Senior Category Sourcing Manager, Data Center

Location:

US, Remote

Position Type:

Full-Time, Permanent

About Nscale

Nscale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure for AI start-ups and large enterprise customers. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Our GPU cloud bolsters technical capabilities and directly supports strategic business outcomes, including cost management, rapid innovation, and environmental responsibility.

At Nscale, the Supply Chain and Procurement team plays a critical role in shaping supply strategy, securing continuity of supply, and enabling the company’s growth through data-led decision-making. In a Category Sourcing Manager role, this means owning category strategy end-to-end, using expenditure and market insights to identify opportunities, leading supplier selection and negotiations, and putting scalable agreements in place that improve cost, service levels, and risk posture as the business grows.

We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you’ll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. If you join our team, you’ll be contributing to building the technology that powers the future

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Category Sourcing Manager to lead strategic sourcing initiatives for data center infrastructure equipment and materials. This role is critical in building and managing supplier relationships, negotiating favorable commercial terms, and driving competitive procurement processes that support our data center construction and growth objectives.

What You’ll be Doing (Responsibilities)

Supplier Relationship Management

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key suppliers to ensure supply continuity, quality standards, and competitive pricing
• Build a diverse and resilient supplier base to mitigate supply chain risks

Contract Negotiation & Management

• Lead negotiations for master framework agreements and volume purchase agreements with suppliers
• Structure commercial terms that optimize total cost of ownership while maintaining quality and service level requirements
• Ensure contract compliance and manage amendments, renewals, and extensions
• Collaborate with legal and leadership to finalize contract terms and conditions

Competitive Bid Process Management

• Design and execute competitive bidding processes (RFx) for data center infrastructure equipment and services
• Develop comprehensive bid documents, evaluation criteria, and selection methodologies
• Coordinate cross-functional evaluation teams to assess technical and commercial proposals
• Present recommendations to stakeholders and leadership based on thorough analysis

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives and data center roadmap
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify trends, pricing dynamics, and emerging technologies
• Drive cost savings initiatives and value engineering opportunities
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the category

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with data center operations, engineering, finance and leadership to understand requirements and priorities
• Provide market insights and supplier intelligence to inform procurement decisions
• Support budget planning and forecasting activities
• Communicate procurement strategies, timelines, and outcomes to stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management
• 2+ years of experience sourcing power and cooling equipment for data center construction, critical facilities, or large-scale industrial projects
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating complex, high-value framework agreements
• Strong understanding of competitive bidding processes and RFx methodologies for construction and equipment procurement
• Experience with supplier qualification, onboarding, and performance management for OEMs and equipment suppliers
• Knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems in data center environments
• Understanding of data center construction timelines, equipment lead times, and project delivery requirements
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to evaluate total cost of ownership
• Strong negotiation and communication skills
• Proficiency with procurement systems and tools (e-sourcing platforms, contract management systems, ERP)

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Business or Supply Chain) or professional certifications (CPSM, CIPS, CPM)
• Experience in hyperscale data center construction or mission-critical facility builds
• Deep technical knowledge of power distribution systems (medium voltage, low voltage, backup power) and cooling technologies (air-cooled, liquid-cooled, evaporative cooling)
• Experience with construction project procurement including equipment sequencing and staged deliveries
• Understanding of commissioning requirements and factory acceptance testing (FAT) for critical equipment

Equal Opportunities Statement

At Nscale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.  We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.