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 Information 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.

Job Summary Addendum:

As a category manager, you'll be responsible for managing complex categories, leading the category/supplier segmentation and strategy development efforts, supporting the development of the procurement strategy to include business alignment and influence, and driving the category strategy through the procurement team to ensure contracts execute in alignment to the strategy.

This role will lead Technology - Network, Telecom, and Hosting category products and services while maintaining lowest total cost and highest quality and service. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Formal leadership responsibilities for 2 – 4 associates
• Development of category strategies which maximize customer value leveraging a continuous improvement structure.
• Implement and promote transformation program with a strong communication plan to achieve a structured and resilient supply chain.
• Develop and implement cost-based reduction strategies capable of delivering annual target savings.
• Execute annual cost savings, cash improvement and action plans to deliver the corporate and business objectives for year over year improvement.   
• Monitor the use of appropriate KPI’s to measure and improve the effectiveness of the key elements of the category strategies.
• Responsible for supporting supplier partnerships through activities such as, identifying alternative suppliers, risk mitigation, performance management and category innovation.
• Idea generation for new innovations (end to end) in their category to make sure it meets the timeline, includes critical terms and conditions, minimizes risks, leverages marketplace shifts and maximizes value.
• Benchmark historical performance and forecast future price movements, communicating necessary adjustments to plan.                                                                                               
• Identify and execute Procurement strategies such as payment term improvements, consolidation of supply base, buy channel optimization, etc.
• Create and present executive summaries executives and business leaders highlighting trends, issues and opportunities.

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

This role is hybrid to the Columbus OH offices, anticipated to be in the office once or twice a week.

Compensation Grade: H3

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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