Category Sourcing Manager

Quality Technology Services•York, SC

About The Position

The Category Sourcing Manager (CSM) develops, executes, and manages corporate sourcing initiatives across assigned direct and indirect categories. Categories may include Electrical, Mechanical, Capital Improvement Projects, SG&A, IT, MRO, Facilities Maintenance, Data Center Infrastructure Fit-outs, and Data Connectivity. The role uses complex data analysis to identify sourcing and cost-optimization opportunities and generate savings. The CSM negotiates complex and competitive programs, communicates category proposals and their value to business units and senior management, and works with internal departments to optimize purchasing and corporate governance of category spend. The CSM leads category management and sourcing strategy, supplier selection, implementation, contract management, spend analysis, and purchasing execution. The role collaborates with internal stakeholders and strategic suppliers to meet business objectives, control total costs, improve procurement practices, and deliver value.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Seven or more years of relevant experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain.
Experience in contract development, execution, negotiation, and management.
Experience building relationships with stakeholders to gather category requirements and specifications from departments and category subject matter experts.
Experience managing and leading change initiatives with significant organizational impacts.
Experience developing long-range sourcing plans to reduce costs, optimize supplier value, and meet internal customer requirements.
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 an organization.
Organizational skills to prioritize and multitask, with timely follow-up and appropriate escalation.
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 for 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 implement contractual arrangements in accordance with company policy and business objectives.
Identify and implement system solutions and best practices to optimize indirect sourcing and procurement practices.
Build relationships with stakeholders to gather category requirements and specifications from departments and subject matter experts.
Ensure tactical purchasing activities are executed to meet routine business needs.
Drive value through innovation and collaboration with strategic suppliers and internal customers.