Job Title: Category Manager – Procurement (Indirect Categories)

Company: Google

Location: Gurugram

About the Role

The Category Manager – Procurement will be responsible for developing and executing category strategies for assigned indirect spend categories while driving sourcing excellence, supplier relationship management, and procurement innovation. The role focuses on delivering value through data-driven decision-making, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and AI-enabled procurement practices. Working within the Google Procurement Organization (GPO), the successful candidate will collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to optimize spend, improve procurement efficiency, and support Google's business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Management

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with organizational objectives for assigned indirect spend categories.
• Manage procurement categories including Marketing, Media, Creative, Social, Events, Market Research, and related indirect spend.
• Identify opportunities to optimize spend and deliver sustainable value across assigned categories.

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Support the execution of sourcing strategies across assigned categories.
• Lead Request for X (RFx) processes, supplier evaluations, and commercial negotiations.
• Drive sourcing initiatives that improve cost, quality, service, and supplier performance.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Ensure suppliers consistently deliver quality services aligned with organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with suppliers to improve performance and foster long-term partnerships.

Spend Analysis & Procurement Analytics

• Analyze spending patterns and procurement data to identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Monitor market trends and category dynamics to support strategic sourcing decisions.
• Generate reports and actionable insights to support procurement decision-making and performance evaluation.

Procurement Digitalization & AI

• Advocate an AI-first procurement strategy across sourcing and category management activities.
• Identify opportunities to automate transactional procurement workflows.
• Leverage predictive analytics and digital technologies to improve procurement efficiency and category performance.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to develop procurement strategies that support business objectives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align procurement initiatives with organizational priorities.
• Communicate category strategies, sourcing plans, and procurement performance effectively.

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Finance, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• MBA or an advanced degree is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience in multi-disciplinary procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or a related function.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in commercial agreements, supplier sourcing, cost negotiations, and contract negotiations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Experience analyzing procurement data and generating business insights.
• Proven ability to develop and monitor procurement KPIs.
• Strong project management experience leading procurement initiatives and strategic transformation.
• Experience driving process improvements and procurement innovation.

Key Skills

• Category Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Indirect Procurement
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
• Vendor Management
• Commercial Negotiation
• Contract Negotiation
• RFx Management (RFI, RFQ, RFP)
• Spend Analysis
• Procurement Analytics
• Market Research Procurement
• Marketing Procurement
• Media Procurement
• Category Strategy Development
• Procurement Data Analysis
• KPI Development & Performance Measurement
• AI-Driven Procurement
• Procurement Automation
• Predictive Analytics
• Project Management
• Cost Optimization
• Process Improvement
• Stakeholder Management
• Business Intelligence
• Communication & Collaboration Skills