Professional Services Global Category Expert

Job description

The Professional Services Global Category Expert is responsible for developing and executing the global sourcing strategy for the Professional Services portfolio, including HR Services, Finance & Audit Services, Legal Services, Marketing & Communications, and Corporate Events & Entertainment. This role ensures continuity of service, drives total cost of ownership (TCO) optimization, mitigates risk, and enhances supplier performance across the global footprint. The individual will collaborate closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Marketing, Corporate Communications, and regional procurement teams to drive standardization, compliance, and measurable value creation. General Responsibilities • Leads the collaboration with functional areas to populate sourcing events, making decisions on sourcing event structure, supplier pool, selection criteria and event outcome criteria • Advises on the activities as required cross-functionally, including Planning, Engineering, Quality, Programs, Finance, Legal and Manufacturing • Leads the continuous development of the Procurement function towards the best practices • Leads collaborations to promote the lowest total cost of ownership sourcing solutions/value proposition for assigned commodities • Advises on the delivering of corporate aligned procurement objectives supporting total company strategic vision • Advises on implementing communication strategies to ensure accurate and timely flow of information to upper management, business partners, and suppliers • Leads supplier risk assessments, risk management and disaster recovery planning Experience / Qualifications • A university degree required (i.e. Bachelors degree) or equivalent relevant work experience. • Must be a team player able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to handle multiple competing tasks and demands • Strong communication skills; oral, written and presentation • Strong organization, planning and time management skills to achieve results • Strong personal and professional ethical values and integrity • Holds self-accountable to achieving goals and standards • Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) • Strong interpersonal & collaboration skills to work effectively with all levels of the organization including suppliers and/or external customers Category Strategy & Management Develop and deploy a global category strategy covering HR, Finance, Legal, Marketing, Agencies, and Entertainment services. Build and maintain a detailed category roadmap aligned with business objectives, market dynamics, and stakeholder priorities. Conduct category segmentation, risk assessments, and supplier market analysis to support decision making. Drive standardization of service models, processes, and supplier frameworks across regions. Sourcing & Supplier Management Lead sourcing initiatives including RFx, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and contract execution. Negotiate commercial terms to deliver cost savings, improved service quality, and operational performance. Develop strong relationships with key suppliers; manage performance using KPIs, QBRs, and continuous improvement plans. Manage escalations, service issues, and performance deviations to ensure uninterrupted support for business functions. Cost Optimization & Productivity Deliver year‑over‑year productivity targets through commercial levers, demand management, and service optimization. Identify opportunities for improving service efficiency (e.g., digitalization, automation, outsourcing centers of excellence). Utilize TCO frameworks to evaluate supplier proposals and ensure long‑term value creation. Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement Partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Marketing, Communications, and senior leadership to understand needs and align sourcing strategies. Support global and regional projects such as employee benefits sourcing, audit cycles, litigation support, branding campaigns, and corporate events. Communicate category strategies, market updates, supplier performance, and risk assessments to stakeholders and executives. Compliance & Governance Ensure adherence to corporate procurement policies, ethical standards, and sustainability goals. Maintain accurate and current contract documentation, SLAs, and supplier risk profiles. Support internal and external audits related to procurement and professional services categories. Ensure data privacy, and confidentiality compliance across professional services engagements. Skills & Competencies Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier management capabilities. Proven experience developing category strategies in complex service environments. Strong understanding of the professional services supply market, commercial models, and risk profiles. Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills; ability to interpret data and derive insights. Strong communication and stakeholder‑engagement skills across senior and cross‑functional teams. Experience with ERP and procurement systems (e.g., Oracle, Coupa). Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced, global environments #LI-SK1 Smarter Together Collaborating at Sensata means working with some of the world’s most talented people in an enriching environment that is constantly pushing towards the next best thing Employees work across functions, countries and cultures gaining new perspectives through mutual respect and open communication As OneSensata , we are working together to make things work together Click here to view Sensata Recruitment Privacy Statement Click here to view our Sensata Recruitment Privacy Statement for China NOTE: If you are a current Sensata employee (or one of our Affiliates), please back out of this application and log into Workday via the Company Intranet to apply directly. Type "FIND JOBS" in the Workday search bar.