Category Manager - Information Technology

HMSA•Honolulu, HI

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is responsible for developing and executing multi-year category strategies for IT & Technology Operations vendors. The Category Manager will lead the execution of the IT vendor strategy, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, digital transformation, and cybersecurity priorities. This includes coordinating with IT Leadership on vendor demand planning, technology roadmaps, product lifecycles, and modernization efforts. The role also involves conducting market research on current trends in SaaS, cloud models, licensing, hardware, cybersecurity, and managed services, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization, rationalization, standardization, and risk mitigation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Information Technology, Computer Science, Finance, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Seven years of progressive experience in procurement, IT category management, technology sourcing, and IT vendor lifecycle management.
Experience negotiating mid to large scale IT deals ($1M-$10M+).
Experience with IT ecosystems, including cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), workflow tools (ServiceNow), managed service vendors (i.e., claims/process outsourcing. environments), care management systems and payor platforms, and member portals and digital engagement systems.
Experience supporting IT service lifecycle, including renewals, vendor transitions, and system implementations.
Strong understanding of core IT domains such as applications, cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data technologies, and telecom.
Ability to analyze IT spend, licensing entitlements, usage data, cloud consumption, and support/maintenance cost structures.
Familiarity with IT sourcing, procurement best practices, and vendor selection processes.
Ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, commercial negotiation, and financial modeling capabilities tailored for IT environments.
Strong understanding of IT contract terms, including data security, privacy, SOC reporting, SLAs, software asset management, uptime/availability metrics, service credits, BAA requirements, and business continuity.
Demonstrated ability to drive measurable savings and commercial outcomes.
Deep understanding of: Software licensing models (enterprise, subscription, usage-based).
Deep understanding of: Cloud pricing and consumption models (AWS, Azure).
Deep understanding of: Managed services pricing structures (FTE, outcome-based, hybrid).
Ability to interpret technical requirements, architecture dependencies, and IT cost structures.
Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite, including the ability to build and interpret Excel models for IT spend, licensing, and forecasting.
Ability to work with procurement and contract management systems for contract lifecycle activities (e.g., Source to Pay, ERP, etc.).
Familiarity with IT service management or ticketing tools and basic understanding of how IT workflow systems operate.
Ability to analyze data exports from IT vendors, cloud platforms, licensing portals, or SaaS management tools.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) and IT leadership to develop multi-year category strategies for IT & Technology Operations vendors.
Lead execution of IT vendor strategy, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, digital transformation, and cybersecurity priorities.
Coordinate with IT Leadership on vendor demand planning, technology roadmaps, product lifecycles, and modernization efforts.
Conduct market research and stay up to date with current trends across SaaS, cloud models, licensing, hardware, cybersecurity, and managed services.
Identify cost optimization, rationalization, standardization, and risk mitigation opportunities.
Lead sourcing, competitive events (RFx), and negotiation of complex IT contracts ($1M-$10M+), including SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, Telcom, and managed services.
Develop and execute deal strategies (i.e., bundling, multi-year agreements, rate card optimization, and usage commitments).
Manage contracting for software licensing, SaaS subscriptions, cloud consumption agreements, managed services, telecom, and IT professional services.
Drive measurable savings through competitive sourcing, benchmarking, and renegotiation strategies.
Evaluate and optimize cloud consumption (Azure/AWS), SaaS licensing tiers, and enterprise agreements.
Oversee the IT contract lifecycle, including renewals, extensions, amendments, and vendor onboarding and offboarding.
Ensure contracts meet HMSA standards for data protection, cybersecurity controls, SLAs, compliance, and risk management.
Provide vendor oversight for IT & Technology Operations suppliers, owning commercial performance of vendors, including cost, value realization, and contract adherence.
Partner with business owners and/or vendor managers to ensure alignment between financial outcomes and operational performance.
Partner with Vendor Managers, IT owners, and InfoSec to ensure governance, QBRs, continuous improvement, and issue resolution.
Support privacy, cybersecurity, third-party risk, and regulatory compliance assessments.
Identify opportunities for cost recovery, demand management, and contract re-baselining.
Analyze IT spending (software, cloud, infrastructure, telecom, managed services); deliver and track quantifiable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation across IT spend.
Validate pricing, usage data (seat counts, cloud consumption), billing accuracy, and budget impacts.
Develop business cases for contract decisions, vendor consolidation, or new technology acquisitions.
Support IT budget cycles, forecasting, and technology investment planning.
Coordinate closely with CIO, IT Directors, Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, Applications, Infrastructure, and Digital teams.
Function as a procurement advisor for technology initiatives and vendor planning.
Partner with Legal, Compliance, Risk, Privacy, and Finance.
Guide business and IT stakeholders on procurement governance, contract requirements, and vendor best practices.
Performs all other miscellaneous responsibilities and duties as assigned or directed.