AVP, Category Management

Vizient•Irving, TX

1d•$156,500 - $290,100

About The Position

The AVP, Category Management provides executive leadership for a client-facing category management team, setting the strategic vision, operating model, and organizational priorities across multiple category portfolios. The role leads and develops a multi-level organization of category management professionals and people leaders, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, inclusive culture. The AVP oversees the continued evolution of the National Sourcing Center by building organizational capabilities, driving enterprise sourcing and contracting strategies, and ensuring consistent execution of complex category initiatives that deliver financial, operational, clinical, and strategic value. In partnership with executive leadership, the role establishes long-term business strategy, develops future leaders, leads organizational transformation, and champions innovation across sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, supplier relations, and clinical stakeholder engagement. As a trusted executive advisor, the AVP builds relationships with internal leaders, client executives, suppliers, and industry partners. The role is accountable for organizational performance, resource allocation, financial planning, and strategic outcomes across multiple category portfolios, and champions responsible AI adoption to improve productivity, market intelligence, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. Travel of 15–20% is required as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain, consulting, healthcare operations, contracting, or related business leadership.
At least 7 years of progressive people leadership experience, including leading managers, senior professionals, and multi-level organizational structures.
Demonstrated success leading organizations of 30 or more employees through multiple layers of leadership.
Proven experience building, scaling, or transforming high-performing organizations.
Demonstrated success leading organizational change initiatives and enterprise transformation efforts.
Executive-level experience establishing business strategy and influencing senior executives across complex organizations.
Extensive experience leading strategic sourcing, contracting, supplier negotiations, and category management initiatives.
Strong financial, operational, and business acumen, including experience managing organizational performance, budgets, resource planning, and strategic investments.
Exceptional executive communication, relationship management, coaching, and change leadership skills.
Ability to lead through ambiguity, influence without direct authority, and deliver measurable business results.
Advanced AI fluency, including the ability to establish governance, promote responsible AI adoption, and use AI to improve organizational effectiveness and business performance.
Ability to travel 15–20% as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA, MHA, or related field).
Healthcare, group purchasing, consulting, or other highly regulated industry experience.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a multi-level organization of people leaders, senior professionals, and category management talent, including workforce planning, succession planning, performance management, engagement, and retention.
Lead multiple people leaders responsible for Category Management teams and ensure consistent leadership practices, talent development, performance management, and organizational effectiveness.
Foster accountability, collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and inclusive leadership; recruit, mentor, develop, and retain high-performing talent.
Develop organizational capabilities, governance models, and operational frameworks to scale the National Sourcing Center and support long-term growth.
Lead transformation, change management, and process modernization initiatives to improve scalability, consistency, efficiency, client experience, and business performance.
Establish the strategic vision and long-term direction for Category Management across multiple product and service portfolios.
Align category strategies with Vizient’s business objectives, client priorities, financial goals, and market opportunities.
Provide executive oversight of complex sourcing, contracting, supplier, and category management initiatives led by Directors and senior category leaders.
Drive supplier optimization, standardization, innovation, value creation, and risk mitigation across the portfolio.
Advise senior leaders on category strategy, sourcing priorities, supplier relationships, market dynamics, and organizational performance.
Build executive relationships with provider and supplier executives and strategic business partners to advance sourcing strategy and organizational objectives.
Present organizational strategy, portfolio performance, business outcomes, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
Represent Vizient at client meetings, industry conferences, advisory councils, supplier engagements, and other external forums.
Collaborate across sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, legal, operations, and executive leadership to influence enterprise decisions.
Establish organizational goals, operating metrics, governance standards, and performance expectations across Category Management.
Ensure consistent execution of sourcing methodologies, contracting standards, and category management best practices; monitor performance against financial, operational, quality, and strategic objectives.
Lead continuous improvement and enterprise change initiatives, build stakeholder alignment, and support adoption of new capabilities and operating models.
Partner with other executive leaders supporting the client account to maximize Vizient’s impact and value.
Manage organizational performance, resource allocation, financial planning, investment prioritization, and achievement of strategic business objectives.
Oversee portfolio performance, savings realization, supplier performance, contract outcomes, and operational effectiveness.
Monitor market trends, regulatory developments, emerging technologies, and competitive conditions to inform strategic direction and resource priorities.
Champion responsible AI adoption to improve productivity, market intelligence, sourcing strategy, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.
Establish expectations for AI governance, responsible use, and ongoing capability development, while ensuring human oversight, compliance, and business judgment.