Category Management Specialist

  • Washington D.C., DC
  • Full Time
  • Mid Level

Position Overview

Category Management Specialist

The Company:

Censeo Consulting Group is a top Washington D.C. based management consulting firm dedicated to helping public sector and non-profit clients build operational excellence, deliver better outcomes, and lower cost. We take a personalized approach to strategic consulting to solve our clients’ most complex problems and build operational excellence that transforms their organizations, allowing them to better deliver on their public and social missions. 

At Censeo, our award-winning culture means you’ll join a tight-knit community of 95 brilliant and passionate colleagues. We are advocates for a better functioning public sector, and we’re also good friends who know the names of each other’s dogs. Our philosophy is horizontal, not hierarchical, and our open-door policy encourages a culture of entrepreneurship at all levels. We share successes, make decisions together, and foster an environment for those with initiative to lead. Our colleagues bring their own unique personalities to work every day and use them to help shape our growing firm in ways that reach far beyond client projects. 

The Position:

We are looking for passionate, driven candidates to help solve our client’s complex problems and guide them towards operational success. As a Category Management (CM) Specialist, you will work closely with our federal client to purchase more strategically and leverage economies of scale, streamline procurement processes, reduce administrative burden, increase transparency, data-driven decision-making, and accountability in procurement activities.  

  • Perform market research and analysis specific to a category or sub-category to develop efficient acquisition strategies. 
  • Assess the prioritized opportunities to conduct in-depth analysis and develop business cases to implement specific CM improvement strategies across the Department. 
  • Partner with stakeholders to prioritize opportunities, identify category teams, and implement CM improvement strategies across the Department. 
  • Conduct project management and change management activities regarding opportunities identified and approved. 
  • Maintain and mature internal knowledge management related to the execution of CM opportunities. 
  • Vet opportunities, conduct in-depth analyses to recommend business cases specific to opportunities,
  • Gather information on the program requirements and current contracts using market research, industry best practices, review consumer trends and current procurement data to form a historical spending pattern to recommend appropriate categories in collaboration with the appropriate representatives 
  • Compile and analyze data to measure effectiveness of the category team program, e.g., metrics. 
  • Develop life-cycle data analysis in support of the category in support of the team initial based on the team.
  • Provide administrative support to the project team in delivery to the client  
The Ideal Candidate: 

At Censeo, we are looking for unique candidates whose passion and enthusiasm will help shape Censeo’s client insights and workplace culture. Our staff have a wide range of backgrounds, areas of expertise, personality types, and favorite breakfast foods. Our client and cultural successes are rooted in our team’s innovation, creative problem solving, and collaboration. The unique perspective that you bring and the way you tackle problems are much more important to us than what’s printed on your diploma. We believe a successful Contract Specialist will have: 

  • BA /BS from an accredited university in business administration, marketing, accounting, or business analysis (or similar). 
  • Active Secret security clearance
  • 5+ years of professional experience required
  • 3+ years of federal government acquisition management activities is preferred
  • 1-2 years of experience providing acquisition consulting services to federal clients is preferred
  • Excellent customer service skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and strong analytic skills
  • Strong understanding of various acquisition approaches and ability to formulate analyses and create comprehensive documentation
  • Strong organization skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent verbal communication and writing skills
  • Ability to add value in semi-unstructured roles, working with diverse groups of stakeholders
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite of tools, to include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint

The Location:

Censeo Consulting Group is based in Washington D.C., a fantastic city for working professionals. We work in a hybrid setting with flexibility to work from home and work in our office conveniently located in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks away from the White House. And with many of our clients also based in D.C., we have the luxury of leaving for a meeting and being back in the office in time for post-work happy hours, team dinners, and game nights.

The Fine Print:

  • Expected travel 0-10%; may increase based on business needs 
  • This is an exempt, full-time position
  • Essential Physical Functions
    • Sitting: Particularly for sustained periods of time
    • Light Carrying: Physically transporting items weighing less than 15 pounds from one location to another
  • Salary range between $75,000 - $110,000 depending on experience

Censeo offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including paid vacation and sick leave, flexible and remote work opportunities, and tuition and training reimbursement. More information on our benefits and perks can be found at: https://www.censeoconsulting.com/about/join-us/.  

Censeo is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other class protected by applicable state or federal law. 

Join Our Award-Winning Culture!

Our passion wins awards. But don’t just take it from us… 

  • 2023 Vault #9 Best Consulting Firm for Work/Life Balance 
  • 2023 Vault #23 Best Consulting Firm for Overall Diversity
  • 2023 Management Consulted #3 Best Boutique Firms in Washington DC
  • 2022 Vault #41 Best Overall Consulting Firm to Work For
  • 2020 Vault #21 Best Boutique Consulting Firm 
  • 2019 Ivy Exec #7 Best Boutique Consulting Firm 
  • 2018 Consulting Magazine Best Small Firms to Work For  
  • 2017 Vault #12 Best Boutique Consulting Firm 
  • 2016 Forbes Best Management Consulting Firms in America 
  • 2015 Washington Business Journal’s Philanthropy

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