Senior Manager - Category Management, Network Construction

Job Listing ID:

4478514

Job Title:

Senior Manager•

Category Management, Network Construction Application Deadline:

Open Until Filled

Job Location:

Salem

Date Posted:

04/23/2026

Hours Worked Per Week:

Not Provided Shift:

Not Provided Duration of Job:

Either Full or Part Time, more than 6 months You may contact this employer directly. (Obtain the contact information to print or add to your jobs.)

Job Summary:

Lumen is the trusted network for AI. We're transforming how businesses connect, secure, and scale in an AI-driven world. By connecting people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly, we help organizations move faster and unlock what's next. At Lumen, people power progress. Our culture is built on teamwork, trust, and transparency, giving you the flexibility, support, and opportunity to make a lasting impact. We're looking for top-tier talent ready to take on the challenge. Join us in building the future. The Role Manages and leads an organization of 5-6 Procurement professionals that are responsible for developing and executing strategies for services and products associated with the engineering, construction, splicing, maintenance and repair, and over build of the Lumen fiber network. Partners with internal stakeholders to understand business strategies, conveys the Procurement process and ensures Procurement is involved in initiatives up front. Work Location This position has been designated as fully remote in the U.S. The Main Responsibilities

• Manages and leads a team of category management professionals focused on project pipeline development, RFx strategy, commercial negotiations, and strategic supplier relationships.
• Responsible for category strategy and developing process improvement efforts aimed at reducing the total cost of ownership and driving overall savings objectives.

Improves on time/quality performance, settles vendor disputes, and builds alliances and relationships with strategic vendors. Identifies cross functional savings opportunities, develops the corresponding strategies and executes against those strategies.

• Builds strong relationships with internal stakeholders and Finance to understand strategies / roadmaps and the corresponding budgets.
• Partners with key suppliers to understand capabilities, market trends, and identify new approaches that have not been identified by internal stakeholders.
• Manages strategic, high-visibility negotiations to achieve cost savings goals and objectives.
• Develops category playbooks that outlines the background and strategy for the category.
• Continually identify and implement new opportunities for cost savings, cost avoidance and proactively tracks these objectives.
• Delivers against targets related to cost reduction / avoidance, supplier rationalization and internal customer satisfaction.
• Fosters an environment of continuous improvement and Partners with Procurement Center of Excellence and Systems teams to drive process and systems improvements.
• Excellent abilities in negotiation and contract management. What We Look For in a Candidate
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education or relevant experience.
• Minimum 8 plus years of related experience.
• Preferred 5 plus years of managing and leading teams.
• Demonstrated communication and project management skills working with cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing supplier relationships for an assigned set of products and/or services including regular supplier performance reviews and discussions.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment; self-motivated; strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to process large amounts of often complex data; detail oriented.
• Intermediate to advanced professional experience in sourcing and/or contracting (negotiations, drafting and administration).
• Strong to expert knowledge of procurement systems such as SAP, Ariba and Oracle.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high visibility environment with frequently shifting priorities.
• Advanced Microsoft Offi.

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Job Classification:

Purchasing Managers Access our statewide or regional occupation report for more information about wages, employment outlooks, skills, training programs, related occupations, and more. Compensation

Salary:

Not Provided Job Requirements

Experience Required:

 See Job Summary

Education Required:

None

Minimum Age:

N/A Gender:

N/A