Procurement Category Manager

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An overview of this role

The Procurement Category Manager is a strategic procurement role responsible for developing and executing comprehensive category strategies to maximize value and minimize risk across the Sales & Marketing spend portfolio. This position leads end-to-end category management activities while serving as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders and senior leadership. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders as well as vendors.

What you’ll do  

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies aligned with business objectives and procurement best practices
• Conduct detailed spend analysis and market intelligence research to identify optimization opportunities
• Monitor market trends, industry benchmarks, and supply chain risks specific to Sales & Marketing software and services
• Create and maintain category roadmaps with clearly defined initiatives and measurable outcomes

• Lead complex, high-value strategic sourcing initiatives for Sales & Marketing services and solutions
• Identify and implement cost savings and value creation opportunities across the category portfolio
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement within assigned categories
• Develop category-specific KPIs and performance metrics to measure success
• Build and maintain executive-level supplier relationships to drive strategic partnerships
• Lead cross-functional teams in sourcing projects and supplier implementations
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to forecast demand and manage category budget
• Create and present category performance reports to senior leadership
• Serve as trusted advisor to Sales & Marketing leadership on procurement strategy
• Lead negotiations for strategic contracts and master agreements to optimize commercial terms
• Develop and implement supplier performance management frameworks
• Drive supplier rationalization and relationship management strategies
• Ensure contract compliance and risk mitigation across the category portfolio

What you’ll bring 

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, or related field
• 5+ years of procurement experience with at least 3 years in category management
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management
• Experience managing complex Sales & Marketing categories (media, agencies, events, software, etc.)
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in spend analysis and market intelligence
• Excellence in contract negotiations and stakeholder management
• Advanced proficiency with procurement systems and data analysis tools (Zip, Coupa)
• Outstanding communication and executive presentation skills

About the team

The Procurement Category Manager will be part of the Procurement team reporting to the Sr. Director of Procurement.  The GitLab Procurement team is highly driven towards process and spend efficiencies, influencing and developing strategic category and vendor relationship management. Our goal is to establish customer friendly programs and processes while driving efficient and strategic spend management.

How GitLab will support you

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• All remote, asynchronous work environment
• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and development budget 
• Parental leave 
• Home office support

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.