Telecom & IT Network Senior Category Manager

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

3d

About The Position

The senior category manager leads complex, end-to-end sourcing initiatives for telecommunications, network, and infrastructure. This strategic role involves vendor negotiations, contract management, and cost optimization to drive savings. Collaborate with internal teams to align technology needs with vendor capabilities, ensuring high-quality performance. Develops, implements, and communicates an overall category strategy to meet both the Business Unit's and Corporation's strategic plan. Responsible for development of sourcing strategy and performing category analytics. Develops best-in-class procurement practices enterprise-wide, including effective category sourcing and overall procurement strategies; processes and infrastructure to effectively manage procurement activities across all assigned spending categories; sustainable purchasing methods; and programs to ensure a diverse supplier base including minority, small, women and disadvantaged businesses. Leads and manages RFx (e.g. Request for Proposal, Request for Information, Request for Quote) process, including project management, development of RFx, negotiations and award process. Responsible for contract review, drafting and creation of various agreements, including NDAs, Master Agreements, Statements of Work, etc. and leading all aspects of contract & price negotiations and ongoing contract administration. Responsible for end-to-end procurement processes and procedures. Supports and monitors supplier adherence to contracts, manage suppliers via supplier activity reporting, escalations, and business/performance reviews, support and conduct supplier scorecards, supplier rationalization, and demand management opportunities. Manages and supports regulatory and compliance requirements (e.g. OFAC, FCPA, DORA, Spend Analysis, Client Relationships). Manages reporting of Procurement performance metrics and provides ongoing support for internal and external audit requests. Management of supplier fitness, including analyzing overall business and financial performance of potential and existing suppliers. Establish and maintain relationship with key partners, education on policy/guidelines and resolving related purchasing issues. Utilize and maintain Contract Management System (Coupa) along with other supporting systems such as Zip, etc. Interacts with business and partners to formulate and implement strategy and solutions to enhance existing services, create new services or improve processes. Identifies impact of changes and processes; facilitates acceptance of change through training and communication. Provides ongoing support for the solution.

Requirements

• Telecom, Network and Infrastructure knowledge and experience.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently, and make decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to be highly flexible and adaptable to change.
• Excellent understanding of procurement philosophies and strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of supply chain management and procurement.
• Leadership and organizational skills are required to develop objectives and goals.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suites with advanced Excel skills.
• Deep understanding/knowledge of contract terms and conditions and legal impact of different terms.
• Requires in-depth conceptual and practical knowledge in own job discipline and basic knowledge of related job disciplines.
• Applies best practices and how own area integrates with others.
• Explains difficult or sensitive information; works to build consensus.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Coupa, ERP systems/PeopleSoft, Zip is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management or Finance is preferred.
• MBA or other advanced degree and a professional Procurement/ Supply Chain Management designation, (e.g. CSCP, CPM) and Financial Industry experience are a strong plus.
• Preferred experience in presenting and communicating with C-Level/senior executives.
• Lead projects with manageable risks and resource requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leads complex, end-to-end sourcing initiatives for telecommunications, network, and infrastructure.
• Vendor negotiations, contract management, and cost optimization to drive savings.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align technology needs with vendor capabilities, ensuring high-quality performance.
• Develops, implements, and communicates an overall category strategy to meet both the Business Unit's and Corporation's strategic plan.
• Responsible for development of sourcing strategy and performing category analytics.
• Develops best-in-class procurement practices enterprise-wide, including effective category sourcing and overall procurement strategies; processes and infrastructure to effectively manage procurement activities across all assigned spending categories; sustainable purchasing methods; and programs to ensure a diverse supplier base including minority, small, women and disadvantaged businesses.
• Leads and manages RFx (e.g. Request for Proposal, Request for Information, Request for Quote) process, including project management, development of RFx, negotiations and award process.
• Responsible for contract review, drafting and creation of various agreements, including NDAs, Master Agreements, Statements of Work, etc. and leading all aspects of contract & price negotiations and ongoing contract administration.
• Responsible for end-to-end procurement processes and procedures.
• Supports and monitors supplier adherence to contracts, manage suppliers via supplier activity reporting, escalations, and business/performance reviews, support and conduct supplier scorecards, supplier rationalization, and demand management opportunities.
• Manages and supports regulatory and compliance requirements (e.g. OFAC, FCPA, DORA, Spend Analysis, Client Relationships).
• Manages reporting of Procurement performance metrics and provides ongoing support for internal and external audit requests.
• Management of supplier fitness, including analyzing overall business and financial performance of potential and existing suppliers.
• Establish and maintain relationship with key partners, education on policy/guidelines and resolving related purchasing issues.
• Utilize and maintain Contract Management System (Coupa) along with other supporting systems such as Zip, etc.
• Interacts with business and partners to formulate and implement strategy and solutions to enhance existing services, create new services or improve processes.
• Identifies impact of changes and processes; facilitates acceptance of change through training and communication.
• Provides ongoing support for the solution.

Benefits

• Retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• Health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• Paid time off
• Parental and caregiver leave
• Life & accident insurance
• Other voluntary and well-being benefits
• Discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

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