Category Director - Client Delivery Enablement

Category Director

• Client Delivery Enablement McKinsey & Company parental leave, paid time off United States, Connecticut, Darien May 11, 2026 Procurement Category Director

• Client Delivery Enablement Job ID:

  108120 Atlanta Boston Connecticut
• Darien London Miramar Jersey York City Philadelphia Tampa Apply Now Apply Later Do you want to do work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible?

Are you a creative problem-solver who is energized by challenges? You've come to the right place.

YOUR IMPACT

As Category Director for Client Delivery Enablement, you will lead a complex, high impact portfolio of external capabilities and supplier relationships that directly enable how we serve clients. This includes areas such as content and knowledge solutions, analytics and insights providers, specialized experts, and other third-party services that are embedded in our client delivery model. Your role goes beyond category management execution. You will shape category strategy, guide senior stakeholder decisions, and ensure the firm has the right external capabilities, supplier partnerships, and governance in place to support evolving business needs. You will operate in a highly matrixed environment, working closely with senior partners and cross-functional leaders across the firm. You will shape the overall category strategy for this portfolio, ensuring the firm has the right mix of suppliers, capabilities, and commercial constructs to support evolving client needs. You will guide senior stakeholder decisions on where to build vs. buy capabilities, how to structure key partnerships, and how to balance innovation, risk, and cost across the portfolio. You will lead the category team, setting direction, building capability, and developing talent. You will translate firm and practice priorities into clear category roadmaps and sourcing plans, and you will ensure disciplined execution that drives financial impact, service quality, and compliance with firm policies and external requirements. You will serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leaders on complex, high-judgment decisions involving external capabilities that support client delivery. This includes advising on sourcing strategy, supplier choices, risk tradeoffs, demand shaping, and broader portfolio decisions in areas that are often strategic, sensitive, or high risk. Your role requires a leader who can operate across multiple categories and business contexts, balancing strategy and execution while influencing a broad set of stakeholders. Success will mean a clearer, more deliberate approach to how we deploy external capabilities in client work, stronger supplier partnerships, better managed risk, and measurable value creation for the firm. You will also act as a center of expertise for colleagues and practices, helping shape how the firm sources, manages, and deploys external capabilities in support of client service. Through market insight, supplier performance management, and close partnership with stakeholders, you will identify improvement opportunities, recommend innovative solutions, and bring best-in-class thinking into procurement and category decisions. #LI-MP YOUR GROWTH You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact. In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help you quickly broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference. When you join us, you will have: Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey. A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You'll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes. Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm's diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Exceptional benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) or equivalent practical experience strongly preferred. 15+ years of experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, consulting, or another strategic business function, with significant experience operating in complex, global, and highly matrixed organizations Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-level category or business initiatives involving senior stakeholders, multiple decision makers, and high levels of complexity Strong strategic thinking and business judgment, with the ability to balance long-term direction with executional rigor Proven ability to lead teams, develop talent, and build organizational capability Strong risk management orientation, with experience navigating governance, compliance, and third-party risk considerations Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across functions, geographies, and levels of seniority Highly organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment Adept at building trusted relationships across functions, geographies, and levels of seniority Embraces a collaborative, non-hierarchical approach and fosters a culture of mutual respect and accountability Outstanding communication and influencing skills, including comfort engaging with senior partners and firm leadership Please review the additional requirements regarding essential job functions of McKinsey colleagues. Our unwavering commitment to integrity drives everything we do, guiding us to always act in the best interests of our clients, our people, and the communities we serve. Industries Capabilities Firm Administration Apply Now Apply Later

FOR U.S. APPLICANTS

McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Certain US jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role. For new joiners for this role in the United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, a reasonable estimated range is $256,000

• $341,000 USD
• to help you understand what you can expect.

This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest [salary/hourly wages] for this role at the time of this posting, ensuring you have a clear picture right from the start, though it's important to remember that actual salaries may vary. Factors like your office location, your unique blend of experience and skills, start date and our current organizational needs all play a part in determining the final figure. Certain roles are also eligible for bonuses, subject to McKinsey's discretion and based on factors such as individual and/or organizational performance. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to the wellness of our colleagues and their families. This includes medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage, telemedicine services, life, accident and disability insurance, parental leave and family planning benefits, caregiving resources, a generous retirement contributions program, financial guidance, and paid time off.

FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS

McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites. Share This Job