Procurement Category Lead – Marketing
Job Description Summary
We are seeking an experienced Marketing Procurement professional to lead strategic sourcing and category management across Marketing, with particular focus on Influencer and Social Media Marketing.
This role will partner with Brand Marketing, Finance, Legal, and other cross-functional teams to translate Long Range Plans (LRPs), Annual Operating Plans (AOPs), Brand strategies, and business priorities into actionable category strategies, sourcing initiatives, and measurable value—and drive those initiatives through execution.
The ideal candidate brings broad Marketing Procurement experience, strong knowledge of the Influencer, Creator, and Social Media ecosystem, and the ability to operate independently as a strategic advisor and hands-on procurement lead.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Category Management – Translate LRPs, AOPs, Brand strategies, and Marketing priorities into actionable procurement and category strategies. Develop, maintain, and update category strategies as business priorities, market conditions, spend, and supplier landscapes evolve.
Value Capture & Opportunity Mining – Translate Brand strategies and Marketing investments into executable value capture initiatives. Proactively analyze spend, AOPs, scopes of work, agency models, rates, demand, and supplier relationships to identify and build a pipeline of savings and value opportunities for FY27 and beyond.
Marketing Procurement – Lead procurement strategies across Marketing categories, including Influencer Marketing, Social Media, creative, media, content production, digital marketing, experiential, agencies, and related services.
Influencer & Social Media Expertise – Provide procurement expertise across the Influencer, Creator, and Social Media ecosystem, including agencies, platforms, talent representation, content production, and evolving commercial models. Understand key cost drivers such as creator/talent fees, agency fees, commissions, usage rights, licensing, exclusivity, amplification, and production.
Procurement & Negotiation – Independently lead complex procurement initiatives from strategy through execution, including RFP/RFQ development, supplier evaluation, commercial analysis, negotiation, and contracting. Drive value through competitive sourcing, benchmarking, demand management, rate and scope optimization, supplier consolidation, and improved commercial models.
Agency & Supplier Management – Evaluate agency and supplier capabilities, scopes of work, staffing models, rate cards, retainers, fees, and performance. Identify opportunities to optimize the supplier ecosystem, strengthen partnerships, and improve commercial outcomes.
Market Intelligence & Analytics – Leverage spend analytics, benchmarks, supplier insights, and Marketing industry trends to challenge existing approaches, inform category strategies, and identify new sources of value.
Stakeholder Partnership – Serve as a trusted procurement advisor to Marketing and Brand leaders. Partner across Marketing, Finance, Legal, Risk Management, and other functions to balance business and creative needs with commercial value, speed, flexibility, and risk.
Experience & Qualifications
• Significant experience in Procurement and Category Management, with broad Marketing Procurement expertise across multiple categories.
• Demonstrated procurement experience within Influencer Marketing, Creator Marketing, and/or Social Media, combined with knowledge of the broader Marketing agency landscape.
• Strong understanding of Influencer and Creator commercial models, agency economics, scopes of work, rate structures, usage/licensing rights, and other key Marketing cost drivers.
• Proven ability to translate LRPs, AOPs, Brand strategies, and business priorities into category strategies, procurement roadmaps, and measurable value capture initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify opportunities, build procurement and value pipelines, and convert opportunities into realized savings and broader business value.
• Proven ability to independently lead complex procurement initiatives from opportunity identification through negotiation, contracting, implementation, and value realization.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret budgets, spend data, business plans, and market insights and turn them into actionable recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to operate effectively with senior Marketing, Brand, Finance, and cross-functional leaders.
• Excellent negotiation, project management, problem-solving, communication, and executive-level presentation skills.
• Ability to operate independently, lead through ambiguity, manage multiple priorities, and drive initiatives from strategy through execution.
• Experience within retail, fashion, apparel, consumer brands, or another consumer-focused industry is preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience; advanced degree preferred.
• CPSM, Six Sigma, or similar procurement/sourcing certification is a plus.
• Experience working within a global, multi-brand organization is preferred.
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