Category Management Director - Clinical

Vizient•Irving, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Category Management Director serves as the strategic leader, category subject matter expert, and trusted business advisor for assigned portfolios. The role develops and executes category strategies that deliver financial, operational, clinical, and organizational value for members while advancing Vizient’s strategic objectives. The director leads complex sourcing initiatives, facilitates stakeholder alignment, guides value analysis discussions, and provides strategic direction to multidisciplinary teams. Through category expertise, market intelligence, and consultative leadership, the role influences sourcing, contracting, and value-based decisions across a broad range of stakeholders, including clinicians, physicians, executives, operational leaders, supply chain leaders, and suppliers. The position manages a complex category portfolio and collaborates across sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, and value analysis teams. It uses spend, utilization, supplier, and market data to guide strategies and recommendations, monitors supplier performance and market developments, and partners with internal teams to achieve portfolio goals. The director also applies advanced AI fluency to category strategy, market intelligence, stakeholder communications, and business decision-making, while evaluating AI-generated outputs and promoting effective and responsible use of AI tools. This role 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.
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, and ability to apply AI effectively in complex business situations.
Ability to use AI to improve productivity, analysis, decision-making, and innovation; critically evaluate AI-generated content; and support others in 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 terms with suppliers.
Build consensus among client stakeholders, suppliers, and Vizient teams to meet clinical, operational, and financial objectives.
Provide guidance on complex contracting strategies and negotiations.
Lead stakeholder committees involving relevant clinical, physician, value analysis, supply chain, operational, and executive stakeholders.
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 delivery.
Manage a complex category portfolio 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 guide team members and provide subject matter expertise.
Represent Vizient in supplier-, member-, and industry-facing engagements related to assigned categories.
Interpret 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 ensure ongoing category effectiveness.
Partner with internal teams to achieve annual operational, financial, and strategic portfolio goals.
Apply AI to category strategy development, market intelligence, stakeholder communications, and business decision-making; evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs for accuracy, relevance, and business impact.
Promote effective and responsible use of AI tools across sourcing, contracting, and category management activities.