MELISSA LESAGE
Denver
Summary
Dynamic Category Manager with a proven track record at Jacobs Engineering Group, adept at supplier negotiation and category strategy development. Achieved significant cost reductions and enhanced service levels through strategic sourcing initiatives. Strong relationship builder and effective communicator, skilled in contract negotiation and supplier performance monitoring.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Category Manager
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
Denver
11.2022 - Current
- Evaluated vendor performance quarterly to ensure compliance with quality standards.
- Developed and executed category strategies to enhance market share for assigned categories.
- Organized cross-functional meetings to align stakeholders on category initiatives.
- Negotiated pricing and contracts with suppliers to optimize profit margins.
- Maintained strong relationships with key suppliers while effectively managing supplier portfolios.
- Prepared reports analyzing current market conditions and their effects on assigned categories.
- Negotiated agreements with suppliers to control inventory, quality, and costs.
- Cultivated business partnerships to strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Category Manager- Business Services
Lindt & Sprüngli North America
Kansas City
03.2020 - 11.2022
- Created comprehensive category roadmaps for business services by analyzing market data and spend.
- Developed business cases and savings projections to drive strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Documented business requirements and key performance indicators for effective vendor management.
- Conducted sourcing events, negotiated supplier agreements, and enhanced service levels.
- Tracked financial impact of procurement strategies by calculating and documenting sourcing savings.
- Monitored vendor performance post-implementation to ensure compliance with established metrics.
- Negotiated Master Vendor Program for temporary labor across US facilities, achieving $500K in savings.
- Achieved 40% cost reduction for office printers through clean sheet methodology, eliminating unnecessary fees.
Contracts Manager II
UMB Financial
Kansas City
12.2018 - 03.2020
- Drafted and negotiated vendor contracts for a variety of products and services, including IT hardware, software, and services, network software and equipment, financial services, and banking software. Partnered with UMB Information Security to identify and mitigate contractual risks and ensure compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the banking industry. Served as single point of contact for strategic IT suppliers including Cisco, ACI Worldwide, and BMC.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Led a cross functional team to negotiate terms and conditions in support of a major software upgrade to UMB’s Universal Online Banking (UOB) System, resulting in the upgrade being completed on time and within budget.
- Negotiated a master agreement and commercial terms for a wealth management platform for the company’s high-net-worth clients.
- Ensured compliance with FINRA requirements, specifically 17a-4 while negotiating terms and conditions related to the migration of UMB Archive emails to a new supplier.
Senior Buyer
H&R Block
Kansas City
08.2016 - 12.2018
- Reduced sole source purchases and ensured compliance with company procurement policy for $28M in IT spend. Managed multiple concurrent sourcing events including RFP’s, RFI’s, and RFQ’s for hardware, software, and services. Served as single point of contact for strategic IT suppliers including SAS, Oracle, and Salesforce. Coordinated supplier selection and completed all relevant contract documentation. Created purchase orders in compliance with company fiscal policy.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Achieved $2M+ savings by completing an RFP and consolidating several text email communication suppliers
- Successfully lowered labor costs, consolidated spending, and improved consistency in labor procurement processes by completing an RFP for a contingent labor Managed Service Provider
- Coordinated with the H&R Block Legal department to create a Master Software Licensing Agreement template to ensure consistency in IT and software-related terms including license grant, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and warranties.
Sourcing Specialist → Sourcing Manager
Sprint
Overland Park
01.2006 - 08.2016
- Earned a performance-based promotion from Sourcing Specialist to Sourcing Manager (2010). Mitigated costs via the procurement process for services and software by running RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs. Directed sourcing process for several spend categories including IT, HR Services, Customer Service and Collections call centers, and Credit services by conducting analyses on supplier markets and developing supplier performance criteria. Led many successful cross-functional team projects, gathering business requirements, and managing timelines. Conducted supplier contract negotiations to receive favorable terms. Negotiated and executed master contracts, SOWs, and trial agreements. Resolved numerous contract disputes with consistently positive outcomes. Efforts ensured optimal contract terms and pricing for $69M+ in total spend.
- Key Accomplishments:
- Achieved $20M+ in annual savings by completing multiple large-scale RFPs across several categories of services
- Contracted with Sprint’s Joint Venture partner to purchase software and services required to implement an omnichannel sales software platform.
- Successfully negotiated a savings of 50% from the original bid to final price by sourcing Next Best Action decision software for Sprint’s call centers and other customer contact channels.
Education
Master of Science - Management
BAKER UNIVERSITY
Overland Park, KS03.2002
Bachelor of Arts - English, Philosophy
ROCKHURST COLLEGE
Kansas City, MO12.1993
Paralegal Studies Certificate -
ROCKHURST COLLEGE
Kansas City, MO12.1993
Skills
- Category Management
- Supplier negotiation
- Category strategy
- Procurement strategy
- Effective communication
- Relationship building
- Problem solving
- Relationship Building
- MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Project Management
- Business Case Development
- Contract Negotiation
- Supplier Performance Monitoring
- Project Costing
- Procure to Pay (P2P) Software
- Legal Writing & Drafting
- Business Writing/Policy Development
Certification
Certified Lean/Six Sigma – Yellow Belt: 2018
Websites
Languages
Chinese (Mandarin)
Professional
Timeline
Category Manager
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
11.2022 - Current
Category Manager- Business Services
Lindt & Sprüngli North America
03.2020 - 11.2022
Contracts Manager II
UMB Financial
12.2018 - 03.2020
Senior Buyer
H&R Block
08.2016 - 12.2018
Sourcing Specialist → Sourcing Manager
Sprint
01.2006 - 08.2016
Master of Science - Management
BAKER UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts - English, Philosophy
ROCKHURST COLLEGE
Paralegal Studies Certificate -
ROCKHURST COLLEGE
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