Job description
Job Description:
Job Title: Category Manager - Professional Services
Location: Remote Home Office - North America
Reports to: Head of Procurement
Role Summary
The Category Manager for Professional Services will report to the Head of Procurement. The role will have key responsibility for strategic sourcing, vendor management, and contract negotiations across all talent-related categories at JD Power. These categories include consultants, contract labor, staff augmentation resources, and professional services engagements across all business functions and geographies.
This role involves identifying and prioritizing organizational needs, understanding the talent and services market, developing and executing sourcing strategies, leading competitive procurement processes, and negotiating favorable commercial terms. The successful candidate will work closely with business leaders, the Legal and Finance teams, and external supplier partners to ensure JD Power retains top-tier services while optimizing costs and managing risk. Excellence in communication, relationship management, and strategic thinking are essential to success in this position.
What You Will Do
Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing and category management strategies for consultants, contract labor, staff augmentation, professional services, and related category spend across the organization
Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and staffing partners to understand capabilities, market rates, and emerging talent trends
Partner with business stakeholders across all departments to understand talent needs, skill requirements, project timelines, and budget constraints
Conduct market research and benchmarking to establish baselines, identify best practices, and stay informed of industry trends in talent sourcing and professional services
Lead procurement activities including RFx processes, vendor selection, rate negotiations, and contract finalization
Manage contract negotiations with vendors and service providers, ensuring favorable terms, compliance with company policies, and alignment with risk and legal requirements
Collaborate with Legal and Finance to manage onboarding, contracting, compliance, and invoicing for all talent and professional services providers
Drive cost optimization and value creation by identifying savings opportunities, managing spend, negotiating favorable rates, and delivering measurable ROI
Manage supplier performance through regular business reviews, quality assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives
Develop business cases and presentations for sourcing decisions, cost savings initiatives, and vendor recommendations to secure stakeholder buy-in
Maintain deep category knowledge of staffing markets, professional services ecosystems, and talent management best practices
Monitor and report on key metrics including spend, headcount, savings, vendor performance, and compliance across all talent categories
Key Relationships
Internal: Business unit leaders, department heads, HR, Finance, Legal, and IT teams across the organization
External: Staffing agencies, consultants, contractors, professional services firms, and other talent providers
Cross-functional: Procurement team members, category managers, and sourcing specialists
What You Will Bring
Experience & Expertise
8+ years of strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement experience
3+ years of demonstrated experience managing talent categories (staffing, consulting, professional services, or contract labor)
Proven track record of cost savings, contract negotiations, and vendor relationship management
Deep knowledge of staffing markets, talent ecosystems, and professional services industries
Understanding of HR processes, compliance requirements (W-2, 1099, visa sponsorship), and employment law implications
Skills & Competencies
Strategic thinking
Excellent negotiation and contract management skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with ability to influence at all levels
Proficiency with procurement systems, data analysis tools, and Microsoft Office
Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
Strong relationship and stakeholder management capabilities
Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment across geographies and time zones
Personal Attributes
Results-oriented with demonstrated track record of measurable business impact
Resourceful and entrepreneurial mindset; comfortable driving projects with limited resources
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills
Ability to work collaboratively across functions and cultural backgrounds
Strong work ethic with sense of urgency to move initiatives to completion
Education
Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, HR, or related field; or equivalent professional experience
Special Conditions
Occasional travel may be required to meet with vendors, clients, and internal stakeholders
Must be authorized to work in the country where the position is based. JD Power will not sponsor visa applications for this position
This position has a starting salary range of $96,000 - $160,000 USD per year. This is the range we reasonably and in good faith expect to pay for the role at the time of posting. An employee’s pay within the range is determined by a number of factors, including relevant skills, education, qualifications, experience, performance, business or organizational needs, and geographic location.
Company Mission
Our mission in the market we serve is clear. To power every auto-related decision through proprietary data, advanced analytics, deep industry expertise, and seamless workflows that connect insight to action.
Our Values
We POWER Our Customer's Success
We are Innovative, Collaborative and Grounded in Data
We Make Things Easy
We Get It Done
We Start with Trust & Prove it Everyday
JD Power is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.
Should you require accommodations during the recruitment and selection process, please reach out to .
JD Power does not disclose your personal data to unauthorized third parties. However, as a global corporation consisting of multiple affiliated companies in various countries, JD Power has international sites and JD Power uses resources located throughout the world. JD Power may from time to time also use third parties to act on JD Power’s behalf. You agree to the fact that to the extent necessary your personal data may be transferred and/or disclosed to any company within JD Power group of companies as well as to third parties acting on JD Power’s behalf, including also transfers to servers and databases outside the country where you provided JD Power with your personal data. Such transfers may include for example transfers and/or disclosures outside the European Economic Area and in the United States of America. If you are a California or United Kingdom resident, additional disclosures about the information we collect and how we use that information can be found by clicking here.
To all recruitment agencies: JD Power does not accept unsolicited agency resumes and we are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
Originally posted on Himalayas
Who can apply
Eligible countries: United States. Accepted UTC offsets: UTC-10, UTC-9, UTC-8, UTC-7, UTC-6, UTC-5, UTC+14. Review the full description for employer-specific work authorization, residency and schedule requirements.