location specified. The salary range may vary for other locations.
• The successful candidate may be eligible for annual merit increases.
• Medical, dental, life, vision, disability,401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement in addition to programs & benefits in support of your well‑being.
• Discounts on Stanley Black & Decker tool sand other partner programs.

We Don’t Just Build The World, We Build Innovative Technology Too.

Joining the Stanley Black & Decker team means working in an innovative, tech‑driven and highly collaborative team environment supported by over 43,500 professionals in 60 countries across the globe. Here, you’ll get the unique chance to impact some of the world’s most iconic brands including STANLEY TOOLS, DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, MAC TOOLS and Black + Decker. Your ideas and solutions have the potential to reach millions of customers as we work together to write the next chapter in our history. Come build with us and take your career to new heights.

Who We Are

We’re the World’s largest tool company. We’re industry visionaries. We’re solving problems and advancing the manufacturing trade through innovative technology and our Industry 4.0 Initiative. We are committed to ensuring our state‑of‑the‑art “smart factory” products and services provide greater quality to our customers & greater environmental and social value to our planet. We are unique in that we have a rich and storied history dating back to 1843, but that hasn't stopped us from evolving into a vibrant, diverse, global growth company.

What You’ll Also Get

Career Opportunity: Career paths aren’t linear here. Being part of our global company with 60+ brands gives you the chance to grow and develop your skills along multiple career paths.

Benefits & Perks

You’ll get a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits plan that includes medical, dental, life, vision, wellness program, disability, retirement benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Paid Time Off, including paid vacation, holidays & personal days, and tuition reimbursement. And, of course, discounts on Stanley Black & Decker tools and products and well as discount programs for many other vendors and partners.

Learning & Development:

Our lifelong learning philosophy means you’ll have access to a wealth of state‑of‑the‑art learning resources, including our Lean Academy and online university (where you can get certificates and specializations from renowned colleges and universities).

Diverse & Inclusive Culture:

We pride ourselves on being an awesome place to work. We respect and embrace differences because that’s how the best work gets done. You’ll find we like to have fun here, too.

Purpose-Driven Company:

You’ll help us continue to make positive changes in the local communities where we work and live as well as in the broader world through volunteerism, giving back and sustainable business practices.

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants to Stanley Black & Decker are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran’s status or any other protected characteristic.

Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov)

This employer participates in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program. Applicants may be asked to voluntarily provide information to determine eligibility. Any information provided will be kept confidentially other than as required to make the necessary WOTC disclosures and in accordance with applicable laws.