Category Sourcing Manager

QTS Data Centers • Irving, TX

1d

About The Position

The Category Sourcing Manager (CSM) develops, executes, and manages corporate sourcing initiatives across assigned direct and indirect categories. The role uses complex data analysis to identify sourcing and cost-optimization opportunities, generate savings, and communicate the value of category proposals to business lines and senior management. Categories may include electrical, mechanical, capital improvement projects, SG&A, IT, MRO, facilities maintenance, data center infrastructure fit-outs, and data connectivity.

The CSM works collaboratively with internal departments to facilitate, optimize, and govern purchasing across managed categories. The position leads category strategies and sourcing events, supplier selection and negotiations, contract implementation, and supplier-agreement compliance. It also develops long-range sourcing plans, implementation plans, spend-analysis methods and metrics, and system solutions and best practices that improve procurement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Seven or more years of relevant experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain.
• Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and gather category requirements and specifications from departments and subject matter experts.
• Experience managing and leading change initiatives with significant organizational impact.
• Experience developing long-range sourcing plans to reduce total costs, optimize supplier value, and meet internal customer requirements.
• Experience in contract development, execution, negotiation, and management.
• Demonstrated company-wide procurement leadership experience in one or more indirect categories, or an equivalent combination of education, training, or experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational skills, including prioritization and multitasking.
• Ability to perform timely follow-up and escalate appropriately when necessary.
• Strong planning, organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on multiple concurrent projects of varying complexity and priority.
• Ability to resolve conflicts and solve problems.
• Self-motivated and goal-driven.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or master’s degree in supply chain.
• Experience working for or supporting a data center provider, such as a multi-tenant data center, hyperscale user, or equipment provider.
• Procurement certification, such as ISM CPSM.

Responsibilities

• Lead ongoing category management activities within assigned spend categories to achieve business objectives and benefit targets.
• Develop supplier and industry category profiles and strategies to support a best-in-class supply chain for data center providers.
• Identify and leverage company-wide spend opportunities.
• Coordinate Facilities purchasing activities across the national portfolio of data centers.
• Lead supplier selection and recommendation activities, including qualitative and quantitative analysis, selection criteria, long and short lists, RFI/RFP development, and bid analysis.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for high-spend, complex, and critical or strategic categories.
• Provide strategic guidance on category profiles and Total Cost of Ownership models used to support sourcing decisions.
• Develop implementation strategies, responsibility assignments, communications plans, and timelines.
• Lead implementation activities for categories with critical impacts on the business and internal customers.
• Monitor compliance with supplier agreements in high-spend scope areas.
• Develop long-range sourcing plans to reduce total costs, optimize supplier value, and meet internal customer requirements.
• Conduct spend analysis and develop methodologies and metrics to track progress.
• Negotiate, review, and execute contractual arrangements in accordance with company policy and business objectives.
• Identify and implement system solutions and best practices that optimize indirect sourcing and procurement practices.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders to gather category requirements and specifications from departments and subject matter experts.
• Ensure tactical execution of purchasing activities to meet routine business needs.
• Drive value through innovation and collaboration with strategic suppliers and internal customers.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with Roth and Traditional matching contributions and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending and HSA accounts
• Paid holidays, paid time off, and paid volunteer days
• Employee assistance program
• Tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Military leave assistance and military benefits package
• Scholarship for employee dependents
• Wellness program
• Bonus eligibility and potential equity eligibility
• Stock Purchase Plan
• Floating holidays
• Holiday compensation when working on a holiday
• Pet and legal insurance
• Q-Rest Sabbatical Program
• Q-Anniversary Service Award Program
• QTS Charitable Matching Gift Program
• QTS Crisis Fund

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior