Global Category Lead - Professional Services

Company: Cognizant Technology Solutions
Location: College Station
Posted on: June 13, 2021

Job Description:

Global Category Lead: Professional Services

Director - Remote role

NOTE: This is a virtual role and is open to candidates currently living in any US based location.

The Category Lead for Professional Services is responsible for the overall supplier procurement strategy related to labor based third party engagements. This position will report to the Global Head of Professional Services & HR in the Global Procurement organization. The Professional Services category consists of Sales/Marketing, Management/Consulting, Advisory, IT Consulting, Market Research, and Legal Services.

Qualifications

Preferred Bachelor's Degree in Procurement, Finance, Business Management, IT, HR, or equivalent

Experience

Strategic sourcing of professional services requires a detailed knowledge of advanced procurement methods and techniques. Experience working with the top consulting companies ("Big 4") a must, including negotiation of both time and materials and fixed price projects in the labor space. Ability to run large scale RFP's related to various consulting engagements in addition to various IT related projects a plus.

Additional Skills

Ability to work in a flexible environment, an independent thinker, relationship focused, client focused and able to navigate a large scale global organization.

Responsibilities

Procurement strategy development - Category sourcing process development

* Provides support to the Category AVP/Procurement SLT in developing a business listing of preferred suppliers * In accordance with above establishes and maintains a needs-based segmented supply base * Ensures that local sourcing practices and processes conform to overall procurement policies * Ensures adherence to and understanding of purchasing policies and procedures in order that purchasing standards are upheld * Suggests and works with the Category AVP/Procurement SLT on process improvements e.g. introduction of more efficient working methods * Under the guidance of the Category AVP/Procurement SLT implements systems to monitor supplier performance for strategic partners * Manage a team of sourcing managers to align skillsets to category needs within the Professional Services space * Point of escalation for various types of inquiries around cycle time, supplier performance, upcoming RFx activity, and regulatory requirements

Procurement strategy execution - End user requirements identification, coordination and supply service delivery

* Liaise closely with the end-users in determining their requirements so as to provide early input into the sourcing process. * Negotiates local or regional contracts in conjunction with the procurement managers in region. * Work with team to ensures that end-users requirements are sufficiently detailed in an appropriate format for RFx. * Identify/action cost reduction programmes/procedures. * Provide savings pipeline for overall category and work with team to ensure execution based on goals set in timeline agreed to

Supply base management - Supply base optimization, market knowledge assimilation, analysis and application

* Analyses data related to macro environment, market sectors, suppliers and categories. * Reviews prices in market place and develops knowledge on industry characteristics and trends in order to optimize organizational operational expenditure (opex) spend. * Monitors changes/new developments/operating conditions/market capacity and quality issues.. * Recommends potential sources of supply from knowledge of market, existing supplier service levels, and competitive sources of supply. * Introduces new suppliers to the business as appropriate and proactively investigates opportunities to take advantage of developments within the supply market. * Identifies potential contract items and liaises with the supply chain's contract management function to ensure such items are added to existing contracts or appropriate contracts are established. * Develops and implements strategies for negotiations with suppliers. * Works within the business supply chain policy and procedure framework to optimise the organisation's supply base.

Stakeholder relationship management - Procurement stakeholder relationship development

* Promotes interaction between end-users and suppliers to ensure supplier development and appreciation of end-user requirements. * Establishes and maintains effective supplier relationships with suppliers, so that the benefits of better communication and understanding may be reaped by the company. * Monitors supplier delivery and quality performance and reports findings to the Category AVP/Procurement SLT. * Addresses performance issues with suppliers where appropriate. * Keeps the end-users informed regarding the latest issues involving their requirements and the influences that external forces could have on their situation. * Identifies benchmarking opportunities.

Keywords: Cognizant Technology Solutions, College Station , Global Category Lead - Professional Services, Other , College Station, Texas