Sr. Specialist, IT Procurement (Software & Technology)

About the role

The Sr. Specialist, IT Procurement is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, procurement, negotiation, and supplier management of enterprise software, SaaS applications, cloud services, technology platforms, cybersecurity solutions, and other IT-related products and services. This position serves as a trusted advisor to Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal, Enterprise Architecture, Digital Transformation, and business stakeholders to ensure technology investments deliver maximum commercial value while minimizing financial, contractual, operational, and compliance risks.

The role requires deep expertise in software licensing models, SaaS agreements, cloud consumption contracts, maintenance and support renewals, subscription-based services, and technology supplier negotiations.

The individual will manage complex sourcing initiatives from initial business requirements through contract execution and ongoing supplier relationship management.

Working with limited supervision, the Sr. Specialist applies advanced procurement knowledge, commercial acumen, analytical expertise, and negotiation skills to optimize spend, improve supplier performance, support technology transformation initiatives, and ensure alignment with corporate procurement and governance requirements.

The position also provides mentorship, guidance, and quality oversight to procurement specialists and junior sourcing professionals while supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the procurement organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Lead strategic sourcing and category management initiatives for enterprise software, SaaS, cloud services, cybersecurity, hardware, telecommunications, technology consulting, and related IT categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and technology roadmaps; conduct market intelligence, benchmarking, supplier evaluations, and competitive RFI/RFQ/RFP processes.
• Evaluate supplier offerings, commercial models, and licensing structures to identify best-value solutions and cost optimization opportunities.

Software & Cloud Licensing Management

• Negotiate software licensing, SaaS subscriptions, cloud consumption, maintenance and support renewals, and technology services agreements.
• Manage commercial relationships with major technology providers, including Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce, Broadcom, Adobe, ServiceNow, Workday, and engineering software providers such as Ansys, Autodesk, Bentley, Aveva, and AspenTech.
• Evaluate licensing structures, usage rights, subscription models, user metrics, consumption-based pricing, and contractual commitments.
• Partner with Software Asset Management, IT, and Finance to optimize license utilization, reduce redundant spend, consolidate suppliers, and support license compliance.

Contract Negotiation & Commercial Management

• Lead complex negotiations covering pricing, discounts, volume incentives, service levels, renewal protections, benchmarking, price increases, audit rights, intellectual property, data ownership, liability, termination, and other commercial terms.
• Collaborate with Legal, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Risk, Finance, and business stakeholders to assess contractual risk and ensure agreements meet business, regulatory, security, and operational requirements.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Manage strategic technology supplier relationships and serve as the primary procurement contact for assigned suppliers.
• Conduct supplier performance and business reviews; resolve disputes, service issues, invoicing discrepancies, licensing concerns, and delivery failures.
• Negotiate corrective actions, service credits, refunds, remediation plans, and performance improvements while driving continuous supplier improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership

• Partner with IT leadership, project managers, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, Finance, and business stakeholders throughout the technology acquisition lifecycle.
• Lead requirements gathering, market analysis, sourcing strategy, supplier selection, negotiations, and contract execution.
• Translate business requirements into effective sourcing and contracting strategies and support technology budgeting, forecasting, and investment planning.

Procurement Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, delegated authority, financial controls, cybersecurity standards, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Maintain accurate procurement and contract documentation and support internal and external audits.
• Ensure suppliers meet security, insurance, contractual, and policy requirements while promoting procurement best practices and process standardization.

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze technology spending and identify cost reduction, efficiency, and process improvement opportunities.
• Support procurement technology, workflow automation, sourcing tools, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Recommend improvements that enhance efficiency, controls, stakeholder experience, and business value.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor procurement specialists and less experienced sourcing professionals and provide quality oversight of sourcing activities, commercial analyses, contract documentation, and negotiations.
• Share best practices, support professional development, and serve as a subject matter expert in IT procurement and software licensing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Information Technology, or a related discipline. Experience in lieu of a degree will also be considered.
• Minimum 5-8 years of progressive experience in IT procurement, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, software licensing, or supplier management.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating enterprise software, SaaS, cloud, cybersecurity, engineering software, and technology services agreements.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships and complex commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of software licensing models, subscription-based services, cloud consumption agreements, and technology procurement practices.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams and enterprise technology initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of technology sourcing and procurement experience.
• Experience supporting large global organizations and multi-business-unit environments.
• Experience with software asset management (SAM), cloud financial management (FinOps), or IT vendor management programs.
• Knowledge of enterprise procurement and ERP platforms such as Deltek, SAP, Oracle, Ariba, Coupa, ServiceNow, or similar systems.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPSD, CPM, CSCP, ITAM, SAM, FinOps Certified Practitioner, or equivalent.
• Experience negotiating agreements with major technology suppliers such as Microsoft, Oracle, AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce, Broadcom, Adobe, ServiceNow, Workday, IBM, and engineering software providers including Ansys, Autodesk, Bentley, Aveva, and AspenTech.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

• At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture.
• These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company.
• That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow.
• We Deliver – Together.