Sr. Category Manager

Requisition #2025-21238

Date Posted1 month ago(11/7/2025 8:20 AM)

Department: Procurement Services

Category: Financial Services and Procurement

Job Type: Full-Time

Overview

Princeton University’s Office of Finance and Treasury seeks an accomplished procurement leader for the position of Senior Category Manager in the central Procurement Services function. This role requires an influential individual capable of driving transformational change and leading the efforts to build category management oversight. This role will be responsible for a variety of complex categories which may include research, technology, and business services. The ideal candidate will demonstrate versatility across a range of categories.

This role is expected to deliver measurable value to the University. This includes leading strategic sourcing projects, providing procurement leadership for projects sponsored by senior University leaders, and negotiating complex contracts. Blending technical competency, a collaborative investigative approach, and the insights gained from rigorous analytics, he/she will synthesize multiple sources of information into compelling business cases, strategies, and plans, and, will partner with a wide range of stakeholders to execute those plans through sourcing, contracting, and operationalizing new suppliers. With a diverse and complex campus engaged in world class education and research, navigating challenging situations to influence stakeholders will require leadership and managerial excellence across the Source-to-Pay lifecycle.

The Office of Finance & Treasury actively searches for staff members of exceptional ability and promise who share in Princeton University's commitment to excellence, and who present a diversity of viewpoints and cultures. We offer varied professional opportunities spanning all aspects of financial management, analysis, and processing in support of the teaching and research mission. As part of the University community, we respect the dignity and individuality of each member while trying to foster a sense of shared experience and common purpose. We are unwavering in our commitment to both diversity and community and embrace the variety of talents, backgrounds, and perspectives of all of our colleagues.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing

• Develop compelling business cases to deliver long term value through the synthesis of analytics, stakeholder requirements, and market dynamics for complex and challenging categories which require significant input from diverse campus stakeholders.
• Lead and perform strategic sourcing activities using an electronic RFx portal.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and senior leaders to build demand management, specification, bundling, and other strategies into the value proposition while balancing social objectives such as diversity and sustainability.
• Lead the negotiations, contracting, and enablement of new supplier agreements.
• Educate campus stakeholders to optimize the user Source-to-Pay (S2P) experience.
• Meet regularly with campus constituents to identify savings and service opportunities, monitor contract compliance and facilitate the exchange of information to enhance campus outcomes and improve supplier performance.

Contract and Supplier Enablement

• Lead teams to develop a thorough understanding of user requirements in advance of the RFx to inform the change management and communications activities during project implementation
• Ensure the desired portfolio of supplier catalogs and content are displayed in the electronic marketplace.
• Work collaboratively with project managers, communications staff, technical administrators, and affected campus departments to ensure the successful launch of new, competitively awarded suppliers.

Campus Project Support

• In partnership with department leaders, leverage skill and judgment to source, negotiate, and execute contracts necessary to achieve campus department objectives, minimize university risk, and promote supplier diversity.
• Evaluate and resolve contractual issues for complex, high dollar purchases to ensure process and policy compliance, value and risk optimization, and the achievement of University objectives including diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Category Leadership

• For categories which require further centralized management and oversight, partner with University leaders to develop strategies and roadmaps to improve the processes and value for those categories.
• Lead teams to transform the category management function for key categories.
• Leverage internal and external data, market intelligence, and appropriate strategic sourcing practices to deliver a balance between short term results with strategic objectives.
• Manage the contract portfolio within the category and collaborate as required for non-strategic contracts with the appropriate Buyer.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
• 7-10 years of experience in strategic procurement and category management
• Excellent communications skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams
• Excellent analytical skills with an aptitude to convert complex and conflicting needs into actionable requirements
• Advanced negotiation skills
• Advanced knowledge of contracts and the ability to lead stakeholders to minimize the impact of contract terms and conditions
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPM or CPSM certification
• MBA, MS, or other advanced degree
• Experience with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and/or Uniform Guidance
• Demonstrated category leadership experiences
• Experience working in a higher education environment
• Proficiency with electronic sourcing and eProcurement systems

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.

Standard Weekly Hours36.25

Eligible for OvertimeNo

Benefits EligibleYes

Probationary Period180 days

Essential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)No

Physical Capacity Exam RequiredNo

Valid Driver’s License RequiredNo

Experience LevelMid-Senior Level

Salary Range$128,000 to $142,000