Sr. Procurement and Category Manager - Total Rewards and Benefits

By joining the American Red Cross you will touch millions of lives every year and experience the greatness of the human spirit at its best. Are you ready to be part of the world's largest humanitarian network? Join us-Where your Career is a Force for Good! Job Description: WHY CHOOSE US? Joining The American Red Cross is like nothing else - it's as much something you feel as something you do. You become a vital part of the world's largest humanitarian network. Joining a team of welcoming individuals who are exceptional, yet unassuming. Diverse, yet uncompromising in unity. You grow your career within a movement that matters, where success is measured in people helped, communities made whole, and individuals equipped to never stop changing lives and situations for the better. When you choose to be a force for good, you'll have mentors who empower your growth along a purposeful career path. You align your life's work with an ongoing mission that's bigger than all of us. As you care for others, you're cared for with competitive compensation and benefits. You join a community that respects who you are away from work as much as what you do while at work. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE JOB: The Senior Category Manager will own end-to-end category strategy, sourcing, and supplier management for HR Total Rewards and Payroll spend - including benefits administration, retirement/401(k) recordkeeping, payroll processing platforms, compensation survey/benchmarking services, leave management, wellness programs, and related HR technology and consulting services. This role partners closely with HR, Total Rewards, Payroll Operations, Finance, and Office of the General Counsel to align category strategy with business objectives, manage supplier risk, and deliver measurable value. The work location for this exciting opportunity is virtual. The selected candidate will work 100% remotely from home and can be located anywhere in the United States but must work an east coast schedule. Active participation in virtual meetings, including regular camera use, is expected to support effective teamwork and stakeholder engagement. WHERE YOUR CAREER IS A FORCE FOR GOOD (Key Responsibilities): *Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for HR Total Rewards and Payroll spend, informed by market intelligence, spend analysis, and stakeholder priorities *Lead complex sourcing events (RFI/RFP/RFQ) for benefits carriers, payroll processing/HRIS platforms, and related services *Negotiate contracts, pricing, and SLAs with major providers (e.g., benefits administration platforms, payroll processors, compensation survey vendors) *Manage supplier relationships and performance through structured QBRs, scorecards, and SLA governance *Identify and deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, and process efficiencies; track and report against savings targets *Partner with HR/Total Rewards and Payroll leadership as primary procurement business partner - embed early in planning cycles and technology roadmaps *Assess and mitigate supplier risk (financial, operational, data security/privacy given sensitivity of payroll/benefits data, compliance with ERISA, ACA, state payroll regulations, etc.) *Manage contract lifecycle including renewals, amendments, and terminations *Mentor or provide guidance to junior category managers/analysts as needed +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Scope: Individual contributor with comprehensive knowledge in specific area. Ability to execute highly complex or specialized projects. Adapt precedent and may make significant departures from traditional approaches to develop solutions. Note: Qualified candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. The American Red Cross does not sponsor emp