Lead Category Management

Quantinuum

. Own and execute multi-year category strategies for critical direct materials, capital equipment, technical services, research partnerships, software, and other strategic spend portfolios.

Posted 11/4/2026full-timeBroomfield • Colorado • United StatesSenior💰 $111,000 - $149,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier governance, with a strong focus on complex negotiations and risk management. Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams in high-technology environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Category ManagementStrategic SourcingComplex NegotiationsSupplier GovernanceRisk Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Market IntelligenceSupplier DiscoveryMake-Versus-Buy AnalysisContract NegotiationFinancial ModelingShould-Cost AnalysisTotal-Cost-Of-OwnershipLifecycle Cost ReductionSourcing ExecutionIssue Resolution

Soft Skills

Executive CommunicationStakeholder ManagementFacilitationConflict ResolutionMentoring

Tools & Technologies

SAPERP SystemsE-Sourcing PlatformsContract-Lifecycle PlatformsAnalytics Tools

Certifications & Qualifications

CPSMC.P.M.PMPCPCMCFCMCSCP

Industry Keywords

Government-Funded ResearchAdvanced ManufacturingCapital EquipmentLaboratory EquipmentEngineering ServicesCloud ComputingInformation TechnologyTechnical ServicesIntellectual PropertyCybersecurity

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudCyber SecurityERPPMP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own and execute multi-year category strategies for critical direct materials, capital equipment, technical services, research partnerships, software, and other strategic spend portfolios.
Translate category strategies into end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including market intelligence, supplier discovery, make-versus-buy analysis, RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, SOWs, proposal evaluation, award recommendations, and contracting.
Structure, draft, and negotiate complex agreements, statements of work, master agreements, long-term agreements, subcontracts, amendments, and commercial terms.
Lead contracting and subcontracting activities with government-funded research laboratories, coordinating with Legal, Contracts, Export Compliance, Finance, Security, and technical program teams.
Partner with engineers, scientists, technical program leaders, quality, manufacturing, facilities, and IT to translate complex requirements into sourcing and contracting strategies.
Provide commercial leadership for supplier selection and negotiations involving emerging technologies, limited-source markets, long lead times, developmental scope, intellectual property, and schedule or performance risk.
Develop should-cost, total-cost-of-ownership, scenario, and financial models to inform investment decisions and deliver value, working-capital improvement, and lifecycle cost reduction.
Establish supplier segmentation, governance models, performance scorecards, quarterly business reviews, and development roadmaps.
Identify and mitigate supply, geopolitical, cybersecurity, compliance, financial, capacity, quality, and continuity risks.
Influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional decision forums, presenting recommendations, tradeoffs, risks, and outcomes.
Provide category management subject-matter expertise on strategy, portfolio planning, supplier governance, sourcing execution, contract strategy, risk, negotiation, and issue resolution.
Develop playbooks, improve policies and processes, mentor category management professionals, and raise organizational capability.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree minimum
Minimum of 8 years’ experience in category management, including ownership of category strategies, spend portfolios, supplier governance, and value-delivery initiatives, with additional experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, contracts, subcontracts, or a related commercial discipline.
Minimum of 8 years’ experience leading complex, high-dollar negotiations and managing the full lifecycle of supplier agreements and subcontracts.
Minimum of 8 years’ experience sourcing technically complex products or services
Due to Contractual requirements, must be a U.S. Person defined as, U.S. citizen permanent resident or green card holder, workers granted asylum or refugee status
Experience working with government-funded research laboratories or similar institutions through research, user-facility, technical services, licensing, material transfer, collaboration, or other partner-specific agreement structures.
Advanced degree or professional certification such as CPSM, C.P.M., PMP, CPCM, CFCM, CSCP, or equivalent.
Strong commercial, financial, analytical, and risk-management acumen, with the ability to develop and defend executive-level recommendations.
Experience negotiating intellectual property, technical data, confidentiality, cybersecurity, export-control, research and development, publication, or technology-licensing
Demonstrated category leadership in advanced manufacturing, capital equipment, laboratory equipment, engineering services, software, cloud, information technology, or other high-technology spend.
Ability to operate independently in ambiguity, challenge assumptions constructively, and influence without direct authority.
Executive communication, stakeholder-management, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Experience with SAP or relevant ERP systems, e-sourcing and contract-lifecycle platforms, analytics tools, and structured project-management methods.
Track record of mentoring others, establishing scalable sourcing practices, and leading enterprise process improvements.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive compensation and the opportunity to work on groundbreaking technology
Flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance
Employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan with company match and student loan repayment benefit
Equity opportunities
Generous paid time off, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays annually
Paid parental leave
Employee discount programs
Bonus eligible