Position Summary:The IT Director is a client-facing leader responsible for owning and leading category strategy on behalf of our client. Acting as the accountable category owner, this role defines the strategic direction, owns IT category planning, and orchestrates delivery through a centralized Center of Excellence (COE) to execute sourcing initiatives and contract negotiations. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to clients, translating business objectives into actionable category strategies that deliver measurable value.
Responsibilities:- Client Advisory & IT Category Leadership
- Serve as the primary strategic category leader and execution partner for assigned client and category or categories.
- Partner with client and functional leaders to understand business objectives, constraints, and priorities.
- Translate client goals into clear category strategies, value levers, and execution-ready roadmaps.
- Category Strategy & Planning
- Own and support the development and ongoing management of category strategies, including market analysis, spend diagnostics, supplier landscape assessments, and risk considerations.
- Lead and support annual and multi-year category planning, defining initiatives, savings targets, timelines, and success metrics.
- Continuously refine category and vendor strategies based on market shifts, client needs, and performance results.
- Center of Excellence (COE) Orchestration
- Leverage a centralized COE to deliver sourcing events, negotiations, and contract execution on behalf of the client.
- Set strategic direction and priorities for COE resources, ensuring alignment to client objectives.
- Provide governance, decision support, and hands-on quality oversight throughout sourcing and contracting cycles.
- Sourcing, Negotiation & Contract Execution
- Create and execute effective go-to-market and negotiation strategies in line with commercial objectives and supplier positioning.
- Directly support and lead components of complex, high-value, or highly sensitive negotiations.
- Review and support sourcing recommendations, supplier selections, and contract structures to ensure value realization and risk mitigation.
- Value Delivery & Performance Management
- Own and manage category-level performance, including savings, value creation, service levels, and risk outcomes.
- Proactively identify and execute incremental opportunities for value, optimization, efficiency, and innovation.
- Stakeholder & Supplier Engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with client stakeholders.
- Facilitate alignment across client procurement, finance, legal, and business teams to enable timely decision-making and delivery.
- Engage strategically with key suppliers to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Leadership & Practice Contribution
- Apply, execute, and continuously improve established methodologies, tools, and best practices across client engagements.
- Contribute to the evolution of category management frameworks, playbooks, and intellectual capital by identifying operational efficiency opportunities and practical improvements.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 7+ years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, contract lifecycle, and vendor management. Proven experience developing and executing category strategies and delivering measurable results Demonstrated success influencing stakeholders in complex, matrixed environments.
- Experience managing vendor relationships and leading high-value contract negotiations.
- Experience in complex spend analysis, total cost of ownership (TCO), and financial modeling to support category and sourcing decisions.
- Highly skilled in diplomacy, consensus-building, and cross-functional leadership.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong commitment to client service and value creation.
- Polished communicator and presenter, both formally and informally.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel-based financial analysis and PowerPoint presentations.
- Strong problem-solving, judgment, and leadership capabilities.
- Ability to operate strategically.
Measures of Success:- Delivery of committed client value (savings, cost avoidance, and broader business outcomes).
- Deliver engagements on time and accurately, meeting scope, quality, and milestone commitments.
- Execute category and sourcing initiatives using fact-based analysis (e.g., spend, TCO, cost models).
- Achieve strong sourcing and contract outcomes that enable value realization post-award.
- Maintain high stakeholder satisfaction through clear communication and execution credibility.
Travel:This position will require some travel.
Other Duties: This Position Description is not an exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities, and the employee is expected to perform other duties as necessary and assigned. The duties and responsibilities of this position may be modified at any time to meet changing business needs.
NOTE: The listed compensation range reflects the anticipated base pay for this role. Final compensation will be determined based on location, experience, and job-related factors, and may include additional benefits consistent with applicable pay transparency laws.
Pay Range
$97,500-$190,000 USD
