Procurement Category Lead – Marketing

Akraya • Remote • Contractor • $50–$53 / hour

Posted on Sat, Sep 19, 2026

Primary Skills: Marketing Procurement & Category Management (Expert), Influencer / Creator & Social Media Procurement (Expert), Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation (Expert), Spend Analytics & Value Capture (Advanced), Agency & Supplier Management (Advanced)
Contract Type: W2 Only
Duration: 5+ Months
Location: Remote – Ohio Candidates Preferred
Pay Range: $50 - $53 on W2
Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced Procurement Category Lead – Marketing to lead strategic sourcing, category management, and value creation initiatives across Marketing, with a strong focus on Influencer, Creator, and Social Media Marketing. The ideal candidate will have broad Marketing Procurement expertise and a deep understanding of agency economics, creator/talent fees, usage rights, licensing, commissions, retainers, and commercial models. This role will partner closely with Marketing, Brand, Finance, Legal, and other stakeholders to translate business strategies and marketing investments into actionable procurement strategies and measurable value.
Key Responsibilities:

Develop and execute Marketing category strategies aligned with Long Range Plans (LRPs), Annual Operating Plans (AOPs), Brand strategies, and evolving business priorities.
Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across Influencer Marketing, Social Media, Creative, Media, Content Production, Digital Marketing, Experiential, Agencies, and related services.
Identify and develop value capture and savings opportunities by analyzing spend, scopes of work, agency models, rate cards, supplier relationships, demand, and market benchmarks.
Independently manage complex procurement initiatives from RFP/RFQ development through supplier evaluation, commercial analysis, negotiation, contracting, implementation, and value realization.
Evaluate agency and supplier capabilities, staffing models, rate structures, retainers, fees, scopes of work, and performance to optimize the supplier ecosystem.
Serve as a strategic procurement advisor to Marketing and Brand leadership while partnering with Finance, Legal, Risk, and other functions to balance commercial value, creativity, speed, flexibility, and risk.

Must-Have Skills:

Significant experience in Marketing Procurement and Category Management across multiple marketing categories.
Deep experience with Influencer Marketing, Creator Marketing, and/or Social Media procurement, including understanding of agencies, platforms, talent, and commercial models.
Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, RFP/RFQ execution, supplier evaluation, negotiation, contracting, and value realization.
Strong understanding of influencer/creator cost drivers including talent fees, agency fees, commissions, usage rights, licensing, exclusivity, amplification, and production.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

Strong spend analytics, financial analysis, benchmarking, and savings/value pipeline development experience.
Experience managing agency scopes of work, staffing models, rate cards, retainers, and supplier consolidation.
Experience in retail, fashion, apparel, consumer brands, or other consumer-focused industries.
Experience working within global, multi-brand organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience; advanced degree preferred.
CPSM, Six Sigma, or similar procurement/sourcing certification is a plus.
Excellent executive communication, negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
Demonstrated ability to operate independently, manage ambiguity and competing priorities, and drive initiatives from strategy through execution.

Work Arrangement: Remote
Location Preference: Ohio-based candidates are strongly preferred by the hiring manager.
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