Strategic Category Manager, Employee Benefits & Services

Confidential; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential is seeking an experienced procurement professional to lead sourcing and category management for employee benefits and HR‑related services in Chicago. The role focuses on delivering savings and optimizing supplier performance across health and welfare programs, retirement and benefits administration, and wellness initiatives.

You will partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and other stakeholders to drive strategic sourcing events and improve service levels while managing risk and contract

Qualifications

• 4+ years of procurement or strategic sourcing experience.
• Hands on sourcing experience within employee benefits categories.
• Strong experience leading competitive sourcing events and supplier negotiations.
• Experience supporting Health & Welfare Benefits, Retirement & Pension Programs, Benefits Administration, Employee Wellness Programs, Insurance Benefits, Flexible Benefits Platforms, Global Benefits Programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing initiatives across employee benefits and workforce service categories.
• Develop category strategies and supplier optimization plans.
• Manage competitive sourcing events including RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs.
• Conduct supplier evaluations, market assessments, and commercial analyses.
• Negotiate pricing, service levels, contractual terms, and risk provisions.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders.
• Deliver savings, process improvements, and supplier performance enhancements.

Skills

Procurement

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Category strategy

Negotiations

Job description

We are seeking an experienced procurement professional to lead sourcing and category management initiatives across employee benefits and workforce-related service categories.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in supplier management, strategic sourcing, commercial negotiations, and category strategy development within employee benefits and HR-related services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing initiatives across employee benefits and workforce service categories.
• Develop category strategies and supplier optimization plans.
• Manage competitive sourcing events including RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs.
• Conduct supplier evaluations, market assessments, and commercial analyses.
• Negotiate pricing, service levels, contractual terms, and risk provisions.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders.
• Deliver savings, process improvements, and supplier performance enhancements.

Required Experience

• 4+ years of procurement or strategic sourcing experience.
• Hands on sourcing experience within employee benefits categories.
• Strong experience leading competitive sourcing events and supplier negotiations.
• Experience supporting one or more of: Health & Welfare Benefits, Retirement & Pension Programs, Benefits Administration, Employee Wellness Programs, Insurance Benefits, Flexible Benefits Platforms, Global Benefits Programs.