Sr. Manager, Category Management (Indirect)

Industrialinnovationfund; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in AI-powered robotic technology is seeking a Senior Manager for Category Management. This strategic role focuses on sourcing for IT and contingent labor, emphasizing innovative solutions that drive operational excellence. Candidates should have extensive experience in strategic sourcing, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage cross-functional teams effectively. Join a community of innovators committed to redefining the supply chain.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in strategic sourcing or category management.
• 3+ years focused on IT or contingent labor.
• Experience in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing strategies for IT and contingent labor.
• Conduct market research and supplier segmentation.
• Lead RFx processes and contract negotiations.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical Skills

Stakeholder Management

Procurement Best Practices

Data Visualization

Education

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

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Who we are

With its AI-powered robotic technology platform, Symbotic is transforming the way consumer goods move through the supply chain. Our intelligent software orchestrates advanced robots in a high-density, end-to-end system—revolutionizing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed, and flexibility.

What we need

Symbotic is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Manager, Category Management, to lead sourcing strategy and supplier management for critical indirect spend categories. This role will focus on enterprise IT (software, hardware, cloud services) and contingent labor/staff augmentation. You will collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders in IT, HR, Finance, Legal, and Engineering to ensure scalable, cost-effective, and agile sourcing solutions that enable innovation, speed, and operational excellence.

What we do

Our global sourcing, procurement, and third-party supplier team develop innovative category management strategies in collaboration with the business. The team emphasizes strategic third-party partner agreements and supports supplier relationship management, including commercial and financial pricing models to optimize overall supplier performance.

What you’ll do

• Develop and execute end-to-end category strategies for IT and contingent labor, aligning with business goals and scaling initiatives.
• Conduct market research, supplier segmentation, and benchmarking to inform sourcing decisions.
• Identify and drive cost savings and value creation opportunities via competitive bidding, supplier consolidation, contract optimization, and demand management.
• Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships to ensure performance, service delivery, innovation, and alignment with company goals.
• Lead RFx processes (RFI, RFP, RFQ), contract negotiations, and vendor renewals for assigned categories.
• Partner with internal teams to evaluate supplier performance through KPIs, SLAs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with IT leadership on sourcing enterprise software, SaaS platforms, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and professional services.
• Partner with HR and Engineering to manage sourcing strategies for contingent labor, including technical, operational, and project-based roles.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Security, and Risk to ensure vendor compliance with regulatory, privacy, and cybersecurity standards.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and internal consultant on category management and procurement best practices.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives and influence decision-making at senior levels.
• Mentor and guide junior team members or project contributors as needed.

What you’ll need

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, IT, Human Resources, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, with 3+ years focused on IT and/or contingent labor.
• Experience in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment (automation, robotics, or industrial tech preferred).
• Strong expertise in IT procurement models (e.g., SaaS, cloud licensing, infrastructure) and staff augmentation practices.
• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in ERP and eProcurement systems (e.g., SAP), and contract lifecycle management tools.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau is a plus.

Our Environment

• Up to 10% travel may be required. Employees must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive and/or fly to client and other locations.
• The employee is responsible for owning a credit card and managing expenses personally for reimbursement on a bi-weekly basis.

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About Symbotic

Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its AI-powered robotic and software platform. We reinvent the warehouse as a strategic asset for major retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Using next-gen technology, high-density storage, and machine learning, Symbotic addresses complex distribution challenges, enabling companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy, and efficiency. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com.

We are a community of innovators, collaborators, and pioneers who embrace our differences, because we know diverse perspectives make us stronger and smarter. Every voice matters. We depend on our employees, customers, and community to help us build a better workplace—and a better world. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or genetic information.