Category Management & Strategic Sourcing Senior Manager - Business Software Technology - Hybrid

OVERVIEW The Category Management & Strategic Sourcing Senior Manager is a strategic procurement leader responsible for leading a team of sourcing professionals that delivers end-to-end sourcing, contracting, and supplier management support for technology-related spend across the organization. This role lead and oversees the procurement of software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), cloud solutions, and technology services, driving sourcing strategies that optimize value, mitigate risk, and support enterprise business objectives. The Senior Manager serves as a trusted advisor to business and technology leaders, leading complex sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and contracting activities while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization. The successful candidate will lead multiple sourcing and negotiation engagements simultaneously, including highly complex competitive sourcing events and direct negotiations involving multi-year technology agreements. Responsibilities include negotiating master software, cloud, SaaS, and services agreements, as well as associated transaction documents, statements of work, and purchase agreements. This role partners closely with internal and external stakeholder e.g. Business Leaders, Information Technology, Legal, Information Security, Privacy, Finance, Risk, Compliance , and Supplier teams to deliver successful sourcing outcomes and supplier relationships. This role must have experience dealing at various management levels to achieve desired outcomes through sourced engagements. The Senior Manager is accountable for the performance, development, and results of the sourcing professionals reporting to them. Responsibilities   • Strategic Sourcing & Category Management - Develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and enterprise priorities. Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including market analysis, supplier assessments, RFPs, commercial negotiations, contracting, and supplier selection. Identify and execute opportunities that deliver measurable value through cost optimization, risk reduction, innovation, and operational efficiency. Maintain deep knowledge of technology markets, supplier landscapes, licensing models, and emerging industry trends. Negotiate complex software, SaaS, cloud, and technology services agreements to optimize commercial outcomes and minimize risk in collaboration with internal matrix partners. • Operational Excellence: Lead/support initiatives focused on process improvement, standardization, automation, and scalability within procurement operations. Enhance sourcing tools, reporting, metrics, and governance practices to improve transparency and performance. Drive adoption of best practices across contract management and supplier services functions. Leverage automation and AI-enabled capabilities to improve team productivity and service delivery. Support continuous improvement in all aspects of the sourcing and procurement process.  • Stakeholder Engagement: Develop strong relationships with stakeholders - business, technology, operations, finance, legal, compliance, and risk partners. Serve as a trusted advisor on supplier operational performance and contract administration matters. Communicate contract and supplier risks, opportunities, and recommendations to leadership. Serve as a valued business advisor to aligned business units.  • Team leadership & Talent Development - Establish clear objectives, performance expectations, and development plans that support organizational goals. Foster a culture of accountability, colla