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Salary: USD 116,000 - 178,000 / annual
Okta's Strategic Sourcing and Procurement (SS&P) team is seeking an experienced Category Manager (Technology Sourcing) to lead sourcing activities for the company's global technology spend. This is a senior individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing – Technology.
In this role, you will own sourcing strategy for Okta's most complex and highest-impact technology categories, including Software, Network, SaaS, IaaS, Telephony, and AI infrastructure. You will lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives, from requirements gathering and RFx events through supplier evaluation and complex contract negotiations. You will serve as a trusted senior partner to technology stakeholders, driving high-stakes negotiations and cost-saving initiatives while maintaining service quality and mitigating risk.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and leading sourcing strategies for technology categories, working with senior stakeholders to understand long-term needs and deliver measurable value
- Leading all aspects of the strategic sourcing process end-to-end, including RFx events, supplier evaluations, and commercial contract negotiations for the most complex, high-value initiatives
- Leading commercial term negotiations for project-level agreements and partnering with Legal on Master Service Agreements (MSAs), applying strong negotiation and legal acumen to secure favorable terms on high-stakes, high-dollar contracts
- Using industry expertise to identify and lead cost optimization initiatives across the largest or most strategic technology categories, with cross-functional or company-wide impact
- Building effective, strategic relationships with senior business stakeholders and cross-functional teams (Finance, Legal, Security, Privacy) to align sourcing initiatives with business requirements
- Owning the relationship strategy for Okta's most strategic or highest-spend technology suppliers, driving supplier performance reviews and serving as an escalation point for complex issues
- Providing guidance and mentorship to junior Category Managers and serving as an escalation point for Tactical Sourcing on technology-related matters
- Building data models and spend analyses that inform leadership's technology category decisions, identifying opportunities for streamlining and consolidation
- Regularly briefing leadership on strategy progress, savings, and market trends in executive-ready format
This is a hybrid role requiring 2 days per week in office, based in either Bellevue, WA, or the San Francisco Bay Area.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field
- 5+ years of experience in sourcing and procurement of technology (Infrastructure, SaaS, Telecom, IaaS, AI, etc.), including category management, strategic sourcing, vendor management, risk management, and/or procurement in a large, global company environment
- Proven ability to independently lead complex contract and commercial term negotiations, including deep understanding of tech contract law, commercial terms, and risk requirements
- Demonstrated ability to own end-to-end management of the most complex, highest-dollar, or highest-risk sourcing projects with minimal oversight
- Experience mentoring or providing guidance to junior category managers or sourcing staff
- Demonstrated ability to build data models and spend analyses that inform senior leadership decisions, and to present findings and recommendations in executive-ready format
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated track record of building trust and driving alignment with senior-level business stakeholders, cross-functional partners, and key vendors
- Experience owning strategic relationships with an organization's highest-spend or most critical suppliers, including serving as an escalation point for issues beyond junior team members' authority to resolve
- Advanced proficiency in sourcing and contract systems (e.g., Workday Strategic Sourcing/Scout, Coupa, Ironclad), with experience identifying and driving improvements to how these tools are used across the category management function
Preferred qualifications include professional certifications such as CSCP, CPSM, or CPIM; experience driving M&A-related sourcing activity including contract novation and consolidation; proven track record of process or policy improvements that scaled across a sourcing function; proficiency with analytics and reporting; familiarity with ERP and financial systems; and ability to travel as needed.
