Category Director
Date Posted: May 8, 2026
Requisition ID: 477445
Location:
Indianapolis, IN, US, 46204
Work for Indiana
Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.
About the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA):
IDOA helps to ensure the smooth function of state government, finding efficient and effective solutions to government-wide needs.
Role Overview:
An IDOA Category Director for the Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) is a senior procurement and strategic sourcing role. This professional oversees statewide purchasing strategies, manages major vendor contracts, and leads sourcing events to achieve cost-efficiency and compliance across state government agencies.
A Category Director typically handles the full lifecycle of complex, government-wide procurement portfolios. Core duties include:
Strategic Sourcing: Develop and execute comprehensive category management plans (e.g., IT, professional services, medical, or administrative supplies) to maximize value and minimize risk.
Procurement Leadership: Oversee large-scale solicitations, including Request for Proposals (RFPs), reverse auctions, and coordinated sourcing events for agency spend that exceeds individual delegation limits.
Vendor Management: Monitor vendor performance, negotiate contracts, and ensure adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Policy Enforcement: Guide state agencies on procurement laws, ensure fair and competitive bidding processes, and apply objective/subjective scoring frameworks.
Diversity & Sustainability: Promote the Buy Indiana initiative and monitor compliance with standards for minority, women, and veteran business enterprises.
Team Supervision: Lead a team of procurement specialists, buyers, and sourcing analysts by setting workload standards and measuring performance.
Salary Statement:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $93,002.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience.
A Day in the Life:
The essential functions of this role are as follows:
Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., makes recommendations for improvement.
Develop and coordinate plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision and expectations of agency or program.
Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, and delegating assignments, training, monitoring, and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
Monitor agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
Communicate with news and other media. responds to media questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner.
Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues (i.e. federal and/or state agency directors, etc.).
Coordinate, review and evaluate the use of appropriate controls and standards for the agency.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.
This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.
What You'll Need for Success:
Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:
Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
Extensive knowledge of State programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
Make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions. Perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
Ability to identify problems. determine accuracy and relevance of information, and to use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
A degree is not required.
Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:
This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.
Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:
The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:
Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
Education Reimbursement Program
Group life insurance
Referral Bonus program
Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Free Parking for most positions
Free LinkedIn Learning access
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.
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