Amazon

Category Manager - Telecom, GPO Tech Category

Amazon$85K — $128K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • Advanced knowledge of Excel (Pivot Tables, VLookUps) and SQL.
  • 3+ years in strategic sourcing and category management for indirect categories.
  • Proven experience in defining and executing process improvement initiatives with measurable results.
  • Experience managing relationships with multiple stakeholders at various organizational levels.
  • Cross-functional collaboration experience with both tech and non-tech teams.

Responsibilities

  • Establish and execute category sourcing strategies for telecom products and services across the US and Latin America.
  • Negotiate supplier contracts to enhance Amazon's competitive position while achieving savings targets.
  • Develop and manage relationships with telecom suppliers to optimize total cost of ownership.
  • Lead Supplier Relationship Management activities to improve supplier performance and mitigate risks.
  • Provide market intelligence on telecom trends, opportunities, and supplier innovations.
  • Redesign procurement processes by integrating AI and automation for efficiency.
  • Establish metrics to quantify efficiencies achieved through automation.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
  • 401(k) matching plan.
  • Paid time off and parental leave.
  • Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement coverage.
  • Mental health support and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses.
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Telecom Category Manager to strategically source telecom products and services across the US and Latin America on behalf of the Global Procurement Organization (GPO). This role sets category strategy, leads cross-functional sourcing teams, negotiates with the region's most important telecom suppliers, and partners with our most senior stakeholders to advance the full set of GPO strategic imperatives: delivering savings, mitigating risk, and improving productivity, while also expanding managed spend coverage, creating value across the supply chain, driving commercial excellence and compliance, unlocking supplier innovation, and pursuing optimization and standardization at scale. This leader will also be expected to modernize the telecom procurement process itself, using AI and automation to make sourcing faster, smarter, and more scalable. Key job responsibilities Category strategy & sourcing * Establish category sourcing strategies for telecom across the US and Latin America; lead cross-functional strategic sourcing teams, negotiate with suppliers, and execute contracts to optimize Amazon's competitive position. * Provide guidance on the development, execution, and management of category sourcing strategies for telecom purchases across the region. * Identify, achieve, and report on savings and value targets for all category sourcing activities. Stakeholder & supplier management * Drive appropriate relationships with category suppliers, with the principal objective of achieving the optimal solution and total cost of ownership that meets the business's goals, supported by a culture of continuous improvement with performance benchmarks in use. * Manage category suppliers to proactively identify, monitor, and optimize opportunities. * Drive category suppliers in Supplier Relationship Management activities to mitigate risk, improve performance, and add value to Amazon. * Lead the negotiation and implementation of supplier agreements/contracts, working with cross-functional stakeholders and suppliers to reach agreement on terms and conditions. * Align with internal customers and deeply understand the business application of the telecom category. Market intelligence & influence * Act as a market intelligence provider for the telecom category; anticipate strategic opportunities and keep key stakeholders informed on market shifts, carrier and pricing model changes, and emerging suppliers. * Help develop long-term department strategies and significantly influence cross-company project development, delivery processes, and standards. Driving efficiency through AI & automation * Reimagine the telecom procurement process end-to-end using AI, identifying high-friction, manual, or repetitive steps (intake, supplier research, invoice and inventory validation, contract review, renewal tracking, spend analysis) and deploying AI/automation to eliminate them. * Use AI-driven tools to accelerate market and supplier intelligence, benchmark carrier and circuit pricing, surface consolidation and rationalization opportunities, and flag renewal and compliance risk earlier. * Build repeatable, data-driven playbooks and standardized workflows that scale telecom sourcing across the US and Latin America with less manual effort. * Partner with internal tech, finance, and procurement operations teams to pilot and adopt AI capabilities, measure their impact, and champion adoption across the broader GPO organization. * Establish metrics that quantify efficiency gains (cycle-time reduction, hours saved, coverage expanded) and report on them as a core deliverable of the role. A day in the life A Telecom Category Manager in GPO owns telecom sourcing across the US and Latin America, blending category strategy, supplier negotiation, and process reinvention into each day. Mornings start with data: reviewing refreshed spend across the region, renewal timelines, carrier contract milestones, and savings tracking rolling up to GPO targets, often with AI-generated summaries flagging pricing changes, invoice or inventory discrepancies, and consolidation opportunities. The core work spans preparing for and leading complex negotiations with carriers and connectivity providers, running cross-functional sourcing teams with finance, legal, and procurement operations, and partnering with senior stakeholders to steer buying decisions toward optimal total cost of ownership rather than duplicate or under-optimized spend. A defining thread is working on the process, not just in it: piloting AI workflows to automate manual steps like intake triage and invoice validation, measuring the efficiency gains, and championing adoption across the broader GPO team. The day closes by updating savings and value tracking, quantifying automation impact, and aligning senior stakeholders against the full set of GPO strategic imperatives, before scanning ahead for the next carrier negotiation milestone and the next step worth automating. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree - Knowledge of Excel (Pivot Tables, VLookUps) at an advanced level and SQL - 3+ years of relevant strategic sourcing and category management in indirect categories such as professional services, support or maintenance spend, supply chain, forecasting, manufacturing, sourcing/procurement, or vendor management experience - 3+ years of defining and implementing process improvement initiatives using data and metrics experience - Experience in stakeholder management, dealing with multiple stakeholders at varied levels of the organization - Experience defining program requirements and using data and metrics to determine improvements - 3+ years of working cross functionally with tech and non-tech teams experience PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - 3+ years of driving end to end delivery, and communicating results to senior leadership experience - 3+ years of driving process improvements experience - Experience building processes, project management, and schedules The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits. USA, TN, Nashville - 77,200.00 - 115,800.00 USD annually USA, TX, Houston - 85,800.00 - 128,600.00 USD annually USA, VA, Arlington - 85,800.00 - 128,600.00 USD annually USA, WA, Bellevue - 85,800.00 - 128,600.00 USD annually

About Amazon

Audible is a provider of spoken audio information and entertainment , on the Internet. They provide premium spoken audio content, such as audio versions of books and newspapers and radio programs, that is delivered over the Internet and played back on personal computers and hand-held electronic devices. The Audible service allows consumers to purchase and download their content from their Website, store it in digital files and play it back on personal computers and electronic devices. More than 15,000 hours of audio content are available on their Web site, including audio versions of books, periodicals and radio programs. Several manufacturers have agreed to support and promote the playback of their content on their hand-held audio-enabled electronic devices.

Amazon Careers

Joining Amazon presents an unparalleled opportunity to become part of a vibrant team pushing the boundaries of innovation and growth in the global marketplace. As a leader in e-commerce, technology, and logistics, Amazon offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and professional interests. Work You’ll Do At Amazon, every day is an opportunity to collaborate with the brightest minds in technology and business to redefine what’s possible. Whether you’re interested in software development, marketing, human resources, or customer service, Amazon has a position waiting for you. Transform the way the world shops and innovates with our diverse and inclusive team. Amazon is not just a company; it’s a community where you can drive real change and contribute to projects impacting millions globally. Lead with Innovation and Leadership Amazon is the perfect place to enhance your leadership and innovation skills. Our culture encourages pushing the envelope and imagining the unimaginable. Here, you will lead projects that challenge the status quo and define new industry standards. Work with a team that values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. Our leadership is focused on harnessing the collective power of unique perspectives to foster growth and innovation. Explore Amazon’s Employment Benefits Amazon’s commitment to its employees extends beyond just career growth. We offer competitive benefits, including health care, parental leave, and diversity training, ensuring that our team not only excels professionally but also enjoys well-being and security. Internship and Networking Opportunities Start your career with an Amazon internship and gain hands-on experience that matters. Our internships provide a gateway to full-time employment and an opportunity to network with professionals across various sectors of the company. Future-Proof Your Career With Amazon, your career path is filled with numerous opportunities for advancement. Our learning and development programs are designed to nurture your professional growth and keep you at the forefront of industry trends. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the job opportunities at Amazon that match your skills and interests. We are constantly on the lookout for passionate, curious, and innovative team players ready to make a difference. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Amazon. Amazon is more than just a company—it’s a platform for building a promising future. Whether you’re starting or looking to advance your career, Amazon offers the resources, support, and network you need to succeed. Join us, and be a part of our continuing mission to be Earth's most customer-centric company.
Learn more about Amazon
Size
1,608 employees
Market Cap
$832.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$21.3 billion
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+28.1%
Revenue
$386 billion
NASDAQ

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