Director, IT Sourcing & Category Management

Job description

Primary Function of Position The Director, IT Sourcing & Category Management is responsible for leading Intuitive's global IT procurement strategy, category management, supplier management, and sourcing operations across software, cloud, hardware, telecommunications, digital services, and professional services. This role partners closely with the CIO, Head of Digital Products, executive IT leadership, and key cross-functional stakeholders to develop category strategies, optimize supplier performance, manage risk, deliver cost savings, and support business growth and innovation. The Director will lead a team of sourcing professionals while driving procurement transformation initiatives, operational excellence, and strategic supplier partnerships that align with company objectives. Key Responsibilities Category Strategy & Procurement Leadership Develop and execute global category strategies across IT spend categories, including software, cloud infrastructure, hardware, telecom, digital services, and professional services. Create and maintain multi-year category roadmaps aligned with business objectives, market trends, and technology priorities. Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from opportunity identification through negotiation, contracting, implementation, and supplier management. Drive enterprise-wide procurement best practices, policy adoption, and process compliance. Partner with IT leadership to align procurement strategies with technology investment plans and organizational priorities. Identify opportunities to optimize spend, reduce risk, improve supplier performance, and enhance business value. Leadership & Team Management Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of sourcing and category management professionals. Establish organizational priorities, performance expectations, and development plans for team members. Drive workforce planning, resource allocation, and workload balancing across sourcing initiatives. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service. Conduct performance reviews, coaching discussions, succession planning, and talent development activities. Supplier & Relationship Management Establish and manage executive-level supplier relationships with strategic technology partners. Develop supplier segmentation and governance strategies to ensure supplier performance aligns with business objectives. Lead executive business reviews and oversee supplier performance management processes. Identify and mitigate supplier-related risks, including financial, operational, cybersecurity, compliance, and business continuity risks. Drive preferred supplier strategies and supplier consolidation initiatives where appropriate. Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership Serve as the primary procurement business partner for CIO, Head of Digital Products, and other key executive leadership and functional stakeholders. Build trusted relationships with executive leaders to influence sourcing strategies and investment decisions. Facilitate alignment between procurement, IT, Finance, Legal, Information Security, and business stakeholders. Support business case development, supplier evaluations, and executive decision-making processes. Represent procurement in strategic planning discussions and major technology initiatives. Commercial Management & Negotiations Lead high value and complex supplier negotiations for enterprise software, cloud services, hardware, telecommunications, digital platforms, and technology services. Develop negotiation strategies that optimize commercial outcomes while mitigating business and contractual risk. Partner with Legal, Information Security, Privacy, Finance, and other stakeholders throughout the contracting lifecycle. Ensure contract compliance and identify opportunities to improve commercial terms and supplier accountability. Drive achievement of annual savings, cost avoidance, and value creation targets. Procurement Transformation & Continuous Improvement Lead initiatives that enhance procurement tools, processes, governance, and operational effectiveness. Drive adoption of procurement technologies, sourcing tools, contract lifecycle management, and intake/orchestration platforms. Establish metrics, reporting, and performance dashboards to measure procurement outcomes and category performance. Promote continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder satisfaction. Required Skills and Experience 12+ years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, and category management experience. 7+ years of people leadership experience within IT sourcing and category management teams. Experience managing complex technology categories, including software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, AI services, professional services, and emerging technologies. Proven track record of leading large-scale negotiations and delivering measurable business value. Knowledge, Skills & Competencies Strong executive presence with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels. Deep understanding of IT sourcing, supplier management, contracting, and procurement best practices. Exceptional negotiation, supplier management, and relationship-building skills. Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities. Ability to develop and execute long-term category strategies while managing day-to-day priorities. Experience leading organizational change and procurement transformation initiatives. Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to build consensus, navigate ambiguity, and drive results in a fast-paced environment. High level of integrity, accountability, and attention to detail. Ability to effectively lead teams through change and continuous improvement initiatives. Required Education and Training Bachelor's degree required; Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field preferred. MBA or advanced degree preferred. Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role. Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws. Mandatory Notices U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status. Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process). For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws. Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee. This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills. Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law. We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed. It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive . As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care , our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion —have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide. We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world. The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life. If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare , you’ll find your purpose here.