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Category Management Specialist - Software Procurement

6 MO CTH

Hybrid 3 days a week-(TU,WED,THUR)

Hartford, CT or Morristown, NJ (Must be local to NJ / CT)

The Category Management Specialist, Software Category is responsible and accountable for developing, managing and executing the category and sourcing strategy for software for the business segments; Marketing, Digital Experience, and Corporate Business Applications, managing annual spend of approximately $25M-$75M. This role works closely with business partners / stakeholders and business leaders in assigned departments, requires knowledge and experience of software vendor relationships, and experience building and driving enterprise-wide sourcing strategies. This role is also responsible to develop category best practices, and initiatives that support aggressive improvements in supplier quality, total cost effectiveness, enhanced service levels, improved coordination, delivery, pricing, lead-times, payment, risk compliance and other areas as identified. The Software Procurement Category Specialist shall lead competitive assessments and contract negotiations and draft resulting contracts. This individual contributor role is based in our Hartford, CT Home Office or a Morristown, NJ office on a hybrid basis

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in category strategy, sourcing and negotiating agreements within the software category including significant experience and expertise leading strategic sourcing process
• Successful track record in Procurement with significant experience developing and executing category strategies and reviewing, analyzing and negotiating contracts
• Demonstrated strong strategic and analytical skills with ability to solve long-term and analytical problems
• Experience in leading market analysis and intelligence gathering across relevant categories to support successful strategy development
• Extensive negotiation skills and best practices in contracting
• Excellent relationship management skills including the ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership in Procurement and across multiple Businesses and Corporate Functions
• Exceptional ability to influence stakeholders and drive groups with divergent opinions toward effective, collaborative decisions
• Exceptional supplier relationship and contract/conflict management skills
• Strong packaging and presentation skills with the ability to analyze and explain pricing models and contract terms
• Significant experience with integrating data & analytics with strategy development & sourcing execution (market analysis, cost modeling, benchmarking, should cost analysis, etc.)
• Strong strategic mindset
• Ability to work within an agile & collaborative environment
• Knowledge of change management principals and methodologies
• Strong focus on customer engagement and service
• Experience dealing with ambiguity through effective influence and collaboration at multiple levels of the organization
• Needs to be comfortable challenging current-state thinking, with evidence and recommend alternative approaches to solving a problem
• High level of creativity with the ability to analyze and challenge conventional thinking and norms
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point is a must.
• Experience with Vendor or Procurement systems like Coupa, Fieldglass, Beeline
• Excellent written and oral communication skills