Lead Category Manager – Software

Kelly; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

401(k)

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Well-being programs

Job summary

Kelly is seeking a Lead Category Manager – Software to join a Fortune 500 manufacturing organization on a direct-hire basis. The role focuses on leading strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier management, and procurement operations within a global IT environment.

The ideal candidate has 9+ years in procurement with a strong software focus, and the ability to drive multi-year savings while collaborating with IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of procurement experience in a complex, global environment.
• 5+ years of hands-on IT technology category experience with SOFTWARE PROCUREMENT.
• Experience negotiating software agreements including licensing, renewals, pricing and multi-year terms.
• Understanding of software procurement lifecycle from demand forecasting to supplier management.
• Experience managing software publishers, vendors, and VARs/resellers.
• Proven ability to drive measurable savings and improvements.
• Leadership and cross-functional collaboration across IT, Finance, Legal, and Cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex software contract renewals and negotiations with stakeholders.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing across the software category.
• Manage software publishers, vendors, and VAR relationships for value and compliance.
• Provide escalation leadership for IT software procurement escalations to VIP stakeholders.
• Guide procurement operations with contract reviews, approvals, and governance.
• Collaborate with IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity and business teams to align strategies.
• Create detailed financial, pricing, usage, and supplier analytics to support decisions.

Skills

Software procurement

IT category management

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Sourcing strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/IT/CS/Engineering

MBA preferred

Job description

Kelly is seeking a Lead Category Manager – Software to join a global Fortune 500 manufacturing organization on a direct-hire basis. This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced software procurement/category management professional to lead strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, supplier management, and procurement operations within a complex global IT environment.

Strong software procurement/category management experience is required. Candidates whose background is primarily in general IT procurement, hardware, infrastructure, or IT services without significant software experience will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Software Contract Renewals: Lead complex software contract renewals and negotiations from usage and demand forecasting through contract execution. Partner with senior IT stakeholders and advisory partners to optimize licensing, pricing, commercial terms, and multi-year savings.
• Software Strategic Sourcing: Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives across the software category, including supplier evaluation, competitive bidding, negotiations, contract awards, implementation, governance, compliance, and supplier relationship management (SRM).
• Software Vendor & VAR Management: Manage software publishers, vendors, and VAR/reseller relationships while driving commercial value, supplier performance, and contract compliance.
• IT Escalation Leadership: Serve as a central point of contact for escalations involving the Managed Services Provider and internal IT Software Procurement team. Provide high-touch support for C-suite and other VIP stakeholders when required.
• Contract Management & Procurement Operations: Lead and support the IT Software Procurement team through contract review, approvals, tracking, administration, and execution. Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, SOPs, and overall procurement effectiveness.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business stakeholders to align software procurement strategies with business and technology requirements.
• Analytics & Reporting: Develop and maintain detailed financial, pricing, usage, savings, and supplier analytics to support decision-making and demonstrate measurable procurement results.

Required Qualifications

• 9+ years of procurement experience, including strategic sourcing and contract management within a complex, global, corporate environment.
• 5+ years of hands-on IT technology category experience, with a strong focus on SOFTWARE PROCUREMENT required.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating software agreements, including software licensing, renewals, commercial terms, pricing, usage, and multi-year contracts.
• Strong understanding of the software procurement lifecycle, from demand/usage forecasting and sourcing through negotiation, contracting, implementation, and ongoing supplier management.
• Experience managing software publishers, vendors, and VARs/resellers.
• Proven ability to manage complex negotiations and deliver measurable savings and commercial improvements.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management experience across IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business teams.
• Proven leadership and transformation experience, with the ability to operate independently and make an immediate impact with minimal ramp-up.
• Strong contract negotiation and contract interpretation skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Strategy, Finance, IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Legal, or another quantitative discipline required; MBA preferred.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take a high-visibility leadership role in software procurement within a globally recognized Fortune 500 organization. You’ll work across IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business functions while directly influencing software spend, supplier strategy, contract outcomes, and procurement transformation.

Benefits include:

Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and additional programs supporting employee well-being.