IT Category Manager

Are you an experienced Technology Procurement or Category Management professional looking to help shape the future technology landscape of a major standalone industrial organization? Do you enjoy partnering with technical leaders to evaluate enterprise software, negotiate strategic supplier agreements and influence long-term technology strategy? Would you like the opportunity to join a business undergoing one of the most significant technology transformations in North American industry?

If so, this opportunity may be your next career move.

RPS Recruitment has been exclusively retained by US Borates to appoint an IS&T Category Specialist supporting the transition from Rio Tinto into a standalone organisation.

This is far more than a traditional procurement role. As the business establishes its own technology operating model, you'll work alongside Procurement, Information Systems & Technology (IS&T), Finance and Legal to help shape the enterprise software landscape that will support the organisation for years to come.

You'll play a key role in evaluating enterprise applications, cloud technologies and strategic software suppliers while ensuring commercial value, operational capability and long-term scalability remain at the centre of every technology investment decision.

Working closely with senior leadership, you'll help define which technologies are retained, replaced or introduced as part of the separation programme, making this one of the few procurement opportunities where you'll genuinely influence the future technology direction of an entire organisation.

As the IS&T Category Specialist your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the review and rationalisation of enterprise software, applications and cloud technologies as part of the transition to a standalone business.
• Partnering with IS&T leadership to evaluate technology solutions that support operational performance, digital capability and long-term business strategy.
• Leading software sourcing activities including supplier evaluations, RFPs, proof-of-concept exercises and commercial assessments.
• Negotiating enterprise software licensing agreements, SaaS contracts, cloud subscriptions and associated commercial terms.
• Managing strategic technology suppliers to ensure service performance, commercial value and ongoing supplier governance.
• Reviewing software licensing agreements, SLAs, DPAs, EULAs and other commercial technology contracts.
• Supporting the evaluation of emerging AI-enabled technologies, ensuring appropriate consideration is given to commercial, security and data privacy risks.
• Working collaboratively with Procurement, IS&T, Finance and Legal to support technology investment decisions.
• Supporting supplier transition activities and technology transformation programmes throughout the separation process.
• Contributing to procurement governance, supplier management frameworks and commercial best practice across the IS&T function.

As the IS&T Category Specialist you will bring:

• Experience within IT Procurement, Technology Procurement or Technology Category Management.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise software, SaaS platforms, cloud technologies and software licensing models.
• Experience negotiating strategic software agreements and managing enterprise technology suppliers.
• Experience supporting digital transformation, enterprise software implementation or technology change programmes.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance technical capability against commercial value.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, working across Procurement, IS&T, Finance, Legal and senior business leadership.
• Knowledge of software licensing structures, supplier governance and commercial technology contracts.
• An understanding of emerging AI technologies and associated commercial, privacy and intellectual property considerations.
• Experience within manufacturing, mining, engineering, industrial, energy or similarly operational environments would be advantageous.
• US work authorisation.

Why Join US Borates?

Opportunities to help build the technology foundations of a standalone organisation are exceptionally rare.

Rather than managing an established supplier portfolio, you'll help define it. Your work will directly influence technology strategy, commercial partnerships and digital capability across an organisation that is investing heavily in its future operating model.

This is an opportunity to leave a genuine legacy while working alongside senior leaders during one of the most exciting periods in the company's history.