Pennsylvania State University
Procurement Senior Category Lead for IT Software- Office of Procurement
🇺🇸
Hybrid - University Park, PA
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$68K - $102K
💻
Finance
🗓️
June 3rd, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
The Pennsylvania State University is hiring a Procurement Senior Category Lead for IT Software in the Office of Procurement. This role leads university-wide strategic sourcing and vendor management for the IT Software category, including strategic planning, supplier relationship management, spend performance, contract management, and category governance. The position also involves mentoring a category buying team and collaborating with stakeholders to implement category strategies that drive value and savings.
Highlights
- Lead strategic sourcing and vendor management for IT Software category with annual spend over $80M and 5,000 transactions.
- Provide strategic planning, supplier relationship management, spend analysis, contract management, and category governance across all university units/colleges.
- Serve as subject matter expert, assign workload, monitor cycle times, identify efficiencies, and report status to leadership and customers.
- Coach and mentor category buying team members to support team performance.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and implement annual and multi-year category strategies.
- Preferred qualifications: Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain, finance, or related field; professional certifications such as CPSM or CPM; experience in purchasing, data analysis, RFXs, negotiation, contracts, legal terms, and e-procurement.
- Required skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook; high analytical capabilities for proposal evaluation and purchasing data analysis; strong communication skills for interactions at all university levels and external vendors.
- Salary range: $68,200 to $102,300 annually.
- Employment requires successful background checks and U.S. work authorization; no visa sponsorship provided.
- Flexible work arrangement combining remote and on-campus work is available.
Procurement Senior Category Lead for IT Software- Office of Procurement Full Description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Penn State Office of Procurement is searching for a Senior Category Lead who will have University-wide responsibility for creating and driving strategic sourcing and vendor management for IT Software.
This category generally has an annual spend up to $80M+ and/or have 5,000 annual purchasing transactions.
The Senior Category Lead acts as a strategic business partner providing leadership in the IT Software category, providing strategic planning and sourcing and other procurement processes such as supplier relationship management, spend performance management, category contract management, internal spend and external market analysis, and category governance for all units/colleges that are active in the IT Software category. The Senior Category Lead collaborates with stakeholders on the development and implementation of annual and multi-year category strategies in order to achieve category goals, achieve business strategies and deliver sustainable category value.
The successful candidate for this position will serve as a subject matter expert within a high performance category buying team, including assigning workload, monitoring cycle time, identifying efficiencies and providing status updates to procurement leadership and customers. The Senior Category Lead will also coach and mentor buying team members and provide a support structure for the team to excel.
This position offers a flexible work arrangement that combines remote and on-campus work. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
The successful candidate for this position must demonstrate knowledge of broad concepts, industry policies and procedures related to the development, management, and implementation of a strategic category management plan with University-wide impact. They must possess:
- Extensive knowledge of category, market, and suppliers to drive value and savings for IT Software category.
- High level of analytical skill to develop and maintain detailed reporting and analysis of proposals and vendor capabilities, negotiations, and supplier selection as well as ability to analyze purchasing data, trends and habits within the category.
- High level of communication skills to create and maintain sustainable partnerships and networks both within and outside of the University to ensure comprehensive strategy planning and implementation. This position communicates at all levels of the University and with external vendors and other stakeholders. These communications often involve significant and complex situations, and the successful candidate must be able to relay this information in a way that is objective and adaptive to the audience.
A degree in business administration, supply chain, finance, or related field is preferred. Professional certifications such as the CPSM (Certificate in Supply Chain Management) or the CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager) from the Institute for Supply Management Inc. are preferred. Recent experience with purchasing, data analysis, RFXs, negotiation, contracts, legal terms and conditions, and e-procurement, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook is preferred.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Bachelor's Degree8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
acceptedRequired Certifications:None
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $68,200.00 - $102,300.00.
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $68,200.00 - $102,300.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.
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