Core Banking Services Category Manger

Citizens•Johnston, RI

About The Position

Citizens has transformed the sourcing experience across the enterprise. As a Category Manager within Strategic Sourcing, you will leverage advanced spend analytics, forward-looking market intelligence, and an integrated source-to-pay ecosystem to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to business line executives. This role owns the development and execution of multi-year category strategies that drive measurable enterprise value across cost optimization, demand management, supplier performance, risk mitigation, and innovation. The Category Manager acts as the enterprise category expert—aligning business, technology, finance, and risk stakeholders around a common strategic direction. Success in this role requires strong commercial acumen, executive presence, negotiation leadership, and the ability to operate effectively in a regulated banking environment. We are seeking a Core Banking Services Category Manager to support the subcategories of Payments & Money Movement, Cash Management, and Investment Products & Processing.

Requirements

7–10+ years of progressive experience in category management or vendor management.
Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations and enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives.
Strong commercial acumen and financial modeling capability.
Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
Experience working cross-functionally and driving consensus across stakeholders.
Structured, organized, and methodical planning skills.
Executive-level communication and presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in financial services or other regulated industries.
Knowledge of third-party risk management frameworks and regulatory environments.
Experience managing large, complex spend portfolios.
MBA or professional certification (CPSM, CIPS, or similar).

Responsibilities

Develop and execute multi‑year category strategies aligned to business and enterprise objectives.
Define category vision, value targets, performance expectations, and strategic guardrails.
Maintain a comprehensive category strategy that includes demand forecasts, supplier and contract landscapes, market intelligence, and a savings and value roadmap.
Own annual category value targets, including cost savings, cost avoidance, and productivity improvements.
Identify opportunities for demand management, specification optimization, and supplier rationalization.
Track, measure, and report realized savings and category performance outcomes.
Participate in complex, cross‑functional sourcing initiatives, including RFIs, RFPs, and supplier negotiations.
Inform fact‑based negotiation strategies supported by financial analysis and market insights.
Partner closely with Business, Strategic Sourcing, Risk, and Compliance teams to ensure appropriate commercial, regulatory alignment and performance levels and penalties.
Manage strategic supplier relationships through structured governance, including performance scorecards and regular business reviews.
Define and monitor supplier KPIs aligned to business outcomes.
Proactively address supplier performance issues and mitigate operational, financial, concentration, and resiliency risks.
Collaborate with third‑party risk, compliance, and information security partners to support effective risk management in a regulated environment.
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders.
Influence sourcing and demand decisions early in the planning cycle.
Constructively challenge demand and assumptions to optimize enterprise outcomes.
Present clear, executive‑ready insights and strategic recommendations.