Category Manager, IT – Indirect

Verint Systems Inc.•Remote, United States

11h

About The Position

The Category Manager, IT – Indirect is responsible for sourcing, negotiating and managing contracts for the company’s indirect IT spend. The role focuses primarily on SaaS, enterprise software and cloud services, along with IT hardware, telecommunications, data network services and IT professional services. It leads cross-functional teams in developing and executing category sourcing strategies, defining requirements, evaluating vendors and selecting suppliers. The manager oversees the SaaS and software contract lifecycle from intake and evaluation through negotiation and renewal, manages supplier relationships, and ensures vendor engagements comply with company procurement policies and procedures. The role also leads strategic sourcing and cost-saving initiatives, manages SaaS and software renewals and cloud commitments, rationalizes software portfolios and licenses, coordinates vendor risk and privacy reviews, and tracks category spend, savings and renewal pipelines. It works with stakeholders across IT, Information Security, Privacy, Legal, Finance, business teams and senior leadership, and manages supplier performance and business reviews.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
At least five years of experience in strategic sourcing of indirect IT categories and managing category spend with delivered results and evidence of increased scope and responsibility, including at least three years of SaaS or enterprise software procurement.
Working knowledge of SaaS and software licensing and pricing models, including subscription, consumption-based, named-user and enterprise agreements, true-ups and audit exposure.
Strong technical understanding of organizational technology needs and cloud operations, with familiarity with one or more cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS or Google Cloud Platform.
Demonstrated expertise in all elements of a structured strategic sourcing process.
Strong stakeholder and supplier relationship management skills.
Experience interacting with all organizational levels and a record of effective, productive senior-management interactions.
Excellent knowledge of procurement sourcing processes and category strategy development.
Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage at all organizational levels.
Ability to start and finish tasks with minimal management oversight and maintain a positive attitude through typical work-related challenges.
Highly organized, with excellent time management and flexibility to manage multiple projects.
Proven experience interpreting and negotiating complex legal agreements and service schedules, such as master subscription agreements, order forms, data processing terms and service level agreements; ability to leverage a network of IT supplier contacts in negotiations.
Demonstrated sourcing effectiveness in IT categories, including SaaS and enterprise software; cloud operations and platforms; IT hardware; networking; telecommunications; and IT services.
Proficiency in MS Office, including strong Excel skills for spend and savings analysis.
Successful completion of background screening, which may include employment verification, criminal search, OFAC, Social Security verification, and credit and drug screening where applicable and in accordance with regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a software or technology company.
Procurement or software asset management certification, such as CPSM or IAITAM CSAM, and/or an MBA.
Hands-on experience with source-to-pay, contract lifecycle management and/or SaaS management platforms.
Familiarity with FinOps practices and third-party risk management processes.

Responsibilities

Work cross-functionally to identify opportunities, aggregate spend and standardize IT categories to leverage purchasing power and achieve results.
Develop category-specific plans and remain accountable for targets aligned with procurement objectives.
Persuade and coordinate cross-functional teams, including senior leadership, to execute category plans.
Use spend data and business knowledge to identify sourcing projects and develop cost-reduction plans.
Communicate, execute and implement category initiatives.
Lead complex strategic sourcing projects and achieve savings through supplier negotiations, sourcing events and alternative sourcing.
Manage the end-to-end SaaS and software procurement lifecycle, from intake, business case and requirements through evaluation, negotiation, contracting and renewal, partnering with relevant internal teams and business owners.
Negotiate SaaS and software agreements, addressing pricing models, commitments, renewals, license entitlements, security and data protection terms, and service levels.
Maintain a forward-looking SaaS and software renewal calendar and lead renewal strategies before notice dates.
Partner with IT and Finance to rationalize the SaaS and software portfolio, identify duplicate or underused applications and licenses, address unmanaged purchases and right-size entitlements.
Partner with IT and Finance to manage cloud commitments and spend, including enterprise agreements, committed-spend discounts and marketplace purchases.
Coordinate third-party risk, security and data privacy due diligence with Information Security, Privacy and Legal at vendor onboarding and renewal.
Monitor category market conditions, vendor pricing and licensing changes, identify potential supply challenges and develop supply continuity plans.
Manage vendors, including key suppliers with global or critical contracts.
Resolve contract, technical and operational support, and invoicing issues.
Establish global collaboration and alignment with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Work with stakeholders to improve budgeting, forecasting, sourcing, compliance, quality and contracting decisions.
Apply strategic thinking to spend categories to support business transformation strategies.
Build positive supplier and stakeholder relationships and effective partnerships.
Initiate and lead supplier business reviews covering performance, technology, roadmaps, business growth strategies and supply market changes.
Track and report category spend, cost reductions, cost avoidance and renewal pipeline to procurement leadership through dashboards and regular reporting.
Ensure procurement projects and activities comply with Global Procurement policies and procedures.