Category Manager - Professional Services

Come join our Procurement Team and make immediate impact! We are modernizing our systems, policies and practices to support our growing enterprise and need a Category Manager with strong Procurement principles to drive change. With direct impact to our Corporate Social Responsibility goals through driving sustainability and supplier diversity initiatives, this Category Manager is responsible for leading complex sourcing events in Marketing, HR, and Professional Services/print, developing and executing on category strategies, and delivering enterprise value & risk mitigation through procurement and outsourcing policies.

• Decisions and problem solving are guided by experience, expertise, policies, procedures, and function/team plans; receives limited guidance from manager
• Adapts plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges of a team
• Has accountability for the performance and results within own area of specialty

Manages assigned categories to ensure optimization of Securian spend while meeting or exceeding client needs.

• Serves as key contact in assigned categories to provide leadership in developing sourcing strategies to for each of the items or services within a spend category through vendor negotiations, process improvements, and compliance.
• Builds relationships with key internal client partners, serving as a trusted advisor to meet the needs of each client. Actively develops business unit knowledge to be able to anticipate needs and be a part of the procurement process from the earliest stages.
• Manages complex categories of spend with varied stakeholders - categories may include all or some of HR and Professional Services, Marketing and Print.
• Regularly communicates with key internal client partners to keep them abreast of procurement strategies, identify areas of opportunity and provide clients with a feedback loop on procurement services
• Researches and develops knowledge of industry best practices and procedures for their assigned categories.
• Creates and maintains a vendor (supplier) matrix to effectively identify best options to fulfill business needs.
• Assists business units in preparation of category budgets by providing consultation on appropriate spend; recommends changes, as needed.
• Successfully implements new and/or changing sourcing strategies that enhance risk mitigation, revenue growth and expense control
• Manages the entire procurement process for each project, keeping internal clients informed throughout the project, and partnering with them on key decisions.
• Maintains pulse of the business, anticipating needs and proactively providing solutions.
• Develops and maintains spend analytics to provide actionable insights and aid in effective decision-making. Prepares other ad hoc reports, as needed or requested by management.

Manages the strategic sourcing of assigned categories.

• Develops, maintains and implements sourcing and procurement strategies for assigned categories, both tactical and long-term.
• Develops, administers and negotiates specifications, quote requests, price and contractual agreements with vendor/supplier partners in alignment with business unit strategies.
• Serves as key procurement expert on VMS system and supports Procurement Transformation through Procure to Pay enablement and stakeholder adoption plans.
• Specifies contract provisions which safeguard the privacy of non-public personal information of customers, the security of Campus buildings, and the risk management initiatives of the Company, all while meeting or exceeding the needs and requirements of the internal client.
• Negotiates price, payment terms, terms of purchase, vendor services, warranty, end user training (if applicable), long-term costs of operation and value of finished product/service.
• Develops knowledge of industry suppliers, seeking opportunities for new relationships to meet business needs.
• Evaluates and rates suppliers, ensuring integrity of the request for proposal process
• Identifies and implements cost saving initiatives to achieve enterprise goals.
• Adheres to all legal and regulatory compliance requirements, engaging the Law and Compliance departments when necessary.
• Participates in special project assignments addressing procurement policies, procedures, process improvement and development.

Establishes and oversees ongoing supplier governance and serves as key relationship contact for assigned vendors.

• Develops and manages mutually beneficial supplier relationships, measuring performance against key performance indicators (KPIs)/scorecard and communicating scorecard with vendor on a regular basis.
• Conducts quarterly business reviews with all assigned suppliers.
• Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of information contained within the contracts database and electronic repositories of Company's supplier based contracts
• Prevention of fraud, duplicate payment and errors in the billing, expense reimbursement and contract compliance functions within Procurement
  

Qualifications:

• 4+ years' experience in managing large strategic vendors and (3+ years) in complex contract negotiation and developing/implementing successful sourcing and category management strategies.
• Demonstrated indirect leadership with understanding of advancing skillsets within an indirect reporting structure.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with internal customers and stakeholders.
• Robust risk identification and risk management/remediation skills.
• Strong influence and communication skills, with ability to communicate at an executive level.
• Thorough understanding of the technology industry and related market trends.
• Proven experience in understanding and managing legal, compliance and other requirements within contracts negotiations and vendor management.
• Analytical skills to manage contract requirements and develop/manage reporting metrics, including experience with full Microsoft 365 suite of tools.
• Strong working knowledge of finance and accounting, including: budgeting, cost management and operational risk management.

Securian Financial believes in hybrid work as an integral part of our culture. Associates get the benefit of working both virtually and in our offices. If you're in a commutable distance (90 minutes) you'll join us 3 days each week in our offices to collaborate and build relationships. Our policy allows flexibility for the reality of business and personal schedules. #LI-Hybrid

For more information regarding Securian's benefits, please review our Benefits page.

This information is not intended to explain all the provisions of coverage available under these plans. In all cases, the plan document dictates coverage and provisions.

Securian Financial Group, Inc. does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital or familial status, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, veteran status, status in regard to public assistance or any other protected status. If you are a job seeker with a disability and require an accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, please contact us by email at Employment@Securian.com, by telephone 651-655-5522 (voice), or 711 (Relay/TTY).

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