Category Manager Lead

Category Manager Lead – Voya Financial

New York, NY | Full‑time | Senior Level

Lead the category management plan and sourcing for Voya Financial’s interaction with consulting firms. Negotiate and manage indirect sourcing from strategy through contract signature and supplier management, driving value and risk reduction.

• Create detailed negotiation strategies, including leverage points, deal variables, and counteroffer development.
• Advise internal customers on the negotiation plan and gain alignment on strategy, timing, and process steps.
• Lead competitive bidding events (RFP) to expose market pricing and maximize leverage.
• Negotiate all commercial terms using Voya’s best practices.
• Review supplier contract redlines, provide responsive edits, and independently negotiate all contract terms to completion for governing agreements, amendments, and order forms.
• Act as a category subject matter expert across multiple functions, divisions, and geographic locations.
• Engage with internal customers and suppliers to support resolution of medium‑complexity disputes, license audits, and other matters requiring assertiveness, business acumen, and diplomacy.
• Achieve annual savings targets and other performance metrics as assigned.
• Partner with internal matrix partners such as finance, information security, risk, legal, insurance, etc.
• Focus on vendor rationalization and strategic supplier management.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 4 years of sourcing and supplier management experience, including supplier negotiations.
• Ability to simultaneously lead multiple initiatives while consistently meeting timelines and milestones.
• Knowledge of business principles such as demand management, project management, commercial contracting, and GAAP accounting.
• Ability to accurately interpret complex contract language and summarize historical contracts.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Understanding of cost and price analysis techniques.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for contract review, supplier proposal analysis, and slide creation.

• Experience modifying supplier terms to improve rights for Voya while maintaining standard terms.
• Experience using an intake/workflow application (e.g., Salesforce) for active deal tracking.
• Experience using an ERP application for contract repository and purchase order management (e.g., Oracle Fusion).
• Experience leading cross‑functional collaborative teams.
• Experience working in a Fortune 500 company.

$97,160 – $152,880 USD per year, plus incentive opportunities based on role and performance.

• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• 401(k) savings plan with up to 6% company match.
• Voya Retirement Plan – employer paid cash balance retirement plan (4%).
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year.
• Paid time off: 20 days paid time off, nine paid company holidays, and a flexible Diversity Celebration Day.
• Paid volunteer time: 40 hours per calendar year.

Voya Financial is an equal‑opportunity employer. Voya Financial provides equal opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other status protected by state or local law.

Voya is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Voya will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please reference resources for applicants with disabilities.

• Customer Focused:
  Passionate drive to delight customers and offer unique solutions.
• Critical Thinking:
  Thoughtful process of analyzing data to reach well‑reasoned solutions.
• Team Mentality:
  Partnering effectively to drive culture and execute common goals.
• Business Acumen:
  Appreciation and understanding of the financial services industry to make sound business decisions.
• Learning Agility:
  Openness to new ways of thinking and acquiring new skills to remain competitive.

the Voya Financial careers site and search for “Category Manager Lead.”