Principal Category Manager

Alliant Credit Union; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Work from home up to 3 days a week

Education reimbursement

11 paid holidays

401k with employer match

Job summary

Alliant Credit Union is seeking a procurement leader to drive end-to-end strategic sourcing, category management, and contract management across technology spend, including SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, telecommunications, and managed services.

You will develop multi-year category plans, advise executives on supplier markets, shape demand, evaluate alternatives, and lead RFIs/RFPs to optimize value while ensuring compliance with policies and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum a 4-year bachelor's degree in Finance or related field.
• 7+ years in strategic sourcing, vendor management, contracting and category management for IT products/services or related.
• Experience with software licensing, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category management and strategic sourcing strategies for technology spend.
• Create multi-year category plans driving supplier innovation, cost optimization and value.
• Advise departments on supplier markets, emerging technologies, and sourcing strategies.
• Partner with business leaders to shape demand and influence purchasing decisions.
• Analyze spend and total cost of ownership to identify savings and supplier optimization.
• Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs and supplier evaluations for technology products/services.
• Negotiate software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, AI and managed services agreements.
• Own category performance targets including savings and cost avoidance.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, regulatory requirements and contract lifecycle processes.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Vendor management

Contract management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance or related

Job description

Support the procurement strategy by actively leading the end-to-end strategic sourcing, category management, and contract management processes. Strategic sourcing duties include spend and market analysis, business requirements identification, sourcing event execution, contract negotiations, contract execution support, renewals, terminations, spend analysis, reporting, and end-user support focusing primarily on SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, telecommunications, and managed services.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category management and strategic sourcing strategies for assigned technology spend categories, aligning decisions with business objectives, risk appetite, and financial goals
• Create and maintain multi-year category plans that drive supplier innovation, value creation, cost optimization, and operational effectiveness
• Serve as a strategic advisor to departments such as technology and executive leadership regarding supplier markets, emerging technologies, software licensing models, workforce trends, and sourcing strategies
• Partner with business leaders to shape demand, challenge requirements, evaluate alternatives, and influence purchasing decisions to maximize business value
• Analyze spend, supplier markets, and total cost of ownership to identify savings, cost avoidance, efficiency improvements, and supplier optimization opportunities
• Develop and present sourcing strategies, business cases, supplier recommendations, and executive-level decision materials
• Lead complex sourcing initiatives, including RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, and competitive bid events for technology products and services
• Negotiate enterprise software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, consulting, and managed services agreements to achieve favorable commercial, contractual, and risk outcomes
• Own category performance and value delivery objectives, including savings, cost avoidance and supplier optimization targets
• Assess and mitigate commercial, operational, security, privacy, regulatory, and third-party risks in collaboration with legal, information security, compliance, and risk management teams
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contract management standards, regulatory requirements, and contract lifecycle management processes while maintaining data integrity
• Lead cross-functional sourcing efforts, represent procurement on enterprise initiatives, and mentor procurement professionals on category management, supplier strategy, and negotiation best practices

Education & Years Of Experience

• Minimum- 4 Year Bachelors Degree in Finance or related
• Minimum- 7 Years Strategic sourcing, vendor management, contracting and category management, IT products and services or related

In Lieu of Education

• 10 Years Strategic sourcing, vendor management, contracting and category management, IT products and services or related

Compensation & Benefits

Typical hiring range: $95,100.00 to $163,100.00 Annually. Actual compensation will be determined using factors such as experience, skills & knowledge.

Benefits: Alliant provides a benefits package including health care, vision, dental, and 401k with employer match including:

• Annual performance bonus
• Work from home up to 3 days a week
• Paid parental leave
• Employee discount programs
• Time off including paid personal and sick days
• 11 paid holidays
• Education reimbursement
• Note that eligibility and cost of benefits can vary depending on the number of regularly scheduled hours, and job status such as regular full-time, regular part-time, or temporary employment.

Adhere to and ensure compliance of all business transactions with policy and process of the Bank Secrecy Act. Ensures compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, company procedures and policies. Maintains integrity and ethics in all actions and conversations with or regarding credit union members and their accounts; complies with Privacy Act directives.

The responsibilities listed do not contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.