Category Management & Strategic Sourcing Senior Manager - Business Software Technology - Hybrid

OVERVIEW The Category Management & Strategic Sourcing Senior Manager is a strategic procurement leader responsible for leading a team of sourcing professionals that delivers end-to-end sourcing, contracting, and supplier management support for technology-related spend across the organization. This role lead and oversees the procurement of software, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), cloud solutions, and technology services, driving sourcing strategies that optimize value, mitigate risk, and support enterprise business objectives. The Senior Manager serves as a trusted advisor to business and technology leaders, leading complex sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and contracting activities while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities. This role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization. The successful candidate will lead multiple sourcing and negotiation engagements simultaneously, including highly complex competitive sourcing events and direct negotiations involving multi-year technology agreements. Responsibilities include negotiating master software, cloud, SaaS, and services agreements, as well as associated transaction documents, statements of work, and purchase agreements. This role partners closely with internal and external stakeholder e.g. Business Leaders, Information Technology, Legal, Information Security, Privacy, Finance, Risk, Compliance , and Supplier teams to deliver successful sourcing outcomes and supplier relationships. This role must have experience dealing at various management levels to achieve desired outcomes through sourced engagements. The Senior Manager is accountable for the performance, development, and results of the sourcing professionals reporting to them. Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Category Management - Develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and enterprise priorities. Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including market analysis, supplier assessments, RFPs, commercial negotiations, contracting, and supplier selection. Identify and execute opportunities that deliver measurable value through cost optimization, risk reduction, innovation, and operational efficiency. Maintain deep knowledge of technology markets, supplier landscapes, licensing models, and emerging industry trends. Negotiate complex software, SaaS, cloud, and technology services agreements to optimize commercial outcomes and minimize risk in collaboration with internal matrix partners. Operational Excellence: Lead/support initiatives focused on process improvement, standardization, automation, and scalability within procurement operations. Enhance sourcing tools, reporting, metrics, and governance practices to improve transparency and performance. Drive adoption of best practices across contract management and supplier services functions. Leverage automation and AI-enabled capabilities to improve team productivity and service delivery. Support continuous improvement in all aspects of the sourcing and procurement process. Stakeholder Engagement: Develop strong relationships with stakeholders - business, technology, operations, finance, legal, compliance, and risk partners. Serve as a trusted advisor on supplier operational performance and contract administration matters. Communicate contract and supplier risks, opportunities, and recommendations to leadership. Serve as a valued business advisor to aligned business units. Team leadership & Talent Development - Establish clear objectives, performance expectations, and development plans that support organizational goals. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Provide leadership and escalation support for complex sourcing, supplier, and stakeholder challenges. Act as a change leader, helping the team adapt to evolving business priorities, technologies, and market conditions. Qualifications BA / BS in Business, Supply Chain or related field; and/or relevant work experience. 8+ years of progressive experience within a large, global organization. Previous management experience is preferred Excellent project management skills. Excellent negotiation skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong communication, facilitation and leadership skills with a proven ability to lead, influence and motivate others. Strong time management skills; highly organized and detailed oriented. Structured problem solving and decision making skills. Understands strategic and sourcing implications of key industry trends and developments. Ability to apply fact - based negotiation principles and tactics. Strong analytical, cross-functional communication skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills. Fundamental understanding of corporate and / or administrative supply chains. Ability to work well in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment, with periods of ambiguity. Articulates potential solution(s) effectively to key executives. Cross - functional business team environment experience preferred with an ability to foster working relationships with the team and across internal departments. If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 126,500 - 210,800 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location. This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan. At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year, paid holidays, and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs, click here . About The Cigna Group Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email seeyourself@thecignagroup.com for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes. The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washingto