**Location:** Secaucus, New Jersey **Job Summary:** We are looking for an experienced sourcing and category manager to join our Strategic Procurement team. You will have responsibility for strategic sourcing and category management of products and services across non-merchandise areas of spending. The Procurement Manager will drive value for The Children’s Place by working closely with business leaders in the organization to meet functional and company goals and lower the total cost of ownership for spend within their control. Our major non-merchandise areas of spending include, but are not limited to, Information Technology, Marketing and Supply Chain. The Procurement Manager will focus primarily on Information Technology categories, including hardware, software, maintenance and consulting, while also supporting other spend areas as well as Strategic Procurement department initiatives. **Responsibilities:** **Key Accountabilities:** + Review, understand and validate spend classification of non-merchandise purchasing through discussions with business and finance partners + Collaborate with finance, business and other key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive multi-year pipeline of projects; Develop project charters with detailed timelines, key stakeholders and estimated project value; Review and validate baselines and savings estimates with finance + Identify and capture key business and functional requirements, key metrics, SLAs, potential risks for each project + Develop category strategies to achieve cost savings and improve quality and service levels by identifying opportunity areas such as product standardization and volume/supplier consolidation. Partner with business functions to gain agreement on category scope and strategies + Provide category procurement subject matter expertise to the associated business / function group and sourcing specialists and seek out expertise from business / function when necessary + Proactively identify improvement opportunities for assigned category areas and recommend key actions to the appropriate stakeholders + Effectively work with functional and business groups as a trusted advisor to determine desired product/service specifications and projected demand when making recommended action plans + Lead cross-functional teams to execute strategic sourcing projects for assigned category areas by assisting with sourcing strategy, negotiations, and supplier selection and overseeing project execution + Develop strategic supplier relationship management programs to be executed by the Business / Function + Build and maintain long-term relationships with vendors and suppliers + Drive use of procurement best practices and standardization of procurement processes while minimizing supply risk + Understand key business terms and category legal terms. Support the implementation of these into contracts and agreements **Education and Experience:** + Bachelor of Science in Business (or other related degree program). MBA preferred + 5+ Years of Strategic Sourcing/Procurement experience, including contract negotiation, project management, category management, business analysis & change management, preferably in the retail, consumer goods or fashion sector and within the Information Technology category and other non-merchandise areas of spend + In-depth knowledge of the strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management processes. Seasoned at analyzing markets and supply bases, developing and managing RFPs, analyzing contracts and bids, negotiating with vendors, preparing contracts, etc. + Proven track record in delivery of complex, cross-functional procurement initiatives on-time and on-budget + Ability to interface at all levels of the organization and with suppliers to solve problems when facing evolving demands + Demonstrated success in leveraging company-wide spend by ensuring the implementation of global/international agreements + Knowledge and experience with best practice processes, tools, and procurement/spend systems data and analysis + Demonstrated ability to work as an individual contributor to define and drive projects from start to finish + Proficient in the use of Excel and PowerPoint; experience in procurement technology & tools, spend analytics and other P2P tools preferred **Skills and Behaviors** + Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills + Excellent written and verbal communication skills + Strong leadership and relationship management skills + Excellent influencing and soft skills with a focus on driving change + Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills + Excellent project management skills, multi-tasking and time-management skills + Ability to multi-task, prioritize tasks and work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities + Highly organized and detail oriented + Team player!