Category Manager – Professional Services
Employment Information
Report this job
Job expired or something wrong with this job?
Job Description
Category Manager leading sourcing, negotiations, and supplier performance for JD Power’s auto-data intelligence business. Optimizing talent-services spend across North America.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing and category management strategies for consultants, contract labor, staff augmentation, professional services, and related category spend
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and staffing partners
- Partner with business stakeholders to understand talent needs, skill requirements, project timelines, and budget constraints
- Conduct market research and benchmarking to establish baselines, identify best practices, and monitor industry trends
- Lead procurement activities, including RFx processes, vendor selection, rate negotiations, and contract finalization
- Manage contract negotiations with vendors and service providers
- Collaborate with Legal and Finance on onboarding, contracting, compliance, and invoicing
- Drive cost optimization and value creation by identifying savings opportunities, managing spend, negotiating rates, and delivering measurable ROI
- Manage supplier performance through business reviews, quality assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Develop business cases and presentations for sourcing decisions, cost savings initiatives, and vendor recommendations
- Maintain deep category knowledge of staffing markets, professional services ecosystems, and talent management best practices
- Monitor and report on spend, headcount, savings, vendor performance, and compliance metrics
- Collaborate with business leaders, department heads, HR, Finance, Legal, IT, procurement team members, category managers, sourcing specialists, and external talent providers
Requirements:
- 8+ years of strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement experience
- 3+ years of demonstrated experience managing talent categories, including staffing, consulting, professional services, or contract labor
- Proven track record of cost savings, contract negotiations, and vendor relationship management
- Deep knowledge of staffing markets, talent ecosystems, and professional services industries
- Understanding of HR processes, compliance requirements (W-2, 1099, visa sponsorship), and employment law implications
- Strategic thinking
- Excellent negotiation and contract management skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with ability to influence at all levels
- Proficiency with procurement systems, data analysis tools, and Microsoft Office
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
- Strong relationship and stakeholder management capabilities
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment across geographies and time zones
- Results-oriented with demonstrated track record of measurable business impact
- Resourceful and entrepreneurial mindset; comfortable driving projects with limited resources
- Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across functions and cultural backgrounds
- Strong work ethic with sense of urgency to move initiatives to completion
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, HR, or related field; or equivalent professional experience
- Must be authorized to work in the country where the position is based
- JD Power will not sponsor visa applications for this position
Benefits:
- Occasional travel opportunities to meet vendors, clients, and internal stakeholders
- Diverse and inclusive workplace
- Recruitment and selection accommodations available
Similar Jobs
Procurement Assistant
Procurement Assistant supporting Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global provider of science and healthcare solutions. Fully remote role based in Peru with a standard Monday–Friday schedule.
Strategic Sourcing Manager I – Digital
Strategic sourcing manager optimizing Daikin Applied’s HVAC technology procurement. Negotiating supplier contracts, managing technology categories, and reducing enterprise costs and risks.
Purchasing Analyst – Mid
Analista de Compras conduzindo aquisição de materiais e fornecedores para a Principia, empresa da indústria cosmética. Estruturando KPIs, dashboards e análises de custos, prazos e desempenho.
Global Indirect Procurement Specialist
Global Indirect Procurement Specialist developing sourcing strategies for Capital Equipment and Construction at Solventum, a healthcare innovation company. Managing suppliers, contracts, and high-value procurement initiatives.
Global Procurement Specialist – Capital Equipment and Construction
Global procurement specialist developing sourcing strategies for capital equipment and construction at Solventum, a healthcare innovation company. Managing suppliers, contracts, stakeholder integration, and high-value procurement initiatives.
Global Senior Sourcing Manager – HVAC
Global HVAC sourcing manager developing supplier strategy for Ferguson, a project-success distributor. Expanding suppliers, optimizing costs, and managing global supplier performance.
Senior Director, Procurement
Sr. Director leading global procurement for BeyondTrust, a cybersecurity SaaS company. Driving vendor strategy, cost savings, AI automation, governance, and team development across global operations.
Group Manager – Procurement Services
Group Manager overseeing Turkey accounting, audits, controllership and financial reporting for WNS, an intelligent operations and transformation company. Preparing IFRS statements, tax filings and business reports while driving process improvements.
Procurement Manager, Data Center and Connectivity Domain
Procurement Manager managing contracts, suppliers, sourcing, and savings for Gcore’s global data center and connectivity infrastructure. Coordinating cross-functional procurement operations and supplier performance.
Contract Management Lead
Contract Management Lead overseeing complex U.S. healthcare, technology, government, and vendor agreements for Gainwell Technologies. Managing negotiations, compliance, risk, and contract governance remotely from India.
Sourcing Specialist
Sourcing Specialist at Pear Tree identifying candidates for AU/NZ mortgage support roles. Building talent pipelines through LinkedIn, Workable, job boards, and candidate screening.
Sourcing Specialist
Remote Sourcing Specialist helping Pear Tree identify and engage qualified candidates for staffing opportunities. Building talent pipelines through LinkedIn, Workable, job boards, and candidate screening.
Education Expert – Sourcing Funnel
Education expert creating realistic scenarios and evaluating AI-generated educational content. Translating educator judgment into training and evaluation data for AI systems.
Procurement Coordinator
Procurement Coordinator supporting compliant purchasing, contracts, reporting, and supplier onboarding for Circular Action Alliance. Partnering with Finance, Legal, Operations, and external suppliers across U.S. state programs.
Procurement Coordinator
Procurement Coordinator supporting compliant procurement, supplier onboarding, contract administration, and reporting for Circular Action Alliance’s EPR programs. Remote U.S. role partnering with Finance, Legal, Operations, and external suppliers.
Lead Procurement – Delivery Stream Engineer
Lead procurement and delivery engineering for Westinghouse’s nuclear cranes and fuel-handling equipment. Managing suppliers, schedules, quality, costs, and junior engineer development.
Sales/Sourcing Representative – Airline, MRO
Aerospace sales representative developing airline and MRO customers for Bron Tapes. Sourcing parts, negotiating supplier terms, quoting, and managing accounts to drive revenue.
Senior Sales/Sourcing Representative – Airline, MRO
Senior sales and sourcing representative growing Airline/MRO revenue for Bron Tapes, an aerospace and industrial manufacturer. Developing accounts, negotiating supplier terms, and executing strategic sourcing plans.
Talent Sourcing and Placement Officer
Talent Sourcing & Placement Officer connecting GUS education students with apprenticeship employers. Managing sourcing, candidate placement, employer partnerships, enrolment files, and apprenticeship contracts.
International Fragrance Sourcing Consultant
International fragrance sourcing consultant procuring authentic gray-market products for Scentbird’s fragrance subscription service. Vetting global suppliers, negotiating terms, and managing compliant imports.