Associate Category Manager

Intuitive•Sunnyvale, CA

About The Position

The Associate Category Manager manages the supply chain for assigned direct-material suppliers and parts to support business continuity and optimization. The role covers sourcing, category strategy roadmaps, contract negotiation, spend analysis, inventory strategies, commodity intelligence, supplier performance, and potentially limited purchase-order management. It leads cross-functional category teams and identifies or implements Global Supply Chain initiatives. The position develops supplier and category strategies aligned with long-term business objectives, co-leads supplier selection, and works to secure high-quality products at the lowest total cost of ownership. It leads supplier scorecards and business reviews, continuous improvement, capacity assessments, and mitigation planning for supplier and sub-tier risks. The role also establishes and negotiates supplier agreements, supports production purchasing and inventory optimization, contributes to purchasing metrics and master-data integrity, and mentors supply-chain colleagues. The position requires a BS degree or equivalent and at least 10 years of supply-chain experience in a regulated-industry manufacturing environment. A master’s degree is preferred. The role involves approximately 25% domestic and international supplier travel. Intuitive notes that vaccination proof may be required depending on the role and customer requirements. Compensation is market-competitive and includes base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity; the posting does not provide the target compensation figures.

Requirements

Experience using strategic sourcing principles, including the six-step sourcing process, category strategy development, and collaborative supplier management.
Strong negotiation skills, a proven record of savings, and thorough understanding of key supplier agreement terms.
Significant computer experience, including Microsoft Office and ERP systems; strong Excel skills.
Proven project-management track record in a fast-paced manufacturing company.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects and adapt to changing priorities.
Thorough knowledge of and experience with kanban systems and other lean principles.
Working knowledge of buying, material planning, master scheduling, and forecasting.
Concern for precision and thoroughness.
Proven ability to consistently achieve stretch goals and objectives.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
BS degree or equivalent.
At least 10 years of supply-chain experience in a regulated-industry manufacturing environment.
Approximately 25% travel to domestic and international suppliers.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Medical-device industry experience.
SAP and Agile experience.
Experience managing spend or suppliers in the relevant category, or technical expertise in that category.
CPSM, CPIM, and/or PMP certification.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional category teams and meetings, and collaborate on long-term supplier strategies and category roadmaps.
Engage internal stakeholders to develop category strategies aligned with long-term business objectives.
Co-lead direct-procurement supplier selection with Supplier Engineering and guidance from the manager.
Identify a core supply base that can provide high-quality products at the lowest total cost of ownership, and identify value-improvement opportunities.
Align production supplier requirements and sourcing strategies with new product development for designated suppliers and categories.
Prioritize category projects with the manager and ensure team goals and objectives are achieved.
Use commodity-trend knowledge to propose strategies and educate stakeholders; develop and present category strategy reviews.
Lead supplier scorecarding and supplier business reviews for assigned suppliers.
Collaborate with suppliers and procurement to communicate demand changes and minimize excess inventory or material shortages.
Lead supplier continuous-improvement efforts and escalate issues to supplier executive leadership as appropriate.
Develop mitigation plans for assigned suppliers and critical sub-tier suppliers, and collaborate on implementation.
Lead supplier and critical sub-tier capacity assessments, anticipate long-term risks, and implement proactive mitigations.
Potentially serve as project manager for key supplier capacity or risk-mitigation initiatives.
Establish supplier contractual agreements and amendments, and negotiate long-term volume pricing, risk-mitigation, and capacity agreements.
Review, administer, and manage long-term purchase-order and delivery commitments as needed.
Lead identification and implementation of cost-reduction ideas to achieve year-over-year category cost goals.
Support plant purchasing negotiations to implement lean sourcing principles, material availability, and optimized inventory levels.
Use continuous-improvement techniques to advance purchasing metrics, including supplier on-time delivery, quality, risk management, inventory velocity, and cost reduction.
Potentially lead change management or change-order implementation for complex projects.
Support master-data integrity for suppliers and parts.
Mentor supply-chain colleagues and identify and close process and training improvement gaps.