Sr Consultant, Procurement Category Management (Technology)

If you’re passionate about innovation and love working in an environment where you can constantly improve and adopt new technologies to drive business results, then Nationwide’s Technology team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

As a Category Manager, you will manage complex technology categories and lead supplier segmentation and strategy development. You’ll support enterprise procurement strategy by aligning with business priorities, influencing stakeholders, and driving category strategies through the procurement team to ensure contracts deliver on strategic objectives. This role will lead and support various technology categories—including, but not limited to, Network, Telecom, Hosting, and emerging technologies—while driving cost optimization, quality, and service excellence. Responsibilities may evolve based on business priorities and candidate strengths, offering flexibility and growth opportunities.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• May include leadership of up to 2–4 associates, based on business needs and candidate experience.

• Develop and execute category strategies to maximize value and drive continuous improvement.

• Lead transformation initiatives to build a resilient, cost-effective supply chain.

• Deliver annual savings and cash improvement targets through cost-reduction strategies.

• Track and leverage KPIs to measure and improve category performance.

• Manage supplier relationships, including risk mitigation, performance, and innovation.

• Identify and implement procurement strategies (e.g., payment terms, supply base consolidation).

• Forecast market trends and adjust plans accordingly.

• Present executive summaries to senior leaders on trends, risks, and opportunities.

 

Additional Details

• Hybrid role based in Columbus, OH; typically 1–2 days per week in-office.

• This role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT Extension program.

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Job Description Summary

Procuring goods and services necessary to successfully run and grow our business is critical. Whether working to enable the processes that support buying decisions or finding the best supplier, price or contract terms, we bring expertise, skill and talent to the task. If you are collaborative, a top-level communicator, highly ethical and have the ability to manage key relationships by providing outstanding service, we want to know more about you!

As a Senior Consultant, you'll be responsible for finding and acquiring goods and services that deliver long-term value for Nationwide. We'll count on you to find ways to enhance processes and drive efficiency. You'll have opportunities to advise business units on the acquisition of complex, specialized and highly technical products and services, including SAAS software licenses, offshore outsourcing, Marketing, Employee Benefits and more.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Partners and collaborates with multiple Business Partners, Finance, Technology and other Procurement team members to manage new, complex sourcing requests, current contract pipelines for multimillion dollar categories and vendor agreements.  Work with reporting teams to develop data analytics and make changes to Procurement policy and procedures to ensure a predictable, easy-to-follow and efficient procurement process.

• Conducts extensive, continuous industry research and benchmark analysis within a defined spend category. Establishes a detailed category strategy for a highly technical domain, monitors purchasing trends and identifies top suppliers and innovations within the category.

• Consults with Business Partners and is a trusted advisor to manage Business Unit and Procurement relationship, by building forecasts of demand, service levels requirements, Total Cost of Ownership models, contractual and other risk requirements (by category domain, actual and forecasted spend), identifying cost reduction opportunities, and developing recommendations. Acts as Project Manager executing with business partners, Finance, and Technology. 

• Facilitates highly complex competitive bid activity, including requ