Principal, Procurement Category Management, Technology

Nike; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. is seeking a Principal, Category Management to turn technology spend into enterprise value and shape category strategies for hardware and software. You will leverage market intelligence and AI tools to deliver measurable business value, partnering with Global Technology and Finance.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, long-term portfolio ownership, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while raising the team's capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or related field.
• 8+ years in technology category management and strategic sourcing.
• Proven success building category strategies and multi-year hardware/software agreements.
• CPSM or CIPS certification preferred.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen; experience with AI tools like Copilot.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain hardware and software category strategies.
• Lead stakeholder engagement with Global Technology and Tech Finance.
• Build and prioritize the sourcing pipeline through competitive events.
• Define supplier strategies and manage strategic supplier relationships.
• Track market shifts and AI tech insights for leverage.
• Prepare leadership-ready category updates for executives.
• Leverage AI tools to analyze contracts and pricing.

Skills

Category management

Sourcing

Negotiation

Financial acumen

AI tools (Copilot)

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Nike’s Technology Procurement team manages the hardware and software categories that power Nike’s digital and physical experiences. This Principal reports to the Director, Procurement, Technology and partners with Global Technology, Tech Finance, Legal and Sourcing. The team is small, ambitious and building a category-led, AI-enabled procurement model.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike is looking for a Principal, Category Management who can turn technology spend into enterprise value. This person pairs market intelligence with business insight to shape demand, define category and supplier strategies, and build a prioritized pipeline before sourcing begins. They bring deep category management experience across hardware and software, supported by strong sourcing, negotiation, commercial and financial acumen. They are curious, persistent and comfortable navigating ambiguity, bringing structure where a playbook does not yet exist.

As a trusted advisor, they build strong stakeholder partnerships and focus on measurable business value, not simply savings. They also use artificial intelligence tools such as Microsoft Copilot to sharpen analysis, accelerate research and improve deliverables. This is a strategic category leadership role for someone who wants to own a portfolio for the long term and raise the bar for the team.

The candidate will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• 8+ years of experience in technology category management and strategic sourcing, with category management as a primary focus.
• Proven success building category strategies and negotiating complex, multi-year agreements across hardware and software, including infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, plus hands-on use of artificial intelligence tools such as Microsoft Copilot for analysis, research and deliverables.
• Professional procurement certification such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) preferred.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You’ll own a portfolio of technology hardware and software categories end to end. You’ll partner with leaders who rely on your judgment, set the long-term strategy for how Nike buys technology and help shape how a modern, AI-enabled procurement team works.

• Develop and maintain hardware and software category strategies, bringing together spend and demand insights, supplier landscape assessments and buying channel recommendations.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and category planning with Global Technology and Tech Finance to align priorities, manage demand and support business objectives.
• Build and prioritize the sourcing pipeline, then partner with the Sourcing team as initiatives move into competitive events, negotiations and contracting.
• Define supplier strategies and own strategic supplier relationships across infrastructure, artificial intelligence and enterprise software, holding partners accountable throughout each agreement.
• Track market shifts, pricing models and emerging technology, especially artificial intelligence, and turn those insights into leverage and options for Nike.
• Prepare clear, leadership-ready recommendations and category updates for senior executives.
• Use artificial intelligence tools to analyze contracts, benchmark pricing and move faster, while helping the team grow by sharing playbooks and testing new ways of working.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.