Senior Manager, IT Category Management (Procurement) - (Hybrid)

American Family Insurance•Boston, MA

1d•$113,000 - $194,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Lead a team of procurement and vendor management professionals responsible for developing and executing full lifecycle procurement strategies with a focus on optimizing value, risk, and performance across the information technology vendor ecosystem. Reporting to the Procurement Director, you will lead a team responsible for managing $100M+ in annual IT spend across a complex supplier ecosystem. Will lead and coach the procurement team to build and execute robust category strategies, sourcing pipelines, negotiation playbooks, contract management and vendor management best practices. Leveraging strong business acumen, planning and communication skills, this leader will develop strong stakeholder relationships at all levels of the organization and will be adept at leading and influencing cross-functionally to drive business alignment. Will develop and execute strategies to develop talent, enhance engagement, and lead transformational change as we build leading procurement capabilities.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience providing customer-driven solutions, support or service.
Solid communication and influencing skills across varying leadership levels.
Demonstrated experience driving business results.
Demonstrated experience in creating meaningful data analysis and metrics to support business needs.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills related to complex vendor matters.
Extensive knowledge of vendor contracts and commercial/legal terms and conditions.
Significant experience leading sourcing initiatives within large enterprise organizations managing substantial technology spend.
Experience working within large, highly matrixed organizations with extensive supplier portfolios.
Demonstrated ownership of $100M+ in annual category spend with responsibility for sourcing strategy, negotiations, and supplier management.
Deep knowledge of procurement processes including category strategy development, RFX execution, supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, and vendor governance.
Strong commercial acumen with the ability to develop total cost of ownership models and supplier benchmarks.
Experience using data analysis and metrics to develop insights, communicate strategy, and influence business decisions through effective storytelling.
Strong problem-solving capabilities with the ability to navigate complex vendor and commercial situations.
Demonstrated experience leading teams and developing procurement talent.
Strong communication and influencing skills across multiple levels of leadership.
Ability to manage complex initiatives and drive alignment across cross-functional stakeholders.
Customer-focused mindset with experience delivering measurable results.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of sourcing and vendor management professionals.
Foster a collaborative, performance-driven environment built on trust, transparency, and accountability.
Set clear goals, provide ongoing feedback, conduct performance evaluations, and support professional development.
Promote engagement and continuous improvement as the team strengthens American Family's procurement capabilities.
Lead the development of enterprise IT category strategies aligned with American Family's technology roadmap and financial goals.
Oversee the full sourcing lifecycle including market analysis, RFX execution, supplier evaluation, negotiation strategy, and contract execution.
Build structured sourcing pipelines, negotiation guides, and sourcing best practices across the IT procurement team.
Identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier consolidation, and improved commercial models across the IT vendor portfolio.
Establish governance frameworks to manage supplier performance, contract compliance, and service delivery across strategic technology vendors.
Lead supplier relationship management and performance reviews with important partners.
Ensure contract management practices and agreement on commercial, legal, and operational requirements.
Monitor supplier risk and performance, reporting progress, vendor performance, and market trends to senior leadership.
Develop strong partnerships with technology and business leaders to support strategic initiatives and enterprise programs.
Promote category management, strategic sourcing, and vendor management practices that enhance value and mitigate risk.
Use data analysis and performance metrics to communicate insights, influence strategy, and support decision-making.
Align team resources and sourcing priorities to support key business initiatives and operational goals.