Strategic IT Sourcing & Vendor Lead

Aston Carter; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Rx plans

Vision coverage

Dental plan

401k match

Paid time off

Life/AD&D insurance

Mental health resources

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Gym membership discounts

Job summary

Aston Carter partners with a growing organization to hire an IT Category Specialist II in Minneapolis, MN. You will lead IT procurement efforts, develop sourcing strategies, negotiate contracts, and build strong supplier relationships to drive cost savings.

In this direct-hire role, you’ll collaborate with engineering, operations, and business teams to optimize spending, monitor market trends, and deliver measurable sourcing results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and 4+ years in procurement, sourcing, category management, or IT procurement.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and strong negotiation/strategic sourcing skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive cross-team projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for IT-related categories.
• Build and maintain strong supplier and vendor relationships.
• Support contract negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Monitor supplier performance, cost trends, and market conditions.
• Analyze spend and identify opportunities for cost reduction and process improvements.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and business teams.
• Support forecasting, financial reviews, and reporting activities.
• Evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO) and supplier value.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Organization

Problem-solving

Vendor relationships

Procurement experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Job description

Aston Carter partners with a growing organization to hire an IT Category Specialist II in Minneapolis, MN. You will lead IT procurement efforts, develop sourcing strategies, negotiate contracts, and build strong supplier relationships to drive cost savings.

In this direct-hire role, you’ll collaborate with engineering, operations, and business teams to optimize spending, monitor market trends, and deliver measurable sourcing results.