Category Procurement Manager - Technology - Software

Job Summary:

The Category Procurement Manager works under the direction of the department head or assigned designee on the development and implementation of effective procurement strategies, from initial identification of procurement needs through delivery, for indirect goods and services. Contributes to the planning, development, management and implementation of procurement strategic initiatives that align with the Company goals for reducing costs and meeting financial expectations, while managing vendor relationships.

The Category Procurement Manager is responsible for managing software procurement, including licensing, subscriptions, renewals, and vendor negotiations. The Category Procurement Manager ensures that software and related technology services are sourced at the best possible cost while meeting compliance, security, and business requirements. Responsibilities include assessing near-term and long-term technology needs, balancing supplier priorities and KPIs with business objectives, and consulting with senior management and subject matter experts to develop alternative solutions. The role advises on options, risks, total cost of ownership, and business impacts to support informed decision-making.

This role is based in our Deerfield, IL office and is on‑site four days a week.

Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies the use of sourcing strategies, best practices, and initiatives that support improvements in supplier quality, total cost effectiveness, enhanced service levels, delivery, pricing, lead-times, payment, and risk compliance for goods not for resale.
• Develops and implements category sourcing strategies including development and execution of request for information (RFI) and request for proposal (RFP); documents bid events through correspondence to suppliers; develops selection criteria and drives the selection of suppliers in collaboration with cross-functional teams; conducts supplier negotiations and ongoing supplier management.
• Seeks ways to streamline business processes; researches and provides information on industry category trends and best practices. Provides input to maximize value and optimize project efforts.
• Uses current spend information/data and business knowledge to identify sourcing projects for individual subcategories and develops an overall cost reduction and cost avoidance plan. Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of business requirements and category ownership by creating and defending category strategies and decisions with sound analytics. Delegates analytic tasks to key support functions and synthesizes results.
• Supports stakeholder management of supplier scorecards to measure supplier performance against agreed upon key performance indicators; supports formal management reporting to director and or, group purchasing managers and other members of senior management. Benchmarks, tracks, and analyzes performance metrics and sourcing trends on a regular basis to demonstrate continuous improvement and progress against strategic objectives. Supports implementation of supplier management programs with key suppliers including metrics, performance goals, and improvement initiatives.
• Participates in strategic meetings with suppliers and business leaders to ensure execution of defined strategies. Manages on-going category supplier relations and identifies and drives revision opportunities within supply base. Acts as an escalation point for stakeholders’ supplier management and complaint resolution; conducts regular supplier meetings and implements improvement strategies with suppliers. Creates, nurtures, and enhances supplier relationships.
• Manages category performance by adhering to internal Savings goals and reviewing financial models for commodity type items. Ensures spend portfolio for recurring spend is balanced through coordinated sourcing waves and leveraged with Capital project sourcing activities.
• Drives consolidation of spend and seeks out synergies across Business Units where applicable by forming and leading cross-functional strategic sourcing teams to develop and implement category/commodity strategies and drive cost from individual sub-categories. Champions category review meetings with cross-functional teams to manage category performance.
• Cultivates team morale, motivation, and loyalty through continuous training and mentorship, setting obtainable performance goals, proving clear communication and constructive feedback.

About Walgreens
Founded in 1901, Walgreens ( has a storied heritage of caring for communities for generations and proudly serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across its approximately 8,500 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and leading omni-channel platforms. Walgreens has approximately 220,000 team members, including nearly 90,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for retail pharmacy and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of procurement experience OR High School/GED and at least 5 years of procurement experience
• Experience working with business and/or procurement lifecycles and best practices.
• Experience in negotiations and developing/executing strategies.
• Experience collaborating with internal and external resources to develop strategies that meet department goals within budget and established timelines.
• Experience managing projects and/or cross functional teams.
• At least 1 year of direct leadership, indirect leadership and/or cross-functional team leadership.
• Willing to travel up to/at least 10% of the time for business purposes (within state and out of state).
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and at least 3 years of procurement process experience OR High School Diploma/GED and at least 5 years of indirect procurement experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in negotiating deals.
• Intermediate level skill in Microsoft Excel (for example: using SUM function, setting borders, setting column width, inserting charts, using text wrap, sorting, setting headers and footers and/or print scaling).
• Intermediate level skill in Microsoft PowerPoint (for example: applying a theme, formatting character spacing, inserting a picture, changing slide layout and theme colors, adding transitions, customizing slide numbers, changing chart style and/or formatting font).
• Intermediate level skill in Microsoft Word (for example: inserting headers, page breaks, page numbers and tables and/or adjusting table columns).

We will consider employment of qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Salary Range: $102800 - $164400 / Salaried