Category Manager, Strategic Procurement - Corporate Services

Transamerica•Cedar Rapids, IA

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

Identify and engage with the best suppliers to negotiate optimal contracts that balance speed to market, access to needed capabilities, organizational risk tolerance, cost containment, supplier-driven innovation, etc. Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders to deliver value through a comprehensive and ethical sourcing approach that support business priorities and improves long term partnerships with stakeholders and suppliers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management or a related field, or equivalent experience
Minimum 3 years of experience in category management, procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract management
Knowledge of supplier identification, evaluation, and selection skills
Understanding of supplier management, procurement, and category management best practices and industry trends for assigned categories.
Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to build good rapport with suppliers, while keeping the company’s interests in mind
Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills requiring a balance of assertiveness, tact and diplomacy
Ability to work effectively and cultivate relationships across all levels of the organization and external parties
Ability to work effectively with teams across geographic locations and time zones
Ability to manage ambiguous situations and drive towards clarification
Analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
Ability to work under pressure, set priorities, and meet deadlines in a rapid-paced environment
Self-motivated and the ability to manage multiple projects and support activities within a single job function

Nice To Haves

Procurement experience managing Corporate Services related categories (e.g. IT, Finance, HR, Legal & Compliance, Market Data, Marketing, Public Affairs, Facilities, Risk, Global Insurance, travel, etc.)
Category Management experience with Market Data Subscription vendors (e.g. Bloomberg, Moody’s, Morningstar, S&P, Refinitiv, Murex, ICAP, etc.)
MBA, JD, or equivalent combination of advanced education and experience
Experience working in a Contracting Lifecycle Management System (CLM)
Certified Sourcing Professional (CSP), Certified Outsourcing Professional (COP), or similar industry certification
Participation in Sourcing, Procurement, and or Outsourcing Industry Associations such as Sourcing Industry Group (SIG), International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), Procurement Foundry, institute for Supply Management (ISM), or National Contract Management Association (NCMA)
Global perspective and experience working with diverse customer and suppliers
Experience managing outsourcing and/or professional services suppliers with global product/service provisioning models
Experience in the financial services or similar highly regulated industry
Understanding of outsourcing models, supplier, products and services.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary procurement point of contact for assigned business stakeholders and categories, translating business goals and risk appetite into contracting strategies and decision frameworks
Provide guidance to fellow team members on negotiation tactics, contracting best practices and category trends.
Provide valued insight of the external marketplace dynamics, trends, spend analysis, and benchmarks to inform decision- makers and create category strategies for acquisition of performance and outcome-based contracts.
Optimize category value through strategies such as supplier stratification, supply base rationalization, supply chain business continuity, category or strategy roadmap/supplier alignment, supplier-driven innovation/value creation, directed buys, and competitive bidding.
Lead and coordinate procurement of assigned categories managing the entire lifecycle from strategy through execution, including RFx solicitation, bid evaluation, and supplier negotiations.
Communicate professionally with internal stakeholders and external suppliers at all levels from operational through executive as the "face of procurement."
Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders for all procurement decisions related to the category.
Maintain current knowledge of the supplier marketplace, emerging technologies, diverse suppliers, regulatory changes, pricing trends, and other relevant market dynamics.
Assure year-over-year supplier productivity improvements via contractual process improvement, automation, and innovation investments.
Deploy successful engagement model with suppliers, partnering with VMO, Legal, and business stakeholders
Negotiate contracts, and contract change orders.
Assure continuous improvement of category process, strategies, data sources, tools, and metrics.

Benefits

Competitive Pay
Bonus for Eligible Employees
Pension Plan
401k Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Disability Insurance
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Employee Discounts
Career Training & Development Opportunities
Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).
Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.
Adoption Assistance
Employee Assistance Program
Back-Up Care Program
PTO for Volunteer Hours
Employee Matching Gifts Program
Employee Resource Groups
Inclusion and Diversity Programs
Employee Recognition Program
Referral Bonus Programs