Procurement Category Manager | Professional Services

If you’re passionate about being part of a dynamic organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to drive innovation and adopt new technologies that deliver 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.

Nationwide's Procurement team has two open positions for strategic procurement professionals who bring deep expertise in Professional Services and thrive in complex, fast-moving environments. You will shape category strategies, guide the right engagement models, and lead commercial negotiations that support critical technology and outsourcing initiatives with clarity, confidence, and business impact.

You will work across IT Consulting and BPO services, partnering with stakeholders to drive value, manage ambiguity, and influence decisions on complex business engagements. 

• IT Consulting includes advisory, implementation, systems integration, platform delivery, and technology transformation services delivered through a range of supplier models, including global service providers, consulting firms, staff augmentation, and niche technical providers.

• BPO includes outsourced business operations delivered by third-party providers, such as customer service, front-office support, back-office processing, and administrative or recordkeeping services managed against defined performance expectations.

This role follows a hybrid work model, with in-person collaboration in our Columbus, Ohio office two days per week.

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Procurement Category Manager | Professional Services =Consultant, Procurement Category Management

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 Consultant, you'll be responsible for the procurement and acquisition of goods and services for Nationwide that deliver near and long term sourcing value. We'll count on you 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 Business Partners, Finance, Technology and other Procurement team members to manage new sourcing requests, current contract pipelines for multimillion dollar categories and vendor agreements.  Works with reporting teams to develop data analytics and suggests revisions to Procurement policy and procedures to ensure a predictable, easy-to-follow and efficient procurement process.

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

• Works with Business Partners 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 a Project Manager with business partners, Finance, Technology as needed. 

• Facilitates moderately complex to complex competitive bid activity, including requests for proposal (RFP), quote (RFQ) or information (RFI), where applicable. Negotiates the terms of the contract, including conditions, clauses, and service level agreements.  Documents achieved savings for Finance approval.

• Assesses supplier risk prior to contract and collaborates with applicable risk partners, including Information Risk Management, Technology Review Boards, Privacy etc., for additional specialized assessments or necessary contract provisions.

• Analyzes and aligns Category goals and objectives to maximize usage of approved suppliers an