City of Shakopee

Career Growth, Flexibility and Collaboration!

Entrust is dedicated to keeping the world moving safely by enabling trusted identities, payments, and data protection around the globe. Headquartered in Minnesota, we offer our colleagues the ability to work globally, in a flexible and collaborative environment. Our team makes an impact!!

The Company: Entrust relies on curious, dedicated and innovative individuals whom anticipate the future and provide solutions for a more connected, mobile and secure world. Entrust’s technologies and expertise help government agencies, enterprises and financial institutions in more than 150 countries serve and safeguard citizens, employees and consumers.

We Believe: Securing identities is most effective when we value all identities. We are committed to ensuring that, through diversity and inclusion, the many voices that make up our communities are heard. From unconscious bias training for managers to global affinity groups that create connections both within and across our enterprise, Entrust expects and encourages all individuals to accept and respect one another. And, of course, to be themselves.

We're looking for an Associate Category Manager!

Position Overview:

The Associate Category Manager is a strategic setter, collaborator, project manager, and negotiator who applies strong knowledge of service offerings to Indirect Spend for the company. This position will have accountability for the software Indirect category. The ideal candidate must understand and have experience in project management and services provided in support of the software indirect category. The right individual will also be knowledgeable in the different procurement methods, as well as, understand and negotiate the required agreements for purchasing those items.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and plans global category strategies and preparing, negotiating, managing, and coordinating agreements supporting assigned categories.

• Collaborates with business leaders in the establishment and execution of procurement strategies.

• Evaluates and selects suppliers in terms of quality, service, cost and capability.

• Ensures competitive pricing and service model versus value proposition, industry trends and market place dynamics.

• Prepares bid packages, conducts bidder conferences, creates statements of work, analyzes and evaluates proposals, negotiates terms and conditions, recommends suppliers, writes awards, and administers resulting contracts.

• Controls supplier relationship including pipeline development, relationship development, communications, supplier onboarding, and project handoff to operational area.

• Utilizes negotiation techniques to achieve spend targets.

• Works with various functions within the company including other business units to coordinate requirements, facilitate contract co-terminations, and to leverage spend.

• Administers and manages supplier contracts to ensure compliance externally and internally.

• Keeps apprised of market trends, changes in business practices in the assigned categories.

• Tracks cost savings, cost avoidances, and cost increases.

• Performs various reporting and spend analysis to support the goals of spend management, terms, cost reduction, service levels, and contract renewals.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of purchasing experience or equivalent education and experience

• Indirect Purchasing experience

• Demonstrated ability to utilize Microsoft Office applications; Microsoft Excel expertise a must

• ERP system experience

• Experience in negotiating agreements and contracts with strong comprehension of legal and commercial terms and conditions

• Solid knowledge of supply chain requirements, systems, supplier development, Indirect Procurement categories, and process improvement

• Ability to lead teams and influence peers and other cross-functional teams; strong communication skills

• Ability to travel up to 5%

• Must be able to lawfully work within the USA

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of purchasing or related experience

• Experience in working with intellectual property concepts and contractual language

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills

• High Interpersonal Skills and self-motivated

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills

• Oracle/Coupa experience

This role is eligible for a remote or hybrid work arrangement. Please consult with the recruiter for more information.

For US roles, or where applicable:

Entrust is an EEO/AA/Disabled/Veterans Employer

Recruiter: