Strategic Construction Procurement Lead

Cushman & Wakefield; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 119,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield in Nashville is seeking a Senior Category Manager for PDS/P&P to develop and execute category strategies for construction and capital projects. You will lead sourcing, negotiations, supplier relationships, and data-driven value realization to support client delivery and program outcomes.

The ideal candidate has deep procurement experience in construction, strong stakeholder engagement, and a proven track record of improving savings, compliance, and project delivery in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field preferred.
• 10 years of construction and project development services experience, including 3 years in procurement category management, with deep expertise in construction and capital projects sourcing, pricing models, and labor/material benchmarking.
• Knowledge of supplier risk management practices
• Ability to train, mentor, and support internal stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify and resolve issues related to capital programs and construction projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative strategies and practical solutions
• Experience with contract negotiation and ongoing contract management
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on efficiency and value creation
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to work effectively in a dynamic environment
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and drive results
• Strong business acumen and ability to navigate a matrixed organization
• Effective presentation, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong active listening and interpersonal skills
• Strong proficiency with MS Office Suite (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for PDS and P&P that align with Procurement priorities, stakeholder needs, and business objectives.
• Partner with Procurement business partners, service line leadership, and account teams to translate category strategies into actionable plans that support client delivery and operational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to standardize approaches, improve category adoption, and enhance the value Procurement brings to capital projects and program delivery.
• Lead strategic sourcing activities, supplier selection, and competitive processes to support cost-effective, high-quality solutions for clients and the business.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing structures, and contractual arrangements that balance client needs, business objectives, and category strategy.
• Support the development of procurement playbooks, negotiation approaches, and procurement guidance that enable consistent execution across projects and teams.
• Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: manage preferred supplier relationships and utilization strategies to strengthen program coverage, improve consistency, and support service line delivery across portfolios.
• Monitor supplier performance and collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to address issues, improve outcomes, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support supplier governance activities, including adoption of preferred supplier programs, performance oversight, and alignment to stakeholder and client expectations.
• Analytics, Reporting & Value Realization: leverage spend analytics, benchmarking, and market intelligence to identify opportunities, measure category performance, and support informed decision-making.
• Develop and maintain reporting that tracks supplier performance, category opportunities, and business impact, including savings and value delivery where applicable.
• Use data-driven insights and benchmarking tools to support project teams, strengthen category strategies, and demonstrate Procurement’s contribution to client and business outcomes.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier relations

Stakeholder engagement

Contract negotiation

Analytics & reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

Cushman & Wakefield in Nashville is seeking a Senior Category Manager for PDS/P&P to develop and execute category strategies for construction and capital projects. You will lead sourcing, negotiations, supplier relationships, and data-driven value realization to support client delivery and program outcomes.

The ideal candidate has deep procurement experience in construction, strong stakeholder engagement, and a proven track record of improving savings, compliance, and project delivery in a