Senior Manager, Category Manager Professional Services & Labor

Job Summary

This individual will serve as the Procurement lead for Professional Services and Contingent Labor categories, including consulting, staffing, outsourced services, and workforce solutions. This person is expected to influence at an executive level and engage in high-complexity, high-visibility consulting and professional services partnerships with global service providers. This role will advise business stakeholders on optimal engagement models including SOW-based consulting, staff augmentation, independent contractors, supplier panels, and MSP/VMS operating structures. This role will bring practical expertise in managing critical supplier relationships, and balancing workforce governance and cost optimization in environments with evolving contingent labor maturity.

The Senior Category Manager role is an experienced category management practitioner accountable for architecting and selling enterprise-wide strategies, orchestrating large and complex transformations, and communicating at the executive level. Leads multi-year value creation agendas, major negotiations, and supplier partnerships that deliver innovation, resilience, and measurable business outcomes across the enterprise.

This individual will also lead or oversee complex enterprise-level RFx and negotiations and stakeholder communications. Partners with senior and executive team members in transformation efforts. Works cross-functionally to manage contract pipelines and align sourcing and category plans with Business objectives. Maintains procurement governance and systems data in accordance with the above. May lead, coach, or mentor strategic sourcing and entry-level procurement professionals in support of the category plan. Partners with finance, accounting, legal, and IT governance to deliver measurable value and risk mitigation.

This role requires relevant market insight, cross-functional collaboration, and proactive stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate is a trusted procurement advisor and collaborative partner who champions supplier excellence, procurement governance and continuous improvement through clear communication, operational excellence, and strategic influence.

Position Overview:

• Establishes governance frameworks and sourcing standards for major professional services firms, and in contingent labor engagements across the enterprise.
• Drives supplier rationalization and preferred supplier strategies for consulting firms, staffing agencies, and outsourced labor providers.
• Evaluates and creates fit-for-purpose workforce operating models, including direct supplier management, VMS-enabled programs, or scaled MSP partnerships based on organizational size and spend profile.
• Owns a complex, high‑spend category (or portfolio) with global scope and enterprise impact.
• Leads cross‑functional project teams and external partners to deliver multi‑year roadmaps and operating model changes.
• Primary procurement voice with senior/executive stakeholders; presents at executive committees.
• Shapes policy, standards, and governance; mentors and develops the category talent bench.
• Ensures category plans reflect stakeholder goals, market dynamics, and supplier capabilities
• Influences functional leaders; presents recommendations and status at leadership forums.
• Champions adoption of preferred suppliers, standards, and policies across the business.
• Leverages analysis to shape strategic insights and market intelligence frameworks that inform category strategy, RFx prioritization, supplier negotiations, and contract terms
• Scrutinizes variable and complex data to identify and prioritize sourcing and planning opportunities that drive competitive advantage and long-term value
• Leads sourcing waves and supplier business reviews; accountable for savings and value realization.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Strategy & Value Creation

• Craft and socialize a bold, evidence‑based multi‑year category strategy tied to enterprise goals (growth, productivity, risk, ESG). Possible areas of opportunity:
  • Management consulting
  • Temporary staffing
  • Statement-of-work (SOW) services
  • Independent contractor engagements
  • Workforce solutions/MSP programs
• Develop labor rate benchmarking frameworks and market intelligence to improve rate competitiveness, geographic alignment, and workforce planning decisions.
• Identify opportunities to reduce unmanaged spend, rogue staffing e