Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
10+ years in IT category management or strategic sourcing, particularly in healthcare.
Experience owning category strategy in a client-facing environment.
Proficient in cross-functional project management and timeline coordination.
Strong stakeholder influence in complex organizational settings.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Ability to drive operational transformation and change management.
Responsibilities
Serve as primary strategic category leader and advisor for clients.
Develop and manage comprehensive category strategies and market analyses.
Lead category planning initiatives with defined savings targets and timelines.
Oversee sourcing events, negotiation strategies, and contract execution via a centralized COE.
Track category performance through established KPIs and transparent communication.
Build relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to foster alignment and improvement.
Contribute to best practices and the evolution of category management frameworks.
Benefits
Regular travel to client site in Nashville, TN.
Opportunity to work in a centralized Center of Excellence (COE) environment.
Engagement in high-value negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
Full Job Description
Position Summary:
The Director, Indirect Procurement- IT 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 advisor for the assigned client and category.
Partner with client and functional leaders to understand business objectives, constraints, and priorities.
Translate client goals into clear category strategies, value levers, and execution
Category Strategy & Planning
Own the development and ongoing management of category strategies, including market analysis, spend diagnostics, supplier landscape assessments, and risk considerations.
Lead annual and multi-year category planning, defining initiatives, savings targets, timelines, and success metrics.
Continuously refine category 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 quality oversight throughout sourcing and contracting cycles
Sourcing, Negotiation & Contract Outcomes
Support negotiation strategies, commercial objectives, and supplier positioning.
Directly support 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 category-level performance, including savings, value creation, service levels, and risk outcomes.
Establish and track KPIs, ensuring transparent reporting and clear communication of results to clients.
Proactively identify additional opportunities for value, optimization, and innovation.
Stakeholder & Supplier Engagement
Build and maintain strong relationships with client stakeholders.
Facilitate alignment across client procurement, finance, legal, and business teams.
Engage strategically with key suppliers to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Leadership & Practice Contribution
Promote consistent methodologies, tools, and best practices across client engagements.
Contribute to the evolution of category management frameworks, playbooks, and intellectual capital.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
10+ years of experience in IT category management, strategic sourcing, procurement consulting, or outsourced procurement services.
Prior experience in the healthcare industry is highly preferred.
Proven experience-owning category strategy and delivering results in a client-facing or advisory environment.
Led cross-functional project planning and execution efforts, coordinating timelines, resources, and stakeholder communication to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery of key initiatives.
Demonstrated success influencing senior-level stakeholders in complex, matrixed environments.
Experience managing vendor relationships and supporting high-value contract negotiations.
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.
Proven experience driving operational transformation and organizational change management.
Strong problem-solving, judgment, and leadership capabilities.
Ability to operate strategically while maintaining comfort overseeing execution details.
Measures of Success:
Delivery of committed client value (savings, cost avoidance, and broader business outcomes).
Quality and impact of category strategies and plans.
Client satisfaction, trust, and engagement longevity.
Effectiveness of COE utilization and execution.
Supplier performance and contract effectiveness.
Travel: This role requires regular travel to the Client's office in the Nashville, TN area.
Other Duties: This Position Description is not an exhaustive list of 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.
