Professional Services Category Manager/Sr Category Manager, Procurement

Summary:

• Duration: 3 Contract Position
• Location: Fort Worth, TX
• Work Mode: Onsite 5 days a week

Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing activities, including category strategy development, RFx execution, supplier evaluation, market research, negotiations, and vendor performance monitoring.
• Manage sourcing activity across the benefits vendor ecosystem, including medical carriers, PBMs, TPAs/ASO administrators, stop-loss carriers, brokers/consultants, benefits administration platforms, wellness vendors, voluntary benefits providers, and specialty point solutions.
• Run structured RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, renewals, benchmarks, and market checks that support fair supplier comparisons, documented decision-making, competitive leverage, and defensible sourcing outcomes.
• Negotiate commercial and contractual terms, including pricing, administrative fees, rebates, guarantees, SLAs, implementation obligations, audit rights, data-access rights, market-check language, termination terms, confidentiality, and renewal protections.
• Analyze supplier proposals, claims/utilization trends, renewal projections, administrative fees, PEPM/PMPM structures, PBM economics, rebate arrangements, stop-loss terms, service levels, and total cost of ownership to support data-driven levers for negotiation.
• Deliver hard savings, cost avoidance, value protection, and working-capital improvements through competitive sourcing, contract optimization, vendor consolidation, fee transparency, market checks, rebate and performance guarantee improvements, and process optimization.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, consultants, IT/security, and business stakeholders to align sourcing strategies, contract terms, implementation plans, financial impacts, and risk considerations.
• Support compliance-aware vendor management by recognizing when ERISA fiduciary concepts, DOL service-provider oversight, broker/consultant compensation disclosures, voluntary benefit safe harbor requirements, RxDC, gag clause attestation, Transparency in Coverage, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, or plan-document considerations require review.
• Create and manage vendor governance tools, including scorecards, performance guarantee trackers, SLA dashboards, QBR/BR materials, corrective action plans, escalation paths, renewal dashboards, and contract compliance reviews.
• Monitor vendor performance against contractual, operational, financial, service, implementation, reporting, member-experience, and compliance expectations, and drive timely issue resolution when performance gaps arise.
• Maintain organized, audit-ready documentation, including sourcing strategies, RFx materials, evaluation records, negotiation summaries, business cases, financial improvement reports, contract documents, and vendor governance records.
• Demonstrate strong project management, executive communication, stakeholder influence, analytical storytelling, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage high-visibility and regulatory-complex projects in a dynamic environment.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years related work experience - Sourcing experience, specifically for indirect categories (not IT or Contingent Labor).
• Basic financial analysis / cost savings (Excel).
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, customer service, and communication.

Preferred Skills:

• Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Business Management, Finance, Accounting, or other related field.
• Knowledge of Source to Pay systems.
• Knowledge of Coupa and Levelpath.
• Experience with Benefits (Medical, Pharma, etc.).
• Process Mapping abilities.
• Supplier Risk Analysis.
• Vendor Relationship Management.
• Energetic and ambitious individual looking for a career-developing opportunity in the Procurement field.
• Skilled communicator and problem-solver, capable of navigating ambiguity, complex stakeholder dynamics, and change.
• Self-directed, organized, and resourceful person with the ability to handle multiple, simultaneous tasks with a proven record of prioritizing, managing, and executing as outlined.
• Strong business acumen.
• Understanding of supply chain concepts, with work experience applying those concepts.
• Negotiating and influencing skills.
• Understanding and use of technical tools for analysis, problem-solving, forecasting, and quality improvement.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Previous experience with Source to Pay systems.
• High ethical standard.

Benefits:

• Join a growing, high-performing team of Strategic Sourcing Professionals with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Work alongside highly driven, energetic, and collaborative team members.
• Develop strategies that achieve cost control, cost reduction, and cost containment targets.
• Expand your professional skill set by partnering with cross-functional teams on high-impact projects.
• Engage with senior leadership on key sourcing and transformation projects.
• Enhance your procurement expertise by utilizing a mix of critical skills - analytics, relationship building, collaboration, and project management.
• Build a strong professional network by engaging with vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Never have a boring day at work again!