Category Management Director - Indirect

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 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. Through category expertise, market intelligence, and consultative leadership, the director influences sourcing, contracting, and value-based decisions across 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 data and market insights to shape recommendations, monitors supplier and market developments, and helps achieve portfolio goals. The role also applies advanced AI fluency to category strategy, market intelligence, communications, and business decisions, while evaluating AI outputs and promoting 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. The estimated salary range is $102,400 to $179,000, and the position is incentive eligible. Vizient states that it offers a comprehensive benefits plan and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

At least 7 years of relevant experience in category management, strategic sourcing, supply chain, consulting, healthcare operations, contracting, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing and category management initiatives.
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 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 effective and responsible AI use.
Willingness to travel.

Nice To Haves

Relevant degree preferred.
Healthcare, group purchasing, consulting, or highly regulated industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead comprehensive 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.
Create 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 on solutions meeting 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 support long-term value delivery.
Manage a complex category portfolio through cross-functional 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.
Provide mentoring, guidance, and subject matter expertise to other team members.
Represent Vizient in supplier-, member-, and industry-facing engagements related to assigned categories.
Evaluate and 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 advanced AI fluency to category strategy development, market intelligence, stakeholder communications, and business decisions; evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs and promote effective, responsible AI use.