An opportunity has emerged in our network for a Director, Procurement – Global IT Category Management at BAE Systems Inc., HQ. This high-impact senior leadership role is responsible for the generation and implementation of a global IT category strategy covering over $1 billion in spend for software, hardware, and implementation services.

This is a full-time, fully remote position, reporting directly to the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO). Travel is estimated at approximately 15–20%.

Key Responsibilities and Strategic Mandate

This Director will serve as an integrated team member of the Global Supply Chain Leadership Team, driving measurable business outcomes by building a global IT sourcing strategy and leading its execution.

• Global Category Strategy: Develop and implement a global IT category strategy covering all elements of category management (define, analysis, execute, and manage), engaging key stakeholders and developing roadmaps based on integrated business plans.
• Sourcing Execution: Execute the global IT category sourcing strategy, including supplier due diligence, risk assessments, requirements collection, RFP creation, proposal analysis, leading and managing complex negotiations, and redlining contract terms.
• Spend Management & Optimization: Manage global IT spend (Indirect and Direct), using analytical tools to analyze the category (spend, market, supplier) and drive the review and delivery of Year over Year (YOY) IT savings and value creation objectives.
• Leadership & Influence: Partner with and influence a global team of IT stakeholders across business areas and geographies, building category management capability. Lead diverse and virtual teams, providing performance management and career guidance.
• Compliance & Risk: Collaboratively work with global Legal teams to ensure contract terms and conditions meet all local and regional requirements, and understand methodologies to mitigate ongoing technology and associated IT supplier risks (e.g., cybersecurity, cloud, AI/ML).

Required Experience and Expertise

The ideal candidate possesses expert knowledge in IT procurement, licensing models, complex negotiations, and global team leadership.

• Experience & Education: Bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of related IT Procurement experience, and 5+ years of leadership experience.
• IT Procurement Expertise:
  • Expert knowledge of the various IT licensing models and associated terms and conditions.
  • Knowledgeable in IT products and services, including software, hardware, cloud (IaaS, PaaS & SaaS), telecommunications, and implementation services category management.
• Negotiation & Commercial Skills: Advanced business acumen with excellent negotiation and persuasive skills, specifically with experience negotiating large, complex, single-sourced IT agreements.
• Leadership & Communication: Highly developed relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage, communicate, negotiate, and influence C-level executives and senior management both internally and externally.
• Compliance & Risk: Understanding of ongoing technology and associated IT supplier risks and methodologies to mitigate them.