Category Manager - Professional Services

About the Role

Our client is seeking a strategic and experienced Category Manager to lead the procurement of professional services in a fully remote capacity. This senior role involves developing and executing category strategies that drive value, innovation, and cost efficiency across a diverse range of services, including legal, HR, consulting, and marketing. You will be responsible for managing key supplier relationships, negotiating complex contracts, and ensuring alignment with business objectives. The ideal candidate is a seasoned procurement professional with strong analytical capabilities, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a proven ability to deliver impactful results within a remote-first operating model.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies for professional services, aligned with organizational goals.
• Manage the end-to-end sourcing process, from supplier identification and evaluation to contract negotiation and implementation.
• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with key professional services providers.
• Conduct thorough market analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the professional services landscape.
• Lead complex negotiations to secure favorable terms, pricing, and service level agreements.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand service requirements and ensure supplier performance meets expectations.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in category management or strategic sourcing , with a specialization in professional services.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful category strategies and achieving significant cost savings.
• Expertise in negotiating complex contracts and managing high-value supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, essential for a remote role.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; MBA or relevant certifications preferred.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Fully remote work environment providing exceptional flexibility.
• Comprehensive executive-level health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Generous professional development budget and opportunities for advanced training.
• Opportunity to shape procurement strategy in a critical service category.