Category Management Leader

at EY in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

The opportunity

As part of EY’s commitment to becoming a data-driven organization, it is investing in the development and global operations of a data fabric that enables provision of enhanced data services and solutions to our internal and external clients.

The Category Management Leader (Associate Director) will be at the forefront in working with our internal and external clients, to understand data needs and support strategic and cost-effective sourcing of that data.

This position is a for a senior member of the Data Office extended leadership team and will input into the design of the global vision and strategy for the data usage, data fabric roadmap and its operational capacity and demand.

We are seeking a professional with data knowledge, skilled in strategy development and the procurement process looking to partner with business stakeholders to meet EY’s enterprise-wide goals and priorities.

EY is committed to growth and development for all its people, and your skills will be harnessed and developed throughout EY’s areas.

Your key responsibilities

The Category Management leader (Associate Director) will be responsible for:

+ framing the overall strategy and approach for sourcing external data based on stakeholders’ input and EY’s strategy and priorities

+ providing oversight on the execution of the enterprise content acquisition approach for external content

+ sourcing relevant content from the marketplace

+ managing third-party data providers

+ monitoring and ensuring practice take-up, impact and value of data sourced

This position is a member of the Data Sourcing leadership team (Associate Director) which is part of EY’s Data Office. The position will provide input into the design of the global vision, strategy, and execution for data sourcing. This position understands the importance of connecting data to achieve higher value insights and the importance of easy access to data through automation and optimization.

This position partners with business stakeholders across all of EY’s service lines and regions to develop and execute sourcing strategies to acquire or renew external content aligned to EY priorities. This position will be expected to align all external data sourcing activities and programs to bring optimum value and impact for the business, in concert with oversight from EY’s Data Governance.

This position manages the global operations of a virtually dispersed team to ensure that the external content sourcing strategy for service lines, markets, sectors, and the enterprise is executed effectively and that practitioners have easy access to information that they need to provide distinctive service and insights to clients. This position manages relationships with Data Office Leaders and works collaboratively with other global firm functions (e.g., EY Knowledge, Global Procurement, Global Finance) to acquire content that complies with firm policies and ensures vendor selection aligns with approved firm business relationships.

Skills and attributes for success

+ Responsible for the data sourcing planning and execution for supplying external content that benefits the full enterprise (cross firm). Provides insights to EY’s service lines, sectors, and geographic areas on specialized and local external content needs.

+ Determine content needs of global business units by liaising with key stakeholders, soliciting inputs and needs to help source and buy relevant content; and conducting proper evaluations of content vendors to determine and recommend suitable content sources.

+ Oversee the business case development process, vendor evaluation and selection, management of request for proposals (RFPs), funding approvals, contract negotiation and invoice coordination,

+ Coordinate deployment, develop catalog plans, and design and monitor usage / value measures that realize desired return of investment.

+ Establish external content sourcing plans, determine priorities, manage the processes needed to achieve the required objectives, proactively offer a variety of relevant considerations, and drive effective implementation to achieve the desired end result

+ Oversee and manage the operating model/structure to support the business’ enterprise content priorities. This includes staffing, organizing and motivating a team of professionals, assigning work and managing people processes (performance management, recruiting, coaching and mentoring).

+ Ability to build an in-depth knowledge of EY’s business strategy and of the critical issues and drivers of the domains supported. Work with key stakeholders on funding strategies where needed.

+ Partner with other EY business units involved in content acquisition process (e.g., Procurement, Finance, etc.) and work collaboratively to optimize value and cost to the firm.

+ Keep apprised of vendor roadmaps and pricing approaches to enable appropriate planning, and to minimize potential surprises.

+ Work across service lines, sectors, and geographies to develop and drive common external sourcing strategies, consistency of content acquisition process, and cohesive use of common tools, where appropriate

+ Fiduciary responsibility for operating budgets, including the development of annual budgets and plans, and management of expenditures in compliance with approved funding

+ Understand and communicate the value of the Data Sourcing strategy and its strategic relevance to firm leaders

+ Proactively provide perspectives on the external data marketplace to Data Office and firm leadership and key stakeholders to help drive understand of key impacts with vendors, cost, use, and innovative new approaches. Assist Service Line, Sector, and Area Knowledge Leaders in explaining to stakeholders any changes (cost, content, vendor changes, etc.) relevant to that domain.

+ Collaborates and shares best practices across Knowledge Services and serves as a role model for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

+ Sets priorities and determines strategies based on the business units’ goals and objectives

+ Understands the business vision and identifies relevant external content options

+ Conducts ongoing analysis and evaluations of ROI to determine effectiveness of external content; proactively identifies recommendations and opportunities

+ Understands the firm’s go-to-market strategy and service delivery models, how core business services support the service lines, and how the Data Office contributes to the firm’s strategies.

+ Understands the firm’s strategy and ensures key external content sourcing strategies are aligned to it.

+ Serves as the authority in the firm with respect to vendor selection of content sources

To qualify for the role you must have

+ Bachelor’s degree or 12+ years of relevant work experience

+ Exceptional consulting experience – with strong communication and analytical skills

+ Working knowledge in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and in addition knowledge of analytical tools such as Power BI will be helpful

+ Ability to quickly analyze issues, develop solutions and effectively communicate recommendations

+ Previous knowledge and strong understanding of the complexities and pressures of data sourcing marketplace (vendor, open data sources, aggregators)

+ Strong executive presence, relationship and project management, team development, strategic planning and budgeting skills

+ Ability to quickly analyze issues, develop solutions and effectively communicate recommendations

+ Ability to effect