Category Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Job Title

IT Category Manager

Job Description Summary

As an IT Category Manager on the Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) Procurement team, you’ll support Technology & Data Solutions (TDS) by leading how we plan and buy software, hardware, cloud, telecom, data, and IT services. Working with TDS and business leaders, you’ll build buying strategies, lead sourcing and negotiations, manage contracts and renewals, and oversee key suppliers. Your work will reduce risk and deliver savings, better service, and new ideas, in line with C&W Procurement policies and business priorities.

Job Description

RESPONSIBILITIES

Category Strategy:

• Build and carry out buying strategies for software, hardware, cloud, telecom, data, professional services, and other tech spend that support TDS and company priorities. Turn business and technology roadmaps into practical sourcing plans that balance cost, capability, service, and risk.
• Own the plans for your categories, including demand, market research, sourcing pipeline, savings targets, and supplier strategy. Keep Procurement and business leaders updated on progress, risks, and recommendations.

Supplier Management:

• Lead supplier selection, onboarding, and relationship management for preferred IT suppliers and key technology partners.
• Set clear performance expectations for suppliers, hold regular business reviews, and build improvement plans. Work with business teams to quickly resolve supplier issues with quality, capacity, risk, or cost.

Sourcing & Contracts:

• Lead RFPs, RFQs, renewals, and negotiations for IT goods and services, from first request through award and rollout. Review and negotiate contracts, statements of work, and amendments with Legal.
• Dig into spend, pricing, usage, licensing, and total cost of ownership to find savings, avoid costs, and get more value.
• Build negotiation strategies and business cases, lead cross-functional teams that evaluate suppliers, and deliver measurable savings and value.
• Spot and reduce risks such as cybersecurity, data privacy, regulatory, licensing, and third-party risk. Keep contract records, renewal dates, and approvals accurate and up to date in our systems.

Stakeholder Partnership and Process Improvement:

• Act as a trusted advisor and IT procurement expert for TDS, business units, Finance, Legal, Risk, Security, and other partners. Build support with senior leaders and influence decisions that move category strategies forward.
• Share clear updates, recommendations, dashboards, and scorecards that track savings, compliance, supplier performance, and risk.
• Improve how procurement works, from intake and sourcing to supplier management and contract tracking, by promoting standard processes, automation, and the use of preferred suppliers and tools.
• Coach junior team members and sourcing partners on category knowledge, analysis, negotiation, and procurement processes, as needed.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Information Technology, Finance, or a related field required. An advanced degree or a certification such as CPSM (formerly C.P.M.) or CIPS is a plus.
• 7+ years of experience in IT category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or a similar role, including leading complex sourcing and negotiations that deliver on financial targets.
• Solid knowledge of IT buying categories, including software and SaaS, hardware, cloud, telecom, data, professional and managed services, and emerging technology.
• Good working knowledge of IT contracting and licensing, data privacy, information security, intellectual property, compliance, and supplier risk.
• Strong analytical, financial, and presentation skills, including the ability to read spend and market data, build business cases, and present recommendations to senior leaders. Proficiency with Smartsheet, Excel, and PowerPoint is required; experience with source-to-pay or contract management tools is a plus.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to work well with IT, Legal, Finance, Risk, business leaders, and suppliers in a global, matrixed company.
• Organized, business-minded, and self-driven, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities, make sound decisions, work through unclear situations, and get results with limited supervision.
• Experience driving change, improving processes, and following procurement policy.
• Comfortable working remotely with a global team, with occasional travel (less than 10%) for conferences, supplier meetings, or internal C&W meetings.

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.

The compensation for the position is: $ 97,750.00 - $115,000.00

Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”