Be an essential element to a brighter future. We work together to transform essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity and health. Join our values-led organization committed to building a more resilient world with people and planet in mind. Our core values (https://www.albemarle.com/about/our-values) are the foundation that make us successful for ourselves, our customers and the planet. **Job Description** Albemarle is hiring for a Category Manager, IT Services. This position is hybrid and located in Charlotte, NC. Transformation of our procurement organization is a top strategic priority for Albemarle, and we believe this presents unique and exciting career opportunities. The world is rapidly changing and we need to change with it to support the growth and success of our businesses. If you are a forward thinker, with the creativity and maturity to effectively challenge the status quo of our existing business and practices, this opportunity might be for you. We are building a world class global procurement function focused around; (1) Category Management focused on driving long term sustainable value for the business (2) Procurement Operations providing exceptional support and advisement to our business unit stakeholders and (3) Data Analytics, process excellence, and technology adoption to drive and enable procurement best practices and excellent end-user experience. **What You Will Do** : The Category Manager – IT & Corporate Services position will work closely with Procurement leadership and internal functional teams to develop and expand complex category strategies at a global and regional level and to ensure the strategies are aligned to the overall business objectives. The role will be focused on cultivating relationships, understanding business goals, and helping to execute category strategies in order to streamline the purchasing process and maximize value delivery to the business. This role is accountable for supplier performance to ensure cost competitiveness, high service level commitment, value creation, partnership, responsible sourcing, sustainability, and innovation. The Category Manager– IT & Corporate Services will also develop coaching and mentoring skills through interaction with associate category managers and Procurement analysts. Additional responsibilities and impact: + Work with key business stakeholders to set category strategy for the fiscal year and beyond (1-3 year timeframe) to manage key supplier relationships and/or projects to drive business value. + Achieve and report cost savings as well as track other category improvements related to sourcing activities including but not limited to company wide sustainability goals. Leverage spend and negotiate to achieve the best TCO for the business. + Partner with Procurement Analysts to complete detailed spend analysis by category or subject matter to understand and manage complex areas of spend. + Work with key functions such as Legal, HR, and Finance and business unit stakeholders to ensure that sourcing activities comply with applicable company policies and guidelines. + Drive both global and regional RFI/RFQ/RFP projects as part of the organization’s competitive bidding strategy including vendor evaluation, selection and implementation activities through the use of Procurement technology platforms. + Cross functional coordination to manage supplier relationships to mitigate risk and to ensure consistency of value and quality to the business. + Work with Supply Chain Center of Excellence to drive and support adoption of Procurement processes, procedures, and technology. + Maintain up-to-date knowledge of sourcing, category best practices, and applicable market data. + Drive and roll-out Procurement, Category Management, Supplier Relationship best practices across Regional Procurement Service teams. + Create and maintain category councils across multiple business units and teams. **What You Bring** **Required:** + 6-8 years + of strategic sourcing/category management and procurement showing increasing growth and responsibilities (IT procurement experience is a requirement) + Excellent influencing without authority skills + Creative thinking and strategic agility/perspective + Excellent data analysis skills + Experience understanding category management frameworks and supplier relationship management + Strongly understand the S2P (Source to Pay) process + Strong decision-making abilities and business acumen + Interpersonal skills and ability to partner with stakeholders and multiple functional groups on projects/programs + High learning agility, change agility, people agility, and results agility + Dealing with Ambiguity + Comfort around higher management + Priority setting + Negotiation and conflict management skills + Effective oral and written communications + Extensive knowledge with Excel, PowerPoint, PowerBI and/or other advanced analytical tools; experience preferred in procurement platforms (Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua, Jaggaer, Oracle) + Lean and Change Management experience **It'd be great if you also had:** + Proficient to conduct external and internal business in other languages such as Spanish/German/Chinese. + Familiarity with sourcing events and savings methodologies preferred + Experience in Procurement spend data management and sourcing/contracting tools a plus **Benefits of Joining Albemarle** + Competitive compensation + Comprehensive benefits package + A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally. We are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.