Category Manager, Information Technology (IT)

Position Summary:

The Strategic Sourcing Category Manager – Indirect will be a key member of the Indirect Procurement team, reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Manager- Indirect. This individual will lead the development and execution of sourcing strategies with a primary focus on IT categories, including but not limited to Software, Hardware, Cloud Services, IT Consulting, SaaS, Infrastructure, and Telecom.

This role will lead strategic sourcing initiatives from opportunity identification through supplier selection, contracting, and implementation. The ideal candidate will bring strong category expertise, cross-functional collaboration skills, and commercial acumen to deliver value, improve operational efficiency, and support the long-term business goals of NVA group.

Key Responsibilities:

• IT Category Strategy & Execution
• Act as the subject matter expert for all IT-related categories, including software, hardware, licensing, cloud, infrastructure, and managed services.
• Develop and implement multi-year IT sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives, technology roadmaps, and budgeting cycles.
• Conduct spend and contract analysis, benchmark suppliers and pricing, and identify consolidation opportunities across the IT category.
• Deliver measurable results through TCO analysis, vendor consolidation, licensing optimization, and strategic partnerships.

Sourcing & Contracting

• Lead end-to-end sourcing processes for IT spend: RFx development, supplier evaluation, pricing analysis, negotiations, and contracting.
• Collaborate with IT, Legal, InfoSec, and Finance teams to ensure compliance with technical, regulatory, and financial requirements.
• Negotiate complex commercial and legal terms including service-level agreements (SLAs), data security, and cloud subscription models.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Partner with IT, Digital, and Infrastructure leaders to proactively identify sourcing needs and technology trends.
• Act as a trusted advisor on vendor selection, contract strategy, and renewal planning.
• Lead or participate in Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with critical IT vendors to assess performance, manage risks, and drive innovation.
• Maintain strong vendor relationships while ensuring accountability and value delivery.

Procurement Transformation & Operational Support

• Support broader procurement transformation by implementing best practices, sourcing tools, and digital procurement processes.
• Develop and maintain a strategic sourcing pipeline specific to IT categories.
• Contribute to standardization of procurement processes related to software purchasing, vendor onboarding, and compliance tracking.

Key Objectives:

• Drive cost savings and innovation across key IT categories.
• Optimize IT vendor relationships through robust governance and performance management.
• Strengthen alignment between Procurement and IT leadership.
• Increase contract visibility and compliance across software and IT services.
• Contribute to the overall maturity of strategic sourcing across NVA’s indirect procurement landscape.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, or a related field required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Experience:

• 5+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience, with at least 3 years focused on IT category management.
• Proven success sourcing and negotiating within software, cloud, infrastructure, and telecom categories.
• Deep understanding of IT vendor management, contract terms (e.g., EULAs, SLAs, subscription models), and procurement law.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including TCO modeling and business case development.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage technical and executive stakeholders.
• Highly organized self-starter with the ability to manage multiple IT sourcing projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with IT roadmaps, technology lifecycles, and cross-functional planning cycles.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and G-Suite; experience with sourcing tools and contract management platforms.

Preferred Attributes:

• Experience with eSourcing tools (e.g., Ariba, Scout, Ivalua).
• Familiarity with BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Coupa, JDE).
• Background in healthcare, veterinary, life sciences, or multi-site environments is a plus.
• Working knowledge of InfoSec and compliance requirements relevant to IT sourcing (e.g., HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR).