Senior Category Manager- Professional Services

Why UKG

At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That's what we do. We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you'll get flexibility that's real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work mattersand so do you.

About the Role

The purpose of this role is to lead sourcing and supplier management for the Outside Services category, which includes consulting firms, implementation partners, professional services, and other external service providers. This position is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that maximize value, optimize total cost of ownership, and ensure supplier performance and compliance with UKG standards. The Senior Category Manager partners closely with key stakeholders across functionssuch as Professional Services, Product, IT, HR, and Financeto identify opportunities for efficiency, manage supplier risk, and drive strategic outcomes in alignment with business objectives.

Essential Functions

• Category Leadership : Lead the strategic sourcing and supplier management activities for Outside Services, including consulting, advisory, and implementation partners.
• Category Strategy Development : Develop and maintain comprehensive category strategies based on market analysis, business needs, and risk assessment. Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, leverage scale, and reduce total cost of engagement.
• Stakeholder Collaboration : Partner with UKG functional leaders to understand service needs, forecast demand, and ensure alignment on sourcing initiatives. Drive cross-functional collaboration to balance cost, quality, and delivery expectations.
• Supplier Selection and Negotiation : Lead competitive sourcing events, evaluate proposals, negotiate commercial and legal terms, and award contracts that drive best value outcomes for UKG.
• Supplier Relationship Management : Manage strategic supplier relationships, conduct quarterly business reviews, and drive continuous improvement in service delivery, innovation, and performance.
• Spend and Performance Analysis : Monitor supplier spend, savings, and performance metrics. Provide insights and dashboards to senior leadership highlighting trends, compliance, and value delivery.
• Risk and Compliance : Partner with Legal, Security, and Risk functions to ensure supplier compliance with contractual, financial, and regulatory obligations.
• Cost Optimization : Develop and track cost-saving initiatives and productivity improvements within the Outside Services spend category.
• Governance and Best Practices : Contribute to the Procurement Center of Excellence by defining sourcing standards, templates, and policies for service-based categories.
• Team Leadership : Select, coach, train, and develop team members. Conduct performance reviews and mentor procurement fundamentals.

About You

Basic Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Company Overview

UKG is the Workforce Operating Platform that puts workforce understanding to work. With the world's largest collection of workforce insights, and people-first AI, our ability to reveal unseen ways to build trust, amplify productivity, and empower talent, is unmatched. It's this expertise that equips our customers with the intelligence to solve any challenge in any industry because great organizations know their workforce is their competitive edge. Learn more at ukg.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer UKG is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories. View The EEO Know Your Rights poster.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Disability Accommodation in the Application and Interview Process For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please email UKGCareers@ukg.com.

The pay range for this position is $129,500 to $160,000, however, base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge and location. This position is also eligible for a short-term incentive and a long-term incentive as part of total compensation. Information about UKG's comprehensive benefits can be reviewed on our careers site.