Category Manager (hybrid)

If you're excited about this role but don’t meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply! At Grange, we value growth and are committed to supporting continuous learning and skill development as you advance in your career with us.

Summary: This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of spend across business functions with a primary focus on Information Technology categories (including software (Saas), cloud, infrastructure, telecom, and IT professional services.  The role develops cost optimization strategies, conducts rigorous market analyses, and leads complex sourcing initiatives.

What You’ll be Doing:

• Provide risk-informed sourcing recommendations, incorporating total cost of ownership, supplier resilience, information security, and regulatory considerations.
• Lead supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contract structuring efforts to deliver measurable value, mitigate risk, and enhance service levels.
• Responsible for overseeing a portfolio of cross-functional categories, with a strong emphasis on IT sourcing and technology suppliers, managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Develop and execute category strategies for IT spend, including software licensing (SaaS and enterprise applications), cloud services, infrastructure, telecom and IT services.
• Manage cross-functional teams to execute the category-specific sourcing strategies, including the development of requirements and solution evaluation.
• Lead complex negotiations and work with Legal teams on contract structuring, including Master Services Agreements, Statements of Work, SaaS and cloud agreements, Service Level Agreements and performance metrics, and data protection and security provisions
• Conduct deep market intelligence analysis for IT categories, including supplier capabilities, pricing models (subscription, consumption-based, licensing), competitive landscape, and technology trends.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events (RFP/RFQ) including supplier identification, evaluation, competitive analysis and selection.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders and AVP of Enterprise Strategic Sourcing to identify and achieve the category goals.
• Integrate Third Party Risk Management into sourcing activities by supporting the risk assessment process to evaluate supplier risk across applicable domains.
• Drive Supplier Relationship Management efforts and manage modifications to portfolios, including tracking and reporting on the performance of category portfolios including cost savings, cost avoidance, contract value and supplier performance metrics.
• Drive organizational transformation in conjunction with the TMO.

What You’ll Bring To The Company:

Bachelor’s degree in Business (or other related degree program) or related experience, MBA strongly preferred.  4-8 years of strategic sourcing or supply chain related experience with a major company preferred.  Insurance industry experience is preferred.  Proven experience sourcing across one or more IT categories, including Software (SaaS, enterprise applications, licensing models), cloud services, infrastructure, telecom and managed services. GCP Certified Purchasing Manager or Certified Professional in Supply Management, or Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity Certification is a plus. Demonstrated experience negotiating complex IT contracts, including SaaS agreements, MSAs, SOWs, and SLAs and strong understanding of IT commercial models, including subscription pricing, consumption-based pricing, and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis. Demonstrated success of leading project teams to achieve quantifiable savings by applying various sourcing methods.  Strong project management and analytical skills, results oriented. Firsthand working knowledge of strategic sourcing methodology required and experience with eProcurement/eSourcing tools preferred.  Knowledge of eProcurement and eSourcing systems such as Ivalua is a plus.  Strong negotiation experience and excellent interpersonal skills and oral and written communication skills required. 

About Us:

Grange Insurance Company, with $3.2 billion in assets and more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue, is an insurance provider founded in 1935 and based in Columbus, Ohio. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home and business insurance protection. Grange Insurance Company and its affiliates serve policyholders in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin and holds an A.M. Best rating of "A" (Excellent).

Grange understands that life requires flexibility. We promote geographical diversity, allowing hybrid and remote options and flexibility in work hours (role dependent). In addition to competitive traditional benefits, Grange has also created unique benefits based on employee feedback, including a cultural appreciation holiday, family formation benefits, compassionate care leave, and expanded categories of bereavement leave.   

Who We Are:

We are committed to an inclusive work environment that welcomes and values diversity, equity and inclusion. We hire great talent from various backgrounds, and our associates are our biggest strength. We seek individuals that represent the diversity of our communities, including those of all abilities. A diverse workforce's collective ideas, opinions and creativity are necessary to deliver the innovative solutions and service our agency partners and customers need. Our core values: Be One Team, Deliver Excellence, Communicate Openly, Do the Right Thing, and Solve Creatively for Tomorrow.

Our Associate Resource Groups help us create a more diverse and inclusive mindset and workplace. They also offer professional and personal growth opportunities. These voluntary groups are open to all associates and have formed to celebrate similarities of ethnicity/race, nationality, generation, gender identity, and sexual orientation and include Multicultural Professional Network, Pride Partnership & Allies, Women's Group, and Young Professionals.

Our Inclusive Culture Council, created in 2016, is focused on professional development, networking, business value and community outreach, all of which encourage and facilitate an environment that fosters learning, innovation, and growth. Together, we use our individual experiences to learn from one another and grow as professionals and as people.  

We are committed to maintaining a discrimination-free workplace in all aspects, terms and conditions of employment and welcome the unique contributions that you bring from education, opinions, culture, beliefs, race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, handicap, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, pregnancy, veteran status, and citizenship.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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