K

Kenna

End-to-end merchandise, production, and fulfillment

IT Software Lead

Full-Time
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's
Chicago, IL, USA
In PersonLocal candidates only; relocation is not available.
Operations & LogisticsProcurement & Sourcing

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree is preferred in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting, or equivalent IT sourcing, category, and supplier management experience.
  • At least 10 years of experience in an IT Software procurement or sourcing service delivery capacity is required.
  • At least 5 years of IT procurement management experience or experience in an IT Software operational management capacity is required.
  • Proven success and experience working in complex or challenging IT Software enterprise environments is required.
  • Experience working within an influence-management corporate structure is required.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills are required.
  • Strong analytical and data management skills, ideally in a Sourcing and Procurement Services or Operations context, are required.
  • Strong business operations skills are required.
  • Strong negotiating skills are required.
  • Strong financial analysis skills are required.
  • Project and program management skills are required.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presentation skills, are required.
  • Strong customer orientation is required.
  • The ability to prioritize multiple high-priority items is required.
Responsibilities
  • Deliver IT Software sourcing strategies, lead strategic initiatives, drive negotiations, and develop sourcing performance metrics for the IT Sourcing and Procurement Solutions tower.
  • Initiate, develop, promote, and implement continuous improvement in IT procurement strategies with the Enterprise IT Software Senior Manager of Sourcing and Procurement Services.
  • Deliver strategic sourcing and procurement services supporting organizational requirements for software licensing.
  • Develop, negotiate, and manage technology contracts and serve as the business driver for all requirements.
  • Develop relationships and procedural strategies with Legal, Tax, Treasury, ATSV Finance, Security, Data Privacy, ATSV Architecture, Voice/Data Leadership, and divisional Chief Information Officers to complete contracts.
  • Participate directly with business development teams by providing technology procurement subject-matter expertise in shaping technology software agreements.
  • Develop relationships with directors and officers and build collaborative, executive-level relationships with strategic IT Software suppliers.
  • Serve as a senior technology procurement negotiator for key, strategic, highly visible software-based technology suppliers.
  • Promote best practices and techniques in sourcing, procurement, and contract development.
  • Implement improved contractual terms and conditions for client templates and provide supervision and direction as needed.
  • Govern the strategic IT Software supplier base, lead escalation management, and ensure IT Software operations are consistent with agreements.
  • Analyze the existing IT Software portfolio to develop proactive cost-optimization strategies that lower total cost of ownership.
  • Support acquisition of new IT Software at the lowest costs consistent with quality pre- and post-sale support.
  • Travel up to 10% as needed.
Desired Qualifications
  • Mainframe software and/or leasing experience is a plus.
  • Experience working with virtual teams is preferred.
  • Professional development and coaching experience and skills are preferred.
  • Knowledge of sourcing and procurement processes is preferred.
  • Ability to lead and push for increasing levels of performance.

About the company

Kenna Group provides end-to-end product development and merchandise technology for large brands, building scalable brand ecosystems and managing high-volume corporate merchandise programs. It handles concept through design, manufacturing, global supply chain execution, and fulfillment, and also builds enterprise-grade e-commerce infrastructure with custom storefronts and merch flows for retail, employee engagement, and B2B applications. Its differentiators include in-house creative development, a flexible production network (screen printing and custom sewing), and strategic partnerships with brands like Apple, Lululemon, and Dyson, all while maintaining GDPR and CCPA data protections. The goal is to help major brands launch and scale merchandise, uniforms, and retail programs by offering a comprehensive, integrated suite of services.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Seattle, Washington

Founded

2010

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • 2026 hiring for supply chain and procurement signals active expansion, not retrenchment.
  • Global gifting compliance and CRM integrations strengthen enterprise adoption for regulated customers.
  • Same-day fulfillment and in-house production support faster launches than fragmented competitors.

What critics are saying

  • Heavy dependence on branded merch exposes revenue to discretionary marketing and procurement cuts.
  • Supply-chain complexity across 1.1 million square feet raises execution failures and margin compression.
  • If major clients internalize merch tech, Kenna's agency model loses its core moat.

What makes Kenna unique

  • Seattle, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Mexico operations enable end-to-end merch control.
  • Shopify+ and Google Cloud integrations anchor branded ecommerce, gifting, and rewards automation.
  • Fortune 100 clients like Starbucks, Microsoft, and Google validate enterprise merchandising scale.

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Benefits

  • Relocation Assistance