Associate Category Manager, Indirect Technology Procurement



This position is designated as a hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs. This in-office requirement may be adjusted at the discretion of the company.

ABOUT THE POSITION
At Columbia Sportswear Company, we connect active people with their passions through innovative products, iconic brands, and a commitment to helping people enjoy the outdoors. As a global organization, we rely on strong partnerships and talented people to drive innovation, support growth, and deliver exceptional experiences for our consumers around the world.

As an Associate Category Manager supporting Technology Procurement, you’ll help shape how Columbia Sportswear invests in technology. You'll partner directly with Technology leaders, influence category and supplier strategies, guide key investments, lead complex commercial negotiations, and help ensure Columbia maximizes value from its technology investments. Rather than simply buying technology, this role helps shape how Columbia evaluates, invests in, and derives value from technology across the enterprise.

This is an opportunity for a procurement or technology professional who enjoys solving business problems, building strong partnerships, and making a measurable impact. You'll gain exposure to senior stakeholders, strategic suppliers, and enterprise-wide initiatives while helping advance the procurement organization's journey toward becoming a trusted advisor and valued business partner across Columbia Sportswear.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

• We believe Procurement creates value far beyond cost savings. Our team helps Columbia make better business decisions, strengthen supplier partnerships, mitigate risk, and enable innovation.
• We are committed to building trusted relationships across the business and creating a procurement function that stakeholders actively want to engage with.
• If you enjoy influencing outcomes, working cross-functionally, challenging conventional thinking, and driving meaningful business results, you will thrive on our team.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Develop and execute category strategies for assigned indirect technology spend areas by leveraging spend analytics, supplier intelligence, market trends, and stakeholder priorities.
• Manage strategic relationships with key technology suppliers, helping shape and influence supplier performance, product roadmaps, drive innovation, and improve business outcomes, in order to maximize value across the enterprise.
• Lead complex sourcing initiatives and commercial negotiations across software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, hardware, and technology services.
• Partner with Technology leaders to understand business priorities, technology roadmaps, and operational challenges. Provide market insights, supplier intelligence, and commercial expertise that support informed investment decisions and strategic objectives
• We welcome candidates from both procurement and technology backgrounds. Experience managing technology vendors, technology investments, business operations, software licensing, cloud services, or strategic supplier relationships may be equally valuable to traditional procurement experience.
• Drive supplier governance, executive business reviews, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, commercial optimization, operational efficiencies, and risk mitigation.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of Procurement as a strategic business partner through process improvement, knowledge sharing, and best-practice adoption.

YOU HAVE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Information Technology, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in technology procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, technology procurement,  vendor management, technology business operations, software asset management, FinOps, technology consulting or other technology-related commercial roles.
• Experience supporting indirect spend categories such as software, SaaS, cloud services, telecommunications, IT infrastructure, technology services, or professional services.
• Demonstrated experience developing category strategies, leading sourcing initiatives, and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships, governance programs, performance reviews, and executive business engagements.
• Strong analytical, communication, stakeholder management, and project management skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes in a cross-functional environment.
• Proficiency with procurement technologies, ERP systems, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

WHO WILL THRIVE IN THIS ROLE

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys connecting business strategy, technology strategy, and commercial strategy. Successful candidates are naturally curious, relationship-oriented, and energized by helping stakeholders solve complex problems. Whether your background is in procurement, vendor management, technology operations, consulting, or supplier management, you'll have the opportunity to influence enterprise decisions, work with leading technology providers, and create measurable business impact.

 

#Hybrid

#LI-LC1

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. 

Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity 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 law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter.

At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to AskHR@columbia.com with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.