JOB SUMMARY

The Category Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing category strategies for assigned spend areas, with a significant emphasis on professional services. This role drives value through strategic sourcing, expert negotiation, and robust supplier relationship management. The Category Manager is expected to apply practical, scenario-based skills in areas such as intake shaping, market approach selection, negotiation planning & execution, and contract performance enablement, acting as a value-added partner to internal stakeholders, driving measurable outcomes, and actively contributing to critical procurement artifacts.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Category Strategy & Management:
  • Develop and implement data-driven category strategies for assigned spend, especially professional services (e.g., consulting, managed services), leveraging market intelligence and internal needs.
  • Conduct spend analysis, market research, and competitive intelligence to identify sourcing opportunities and optimize categories.
  • Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles and should-cost analysis to evaluate sourcing decisions, producing relevant models and worksheets.
  • Contribute to supplier rationalization/diversification strategies aligned with Highmark's risk profile & continuity objectives.
  • Identify and integrate innovation, AI-driven solutions, digital transformation, and sustainable practices into strategies to maximize long-term outcomes.
  • Champion the integration of supplier diversity initiatives into category strategies and supplier selection processes.
  • Accountable for delivering validated financial impact aligned to enterprise savings, cost avoidance, and margin improvement in partnership with Finance.
  • Continuously benchmark supplier, pricing, and category strategies against external market data and industry standards to ensure competitiveness

• Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation Expertise:
  • Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing, including intake shaping, RFx development, rigorous supplier evaluation, and optimal selection.
  • Develop and execute effective negotiation strategies, including detailed pre-negotiation planning (objectives, walk-away, concessions, stakeholder alignment).
  • Master services negotiation mechanics (e.g., rate cards, labor mix optimization, T&M vs. milestone, change control, total cost value optimization).
  • Manage contract lifecycle in Icertis from drafting to execution, ensuring compliance, favorable terms, and effective SOW/SLA drafting aligned to desired outcomes to mitigate pitfalls & protect Highmark’s interests.
  • Leverage procurement tools (Coupa e-sourcing, Fair market) for sourcing optimization and market approach decisioning.
  • Conduct pre-award risk assessments, integrating stakeholder insights and data to mitigate contractual and operational risks.
  • Holds decision authority on sourcing strategy, supplier selection, and commercial approach within defined financial and risk thresholds.

• Supplier Performance & Relationship Management:
  • Nurture strong, strategic, and collaborative relationships with key suppliers to foster innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership:
  • Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with internal business partners across departments.
  • Proactively engage stakeholders to understand needs, clarify complex requirements (intake shaping), and build consensus.
  • Act as a trusted advisor, offering insights and recommendations to optimize spend and enhance value.
  • Practice effective negotiation outcome delivery, emphasizing common ground and relationship building.
  • Translate complex business requirements into actionable & innovative procurement strategies.
  • Effectively manage conflicts with internal stakeholders and suppliers, seeking mutually beneficial resolutions.
  • Partner with business and Finance stakeholders to review and optimize spend requests, ensuring investments are necessary, appropriately scoped, and aligned to business priorities before sourcing.

• Process & Technology Optimization:
  • Ensure consistent application of procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.
  • Leverage and optimize procurement technology (Oracle, Coupa, Archer, Icertis, Sievo) for efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
  • Consistently produce and utilize critical procurement artifacts (e.g., detailed negotiation plans, SOW/SLA drafts, TCO models, intake correction tools).
  • Drive adoption of digital procurement tools, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities to improve decision-making speed, quality, and scalability.

• Value Creation & Financial Impact:
  • Identify, quantify, and consistently deliver measurable value (cost reduction, risk mitigation, innovation, service levels).
  • Track, measure, and report on procurement performance against targets and KPIs, emphasizing achievement of defined outcomes.
  • Understand and support post-award execution concepts related to value leakage and concession tracking.

• Risk Management & Compliance:
  • Ensure all procurement activities adhere to company policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards, utilizing Archer for risk assessments.
  • Stay abreast of industry best practices, regulatory changes, and emerging risks relevant to assigned categories, advising stakeholders accordingly.

• Other duties as assigned or requested.

EXPERIENCE

Required

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in strategic procurement, category management, or supply chain, with a proven track record of independently managing specific spend categories and delivering measurable results. Experience in professional services procurement is highly desirable.

Preferred

• None
  

SKILLS

• Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation Expertise: Proven ability to develop and execute effective negotiation strategies for services (rate cards, T&M, milestone-based), leveraging data-driven insights and AI where applicable, coupled with strong TCO and should-cost modeling skills. Experienced in intake shaping, requirements clarification, and drafting robust SOWs/SLAs, including risk mitigation.
• Analytical & Data-Driven: Proficient in spend analysis, market research, data interpretation, and applying market approach decision frameworks. Advanced Excel skills and experience with procurement systems (e.g., Coupa, Icertis, Oracle); familiarity with spend analytics platforms (e.g., Sievo) and basic understanding of AI/ML concepts is a plus.
• Exceptional Communication & Stakeholder Management: Superior interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence diverse audiences, drive consensus, manage high-stakes conversations, and build strong, collaborative internal stakeholder relationships.
• Project Management & Business Acumen: Solid project management skills, capable of managing multiple initiatives and meeting deadlines. Possesses strong business acumen, is proactive, results-oriented, and a strategic, innovative problem-solver.
• Adaptable & Resilient: A collaborative, ethical, and principle-driven professional with a passion for continuous learning and exploring new technologies like AI. Resilient, adaptable, and thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced, outcome-oriented environment.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of bachelor's degree.

Preferred

• Master's degree

LICENSES or CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• None

Preferred

• CPSM or C.P.M.

Language (Other than English):

None

Travel Required:

Less than 25%

PHYSICAL, MENTAL DEMANDS and WORKING CONDITIONS

Position Type

Hybrid

Physical work site required

Frequently