Director Category Management, IT Services & Operations

Job ID: H#12848-1 - Director Category Management, IT Services & Operations Outsourcing

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 6 month contract to hire and needs to meet Client full-time conversion policies. Those dependent on a work permit sponsor now or anytime in the future (ie H1B, OPT, CPT, etc) do not meet Client requirements for this opening.

**Hybrid in Hartford, CT

What will this contractor be accomplishing for your team? In what Capacity does this role integrate with other departments?

- This resource will be responsible to manage a certain book of business for IT Outsourcing related spend, working closely with the LOB leaders to understand their business needs, optimize spend and drive savings. This would require close collaboration with our IT and Data teams

What makes this role stand out / what are some unique selling points?

- This role is highly visible and requires working with very senior leaders within The Hartford. It involves working on strategic initiatives and has the opportunity to influence outcomes.

Describe your expectations for training once a worker starts and expected ramp up.

- The resource will be trained on the Procurement processes we use to manage the sourcing life cycle. They will also have be brought up to speed on the IT vendor strategy and understanding of the IT vendor landscape for the areas that they would support

What tools or technologies do you want this contractor to have experience with/how will they be interacting with these tools in this role?

- Experience with procurement systems like Coupa, Ariba etc. The Hartford is a Coupa shop and we use that to execute contracts, issue PO s etc.

What is the nature of the relationship with key vendors and suppliers that they will help oversee/negotiate? How involved will they be in negotiating contracts?

- We have strategic relationships with several of our IT services providers. This resource is expected to understand the broader IT strategy and how it impacts the LOB spend that they would be managing. They would be responsible for identifying opportunities to go to market for initiatives where it makes sense and drive the RFP process, negotiate and execute the contract.

What type of background should this contractor have in order to meet the needs of your team? Do they need to hold a specific degree or certification?

- Background in IT Outsourcing working with Procurement / Vendor Management Teams, that has worked with large global service providers using a global delivery model, understands the nuances of outsourcing.

- Bachelor s degree required; advanced degree (JD, Master s degree in procurement/supply chain, business, engineering, or related field) or equivalent experience is a plus. Experience in IT Delivery and project management is a plus

Overview Of Department: The Hartford is a strong company with a powerful brand and a bright future. The Strategic Sourcing & Real Estate (SSRE) department plays a critical role in The Hartford s future by operating as a trusted business advisor with deep expertise that advances The Hartford s business objectives and delivers exceptional customer experiences. We operate as advisors with our customers to positively impact business strategy, while optimizing the way we use third parties to meet enterprise and business unit objectives comprehensively.

Overview of the Role: The Director, Category Management - IT Services and Operations Outsourcing is responsible for developing, managing, and executing the category and sourcing strategy for IT, Data, and Operations spend areas, overseeing an annual spend of over $100M. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong leadership abilities and a proven history of managing large-scale IT and Business Process Outsourcing transformation programs. This role involves close collaboration with senior leadership, including CIOs and Operations leaders. Experience with Data and Analytics is a plus. This position reports to the AVP, Category Lead for Professional Services and Claims.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies for IT Services outsourcing that align with business objectives and drive value.
• Collaborate with the CIO, CDO, and Operations senior leaders to understand business direction and requirements. Define and execute sourcing strategies to ensure alignment with business goals and optimize cost, quality, and service delivery.
• Partner with strategic vendors and senior leadership to identify and execute technology-led opportunities to transform Business Operations, boost efficiency, and improve customer experience.
• Lead sourcing events and develop supplier negotiation strategies that optimize spend, leverage The Hartford?s buying power, focus on service quality/performance, and minimize risk exposure.
• Conduct complex, high-visibility negotiations with major vendors, negotiate key terms, and work with various stakeholders from legal, information protection, risk management, etc., to draft and execute contracts.
• Drive sourcing model maturity based on industry best practices and The Hartford s operating model changes.
• Manage relationships with key vendors and ensure compliance with service level agreements.
• Conduct market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and risks in the IT outsourcing space.
• Monitor and report on the performance of outsourcing arrangements, ensuring continuous improvement and value delivery.
• Utilize Procurement technology to facilitate the end-to-end Procurement Lifecycle.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree required; advanced degree (JD, Master s degree in procurement/supply chain, business, engineering, or related field) or equivalent experience is a plus.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in strategic sourcing, specifically in the IT and BPO Outsourcing category.
• Proven track record in Procurement with significant experience developing and executing category strategies, reviewing, analyzing, and negotiating contracts.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills with the ability to solve long-term and complex problems.
• Experience in leading market analysis and intelligence gathering across relevant categories to support successful strategy development.
• Extensive negotiation skills and best practices in contracting, including drafting and negotiating contract terms.
• Excellent relationship management skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership in Procurement and across multiple Businesses and Corporate Functions.
• Exceptional ability to influence stakeholders and drive groups with divergent opinions toward effective, collaborative decisions.
• Exceptional supplier relationship and contract/conflict management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Outcome-oriented with experience driving results in an environment of change.
• Strong packaging and presentation skills with the ability to analyze and explain pricing models and contract terms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is a must; Coupa skills are a plus.
• Experience in IT Delivery and project management is a plus