Procurement Category Manager - Technology

PEAK6; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Competitive PTO

401k match

Parental leave

HSA match

Calm app subscription

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Apex Fintech Solutions is seeking a Sourcing Category Manager to own the technology category within Procurement. You will manage SaaS, hardware, and IT services, building partnerships with technology leaders to shape Apex's tech landscape and drive cost savings.

This role offers a hybrid schedule with the Chicago office, expects proactive renewal management, KPI-driven vendor oversight, and collaboration with InfoSec, FP&A, and Legal to optimize term negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Own the technology category end-to-end—Software/SaaS, Hardware, and IT services.
• Lead competitive sourcing events, contract negotiations, and renewals.
• Develop category strategies aligning spend with Apex's tech roadmap.
• Leverage benchmarking tools to validate pricing and cost optimization.
• Drive 90-day advance renewal engagement—assess need, usage, options.
• Manage a pipeline of technology renewals and prioritize high-value contracts.
• Identify rightsizing opportunities during organizational changes.
• Build trusted advisory relationships with technology leadership.
• Lead category reviews (biweekly for Software; monthly for others).
• Establish quarterly business reviews with top technology vendors.
• Collaborate with InfoSec, FP&A, and Legal across lifecycle.
• Contribute to procurement KPIs, savings methods, and reporting cadence.
• Use AI-powered tools for benchmarking, renewal prep, and vendor intel.

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Apex Fintech Solutions (Apex) powers innovation and the future of digital wealth management by building tech-forward solutions that help simplify, automate, and facilitate access to financial markets for all. Our robust suite of fintech software enables us to support clients such as Stash, Betterment, SoFi, Webull, and eToro, amongst many others; collectively, Apex powers access to the stock market for over 22+ million end customers. At Apex, we are changing how the securities industry operates by reinventing the status quo, which was manual, slow, and accessible only by the ultra-wealthy. We're digitizing and democratizing systems so that everyone has an opportunity to invest. When you're at Apex, you drive this change. You're part of a global team with a clear vision: to be the trusted technology that powers the digital economy. Our offices in Austin, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Portland, Belfast, and Manila are home to over 1,000 employees. Together, we’re shaping the future of financial innovation. Embrace change. Solve big. Win together. And be G.R.E.A.T. — grit, results, empathy, accountability, and teamwork — with Apex. We’re proud to be recognized for the innovative work we do, the purpose-driven nature of our work, and the collaborative culture we’ve created.

Best Places to Work 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023 - Presented by BuiltIn WealthTech of the Year 2025 - Presented by US FinTech Awards The World’s Top 250 Fintech Companies 2024 - Presented by CNBC

ABOUT THIS ROLE

We are looking for a Sourcing Category Manager to own the technology category within our Procurement organization. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role: you will manage the vendor relationships and contract negotiations related to our SaaS, infrastructure, and IT operations — while building partnerships with technology leaders who are actively shaping Apex's tech landscape. You will be expected to engage proactively — identifying savings opportunities, driving 90-day advance renewal engagement, establishing vendor management KPI's , and making data-driven recommendations that influence how Apex invests in technology. You will work alongside a small team that leverages AI-powered tools and modern procurement technology to punch well above its weight.

What You Will Do

Category Ownership

• Own the technology category end-to-end — Software/SaaS, Hardware/Equipment, and IT-related professional services
• Lead competitive sourcing events, contract negotiations, and renewals
• Develop and execute category strategies that align vendor spend with Apex's technology roadmap
• Leverage benchmarking tools and market intelligence to validate pricing and identify cost optimization opportunities

Proactive Renewal Management

• Drive 90-day advance engagement on technology renewals — assess business need, validate usage, model alternatives, and prepare negotiation strategies before contracts auto-renew
• Manage a pipeline of technology renewals, prioritizing strategic and high-value contracts
• Identify rightsizing opportunities as business needs evolve, particularly during periods of organizational change

Stakeholder & Vendor Relationships

• Build trusted advisory relationships with Apex's technology leadership
• Lead biweekly category review meetings for Software and Market Data; monthly for other technology subcategories
• Establish and run Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with Apex's top technology vendors
• Partner with InfoSec, FP&A, and Legal stakeholders throughout the sourcing and contracting lifecycle

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to the development of procurement KPIs, savings methodologies, and reporting cadences
• Use procurement data to tell the story of value delivered — cost savings, cost avoidance, improved terms, and risk reduction
• Embrace AI-powered tools and agents as part of daily workflow — research, benchmarking, renewal prep, and vendor intelligence

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.

Our Rewards

• healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision, EAP)
• competitive PTO
• 401k match
• parental leave
• HSA contribution match
• paid subscription to the Calm app
• generous external learning and tuition reimbursement benefits

At AFS , we offer a hybrid work schedule for most roles that allows employees to have the flexibility of working from home and one of our primary offices.

Salary Range

$99,000-$123,750

The annual base salary range for this position is noted above. Exact compensation offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and office location.

EEO Statement

Apex Fintech Solutions is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Our hiring practices ensure that all qualified applicants receive fair consideration without regard to these characteristics.

Disability Statement

Apex Fintech Solutions is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace for all candidates, including those with disabilities. We are dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please submit your request via the Candidate Accommodation Requests Form. We will work with you to provide the necessary accommodations to ensure your full participation in our hiring process.

At Apex, we stand for efficiency and transparency. In every office, you’ll find passionate, committed, dedicated teams driven to find smart solutions to solve our clients’ toughest challenges. We are passionate about our employees, providing the benefits and perks that elevate you, reward you, and help you give back. We provide great flexibility, a collaborative, open work space, and real potential to grow with the firm.