Category Management Director - Clinical

Vizient•Nashville, TN

22h•$102,400 - $179,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Category Management Director – Clinical serves as a strategic leader, category subject matter expert, and trusted business advisor for assigned category portfolios. The role develops and executes category strategies that deliver measurable financial, operational, clinical, and organizational value for members while advancing Vizient’s strategic objectives. It leads complex sourcing initiatives, facilitates stakeholder alignment, guides value analysis discussions, and provides strategic direction to multidisciplinary teams. The role uses category expertise, market intelligence, and consultative leadership to influence sourcing, contracting, and value-based decisions among clinicians, physicians, executives, operational and supply chain leaders, and suppliers. The position manages complex category portfolios through collaboration with sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, and value analysis teams. It evaluates market and business data, monitors supplier performance, and identifies opportunities to improve savings, standardization, quality, technology adoption, and operational efficiency. The role also applies and evaluates AI tools in category strategy, market intelligence, communications, and decision-making, and promotes their effective and responsible use. This position follows a hybrid work model requiring three days per week in the office. Listed office locations are Irving, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Centennial, Colorado; Nashville, Tennessee; and Charlotte, North Carolina. Willingness to travel is required.

Requirements

Seven or more years of relevant experience in category management, strategic sourcing, supply chain, consulting, healthcare operations, contracting, or a related field.
Demonstrated success independently leading complex, enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives across clinical, medical-surgical, and/or physician preference item categories.
Proven ability to serve as a trusted advisor and influence executive, clinical, operational, and supplier stakeholders.
Experience facilitating stakeholder committees, value analysis initiatives, or cross-functional decision-making groups.
Strong negotiation and contracting experience with complex supplier agreements.
Advanced analytical skills and ability to translate data into strategic recommendations.
Excellent executive communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
Deep knowledge of AI tools, capabilities, outputs, and limitations, with the ability to apply AI in complex business situations, critically evaluate AI-generated content, and support effective and responsible use of AI solutions.
Willingness to travel.

Nice To Haves

Relevant degree preferred.
Experience with contracting and value analysis initiatives preferred.
Healthcare, group purchasing, consulting, or highly regulated industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead category strategies aligned with client priorities and organizational objectives.
Serve as the primary category subject matter expert and strategic advisor for sourcing, contracting, and value analysis initiatives.
Identify category opportunities by analyzing spend, utilization, supplier performance, market conditions, and member priorities.
Establish strategic plans to drive value realization, standardization, innovation, risk mitigation, and cost optimization.
Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including opportunity assessment, requirements development, RFI/RFP execution, supplier evaluation, negotiations, contract development, and implementation.
Develop and negotiate complex business, financial, operational, and contractual supplier terms.
Build consensus among client stakeholders, suppliers, and Vizient teams to meet clinical, operational, and financial objectives.
Guide complex contracting strategies and negotiations.
Lead stakeholder committees involving physicians, clinicians, value analysis leaders, supply chain professionals, operational leaders, and executives as applicable.
Facilitate discussions that align stakeholder priorities and support informed sourcing and contracting decisions.
Present category strategies, sourcing recommendations, and initiative outcomes to executive-level audiences.
Build trust-based relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to drive long-term value.
Manage complex category portfolios in collaboration with sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, and value analysis teams.
Anticipate and respond to market, regulatory, supply chain, legal, and competitive factors affecting category strategies.
Mentor and provide guidance and subject matter expertise to other team members.
Represent Vizient in supplier-, member-, and industry-facing engagements related to assigned categories.
Evaluate spend, utilization, supplier, and market data to inform category strategies and recommendations.
Identify opportunities for savings, standardization, quality improvement, technology adoption, and operational efficiency.
Monitor supplier performance and market developments to maintain category effectiveness.
Partner with internal teams to achieve annual operational, financial, and strategic portfolio goals.
Apply advanced AI fluency to category strategy, market intelligence, stakeholder communications, and business decision-making; evaluate AI-generated outputs and promote effective and responsible use of AI tools.