Category Lead (Remote)

At TruStage, we’re on a mission to make a brighter financial future accessible to everyone.  We put people first, and work hand in hand with employees and customers to create a diverse and inclusive environment. Passionate about building insurance, investment and technology solutions, we push the boundaries of what’s possible. We need you to help us shape what’s next. You’ll be encouraged to share your experiences, ideas and skills to help others take control of their financial future.

Join a team that has received numerous awards for being a top place to work: TruStage awards and recognition

Job Purpose: 

This role oversees sourcing activities across multiple spend areas within a Category Group. It achieves substantial initial cost reductions, complemented by continuous year-over-year improvements in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), while maintaining or enhancing quality and supplier service levels. Additionally, this position facilitates and leads cross-functional teams with key stakeholders to develop and implement effective cost reduction strategies, value creation initiatives, and partnership opportunities.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Oversee development and execution of strategies through the sourcing process for specific Category Group of spend areas.  Ensure enterprise and functional strategies are connected to business needs and influence strategies based on enterprise value.
• Effectively drive sourcing process including identification of suppliers, key term definition and performance commitments and negotiation of deal in partnership with business lead
• Champion and secure TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) reductions for a Category Group
• Oversee supplier selection process within category
• Possess, demonstrate and teach expertise in the category management levers across spend categories
• Lead and manage multi-functional stakeholder teams on specific strategic sourcing initiatives or projects
• Drive best practices
• Measure and track internal performance within each spend category and proactively put in place improvement plans, as needed
• Monitor strategy implementation and adjust, as needed, to ensure value creation out of category is on track to plan
• Drive annual productivity improvements in each spend category
• Build, maintain and grow effective relationships across key leader and stakeholders in the enterprise
• Create effective working relationships across all interested parties in procurement excellence - legal, IT security, governance and risk management, finance and any other specialized group.
• Partner with business areas to ensure contract compliance is being met within category and appropriate risk mitigation strategies are in place and being monitored

The above statement of duties is not intended to be all inclusive and other duties will be assigned from time to time.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, IT, or Engineering.
• Five years progressive related work experience. Sourcing, legal, supply management or process & quality experience required.
• CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager) preferred.
• Experience working with outsourced suppliers and off-shore suppliers preferred (especially in areas of IT outsourcing, operations outsourcing, insurance administration outsourcing, software acquisition, print or direct mail management, back-office outsourcing, claims management sourcing, temporary labor sourcing).
• Experience with strategic sourcing practices such as opportunity identification, benchmarking, supply base analysis, spend analysis, supply base strategy development, supplier performance management and e-sourcing preferred.  
• Demonstrated ability to employ data, facts and information and known problem-solving approaches to resolve problems required. Experience with Quality management/improvement techniques, Six Sigma, TQM, ISO or similar process improvement methodology a plus.
• Demonstrated expert team facilitation, influencing, and communication skills. 
• Ability to translate (or extract) business and commercial requirements from players at all levels in the organization (executives to shop floor participant). 
• Ability to translate the identified requirements into clear, comprehensive, consistent, and mutually exclusive requirements.
• Highly effective listening, interpersonal, influencing, team work, and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead negotiations.  Familiarity with the essentials of contracting and common contract terms, structures, and definitions. 
• Experience negotiating for key business functions and/or high value ($5mm+) deals preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and manage deadlines Project Management experience and skills preferred.

#LI-Remote

If you’re ready to help make a difference, apply today. Please provide your Work Experience and Education or attach a copy of your resume.  Applications received without this information may be removed from consideration.

Compensation may vary based on the job level, your geographic work location, position incentive plan and exemption status.

Base Salary Range:

At TruStageTM, we believe a sound, inclusive benefits program is of vital importance, along with a flexible workplace that allows for work-life balance, career growth and retirement assistance. In addition to your base pay, your position may be eligible for an annual incentive (bonus) plan.  Additional benefits available to eligible employees include medical, dental, vision, employee assistance program, life insurance, disability plans, parental leave, paid time off, 401k, and tuition reimbursement, just to name a few. Beyond pay and benefits, we also recognize that flexibility, including working in a place you prefer, is essential to caring for our employees.  We will continue to strive to offer flexibility and invest in technology and other tools that will make hybrid working normal rather than an exception, so that when “life happens,” you can focus on what’s most important.

Accommodation request

TruStage is a place where everyone can bring their best self and thrive. If you need application or interview process accommodations, please contact the accessibility department.