Category Manager- Telecom

Overview

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

The Controller’s Office is responsible for AARP’s enterprise-wide accounting activities. This includes maintaining internal controls; compliance with federal, state, and other legal reporting requirements; grants management; revenue recognition; general ledger activity; accounts payable/receivable; payroll; tax; and procurement functions to include managing strategic outsourcing, contract negotiation and supplier management.

The Category Manager engages in enterprise-wide sourcing engagements utilizing multi-step strategic sourcing methodology. Manages relationships with specific suppliers. Implements category management strategies to drive cost savings and supplier performance and serves as the organization’s point-of-contact. Prepares, negotiates, signs, manages, and renews contracts and subcontracts. Coordinates with cross-functional departments to facilitate review and assessment of supplier risk. Collaborates with management to identify opportunities to streamline processes and to develop new procedures that support the business unit/department.

Responsibilities

• Leads large, complex, enterprise-wide sourcing engagements utilizing multi-step strategic sourcing methodology; manages relationships with specific suppliers; implements category management strategies to drive cost savings and supplier performance; and serves as the organization’s point of contact.
• Prepares, negotiates, signs, manages, and renews contracts and subcontracts. Coordinates with cross-functional departments to facilitate review and assessment of supplier risk and maintains supplier risk management protocols.
• Collaborates with management to identify opportunities to streamline processes and develop new procedures that support the business unit/department.
• Develops assigned subcategory plans in alignment with overall category strategy and approach and researches new product subcategory options to support organizational needs.
• Works closely with stakeholders to identify strategic suppliers for a subcategory and provides input to strategic decisions that affect functional areas of responsibilities.
• Performs spend analysis to establish a detailed view of the current spend by segmentation.
• Resolves escalated issues arising from the business which require coordination with other departments.
• Exhibits and delivers expertise within the category area, with an intimate knowledge of the supply market, key dynamics, and latest trends in the field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 7+ years of commercial procurement experience in strategic sourcing, contracting and category management with more than $50 million in managed spend.
• Extensive experience in managing IT & Telecom categories and knowledgeable of both the source-to-contract and procure-to-pay segments of procurement operations.
• Demonstrated ability to apply category management concepts and frameworks, to lead/manage the end-to-end strategic sourcing process, and to execute contracting methods that result in complete and accurate contractual documents.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills with a deep understanding of contractual terms and conditions and assessing business risk in legal language.
• Self-motivated, action-oriented, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and a customer service mindset; Ability to build/maintain strong cross-functional relationships and to complete tasks despite complexity and ambiguity.

Preferred

• MBA
• Prefers industry designated certification such as Certified Sourcing Professional (CSP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM)

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.

Additional Requirements 

• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Read Full Description