IT Category Manager, Operations Support

Position Summary

The IT Category Manager (ICM) is a position within the Procurement Services Unit under the Finance and Administration Division. Reporting to the Associate Director of Procurement Operations Support, the ICM serves as the primary procurement liaison to PCORI's DIGITAL Division. Manages the planning and execution of procurement strategies across assigned information technology categories covering PCORI's IT portfolio including SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, and enterprise technology solutions. The ICM manages end-to-end ("cradle-to-grave") procurement activities for IT procurements, while applying category management principles-such as market research, supplier segmentation, and lifecycle planning-to support informed sourcing decisions.

Serves as a key advisor on IT procurement strategy and works closely with senior DIGITAL leadership and business owners, the ICM aligns procurement strategies with technology roadmaps, security requirements, and organizational priorities to deliver best value, mitigate risk, and ensure sustainable vendor relationships. The ICM will support the Associate Director, Procurement Operations Support (ADPOS) in developing, advising, and driving procurement strategy to ensure continuous alignment with PCORI's strategies, goals, and business objectives. Works with ADPOS to develop IT-specific category strategies incorporating the procurement and technology lifecycle planning, vendor consolidation, and alignment with DIGITAL's enterprise architecture standards.

The IT Category Manager is expected to exercise high-level judgment to provide independent advice to departmental clients and resolve complex contractual issues. The role is responsible for conducting market research, drafting statements of work and deliverables, preparing RFPs, devising evaluation methodologies, weighting, and sourcing strategies for assigned IT categories, including SaaS, cloud services, and managed services-while serving as the negotiation lead for complex, high-value IT agreements including enterprise licensing, cloud subscriptions, managed services agreements. Furthermore, the ICM is expected to manage renewals and negotiations for renewals over $100K to ensure cost saving to PCORI. The PCM is authorized to analyze, collect, and prepare all documentation required to reconcile data and settle matters regarding costs, deliverables, and payments. To ensure organizational resilience, the position is also empowered to conduct risk compliance analyses and recommend alternative procurement methods to effectively mitigate vendor or service risks.

The ICM develops and enhances relationships with PCORI vendors and other internal stakeholders/partners. The position requires expertise in contracting laws, principles, and practices to apply procurement concepts to plan and manage highly specialized and routine procurements within the industries delegated to the operations support portfolio.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Acts as a trusted, strategic business partner for DIGITAL by providing expertise and collaborating with business clients on requirements, enabling business owners to make informed decisions on their procurements, resulting in agreements ("contracts") in support of their Business Unit's goals and objectives.
• Executes the full procurement life cycle process to include: pre- and post-award activities; deployment of appropriate strategies, considering the size, risk, and complexity of the procurement; and recommendations to internal clients on procurement best practices.
• Proactively conducts procurement planning to determine the need for a contract, contract modification/amendment, renewals or termination; recommends procurement strategies for consideration; leads in the development of robust statements of work and deliverables; and takes a leading role in contractor identification and selection. Reviews procurement requests to determine that proper specifications or descriptions are included in RFX (RFI/RFQ/RFP)

• Conducts offeror and contractor responsibility/risk compliance analysis using established PCORI procedures.
• Leads IT-specific procurement activities, including sourcing and evaluating enterprise software, hardware, cloud services, SaaS solutions, and IT professional services that are tied to implementation, integrations and managed services; partners closely with the DIGITAL department, Information Security, and Data Governance teams to ensure integrated decision making and compliance with technical requirements, cybersecurity standards, data-protection policies, and system-integration needs.
• Designs and implements innovative procurement sourcing strategies for emerging technologies.
• Possesses expert level understanding of commerciality and can demonstrate achieving value for money through strategic planning, solicitation, and negotiations. Possesses expert understanding of risks, analyses service risk as well as vendor risk and works with business partners to mitigate risks through sourcing and managing risk during the facets within the procurement process. • Follows established procurement policies, programs, and procedures that enhance operational efficiency from initial request through invoice payment and contract close-out.
• Reviews procurement requests to determine that proper specifications or descriptions are included in RFP documentation.
• Evaluates offerors' cost/price proposals, conducts price/cost analysis to determine price reasonableness, and prepares recommendations for award.
• Negotiates contracts, including coordinating with technical experts and interested PCORI business units (e.g., Office of General Counsel, DIGITAL), to develop the contract price and terms.
• Performs and completes contract closeouts involving simple and complex contracts (supporting firm fixed price, cost reimbursable, time and material payment mechanisms). Works independently to analyze, collect, and prepare all documentation; reconcile data; and perform all other required activities. Works with the Project Leader and Contractor to resolve and settle all matters including, but not limited to, costs, deliverables, and payments. • Collaborates with leadership & management officials including other subject matter experts to develop category strategies; critical areas of expertise include the supply markets, major vendors, and industry trends that may impact the purchasing for the category. Provides collaborative category management plans to senior management illustrating visibility on risks, analyzing market dynamics, key operational achievements, important suppliers and measurable deliverables on productivity, efficiency & effectiveness.
• Develops and implements the sourcing strategy for the designated categories in line with the overall sourcing strategy to constantly increase productivity, identify cost savings opportunities and optimize PCORI's spending. Creates and improves specialization and efficiencies within Procurement Services generating buying power and identifying reduction in costs.
• Assists and coordinates with the clients to proactively conducts procurement planning to determine the need for a contract, contract modification/amendment, or termination; recommends procurement strategies for consideration; Interprets, advises and assists business partners, clients and junior team members in application of the Procurement Policy to satisfy contractual needs of the assigned portfolio.
• Advices and supports internal clients on any new contract requirements, conducting market research on prospective/qualified vendors/suppliers, current procurements, and/or issues/problems with existing contracts. Recommends alternative methods of procuring complex procurements based on the internal customer's needs. Resolves contractual issues, supports clients in monitoring vendor performance and timely delivery and quality of services, expedites delivery as appropriate.
• Proactively manages internal client relationships, including leveraging expectations, leading regular meetings / consultation, providing updates as needed and on request, and anticipating customer needs, where possible.
• The Manager will operate with minimal oversight on routine procurement activities. The candidate must demonstrate a thorough level of judgement and application of best practices; ability to adapt and apply lessons-learned; a proactive personality; and capacity for critical thinking and making recommendations in situations with limited precedent will be beneficial in this role.

Incumbent(s) in this position may be required to perform other duties and special assignments not specifically stated above.

Statements outlined in this section are designated as essential job functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Required Skills

• Proficient understanding of the concepts, principles, and practices of the broad field of procurement to determine and establish procurement strategy and to develop and manage the negotiations, execution and management of contracts and agreements
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including demonstrated ability to articulate and propose alternative methods for procuring complex requirements based on the internal client's needs.
• Self-directed with a strong sense of situational awareness and ability to complete assignments on-time and within established procurement action lead times (PALTs); proactive and able to take initiative and follow up with customers as-needed to complete assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a consultative advisory role, balancing procurement policy requirements with business needs to deliver practical, customer-focused solutions.

• Strong stakeholder management and client-service orientation, with the ability to build trust, manage expectations, and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Proficient understanding of the procurement planning function sufficient to develop procurement & contractual strategies for simple, moderate & complex procurements to assure attainment of business goals.
• Proficient in managing RFX (Request for Proposal, Request for Information, Request for Quote)/competitive procurement/proposal evaluation experience, and contract close-out-related services and activities.
• Proficient understanding of the procurement planning function sufficient to develop procurement & contractual strategies for simple, moderate & complex procurements to assure attainment of business goals.
• Proficient understanding of contracting methods and contract types, including cost and incentive contracting, award fee, multiple awards, special provisions relating to proprietary rights and rights in data to manage and coordinate activities sufficient to control a variety of contractual actions of a major department/office occurring concurrently, in an overlapping fashion, or sequentially and to control several simultaneous interrelated contracts with different contractors.
• Strong ability to translate and facilitate program/research support requirements into viable procurement actions.
• Solid understanding of IT hardware, software, support services, networks and infrastructure and data center technology • Self-directed with a strong sense of situational awareness and ability to complete assignments on-time and within established procurement action lead times (PALTs); proactive and able to take initiative and follow up with customers as-needed to complete assignments.
• Robust interpersonal skills and comfort communicating at all levels of an organization; brings the ability to work collaboratively with different business groups and departments.
• Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Intellectual curiosity and a professional commitment to excellence.

Required Experience

• A minimum of 10+ years of progressive procurement and category management experience related to contracting, sourcing contract administration, negotiating technology contracts, enterprise software licensing agreements, and IT managed services.
• 5+ years of Request for Proposal/competitive procurement/proposal evaluation experience, and contract closeout-related services and activities.
• 5+ years of experience in coaching and training internal clients paired with a strong understanding of procurement best practices and knowledge of contract law.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college and/or university. Master's degree, relevant certifications (Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) etc.) or professional designations, and general knowledge of contracting law preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $115,000 - $130,000

The above range represents the salary range expected for the position; however, final offers are based on several factors such as the position's responsibilities; the candidate's experience, education, and skills; location; travel required; and current market conditions. Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, eligible employees may participate in PCORI-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee's eligible dependents.