Category Manager, Global Real Estate & Construction Procurement

Aquent is proud to partner with a premier global investment management organization to find a visionary procurement leader who will shape the physical infrastructure of dynamic global operations. In this role, you will have a profound, tangible impact on the global footprint and operational efficiency of a leading financial enterprise. By driving strategic sourcing and procurement for an expansive global real estate portfolio, you will directly influence the design, construction, and operation of workplaces worldwide, optimizing costs, ensuring unparalleled quality, and fostering innovation across all capital projects.

The Opportunity

As a key strategic leader, you will spearhead global category strategies for design, construction, project management, furniture, workplace technology, and facilities services. You will act as a trusted commercial advisor, guiding project managers, design leaders, and business stakeholders through the entire project lifecycle. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage your commercial acumen and strategic foresight to implement best-in-class procurement practices, leaving a lasting mark on a global corporate presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive global category strategies for design, construction, project management, furniture, workplace technology, and facilities services using in-depth spend analysis and market intelligence.
• Lead high-profile sourcing activities for critical capital projects worldwide, managing competitive RFP processes that balance cost, quality, schedule, and risk.
• Drive high-stakes commercial negotiations and execute robust contracts for all design and construction-related agreements in partnership with legal and risk management teams.
• Establish and oversee critical governance programs, performance reviews, and scorecards for strategic design, construction, and workplace vendors to foster continuous improvement.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to project managers, workplace planning teams, and business stakeholders on budgeting, forecasting, change orders, and claims management.
• Ensure strict adherence to corporate procurement policies, financial controls, ethical sourcing, sustainability, and supplier diversity initiatives.
• Build strong, trusted partnerships with senior business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders within a complex, global matrixed organization.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive strategic sourcing, procurement, or commercial management experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of direct experience supporting corporate real estate, workplace, design, or construction programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading complex RFPs and global sourcing initiatives.
• Proven experience negotiating professional services agreements, construction contracts, consulting agreements, and master service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen, robust contract management expertise, and superior commercial negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management capabilities within a matrixed global organization.
• Proficiency with sourcing intake, contract lifecycle, procurement workflow, and supplier management technology platforms.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience within asset management, banking, insurance, private equity, or other highly regulated financial services organizations.
• Extensive experience supporting global office portfolios and enterprise workplace programs.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CIPS, PMP, MRICS, CCM, or LEED.
• Familiarity with various construction delivery methods including Design-Bid-Build, CMAR, Design-Build, and Integrated Project Delivery.
• Experience working across diverse global regions including North America, EMEA, APAC, and Latin America.