Category Specialist - Direct Procurement

Terumo BCT, Inc.•Denver, CO

2d•Remote

About The Position

In this high‑impact role as a Category Specialist, you’ll play a key part in shaping our global procurement strategy by optimizing category spend, strengthening supplier performance, and driving cost‑effective purchasing practices across the organization. Acting as a strategic extension of the Category Manager, you’ll lead spend analysis, support global sourcing initiatives, and help build supplier relationships that ensure optimal inventory levels, supply assurance, quality, and delivery. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a data‑driven, fast‑paced environment and wants to influence category strategy on a global scale while making a measurable difference in operational efficiency and total cost reduction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be considered.
Minimum 4 years’ experience in Sourcing/Procurement/Supply Chain or Manufacturing/Operations or R&D in a large, multi-national, medical device company.
Operational Excellence (Lean, Six Sigma, or Similar) experience.
Proven success in managing suppliers or in managing complex manufacturing processes.
This position can be fulfilled as a learning experience or career broadening role for associates with experiences in fields other than those listed.
Knowledge and use of relevant PC software applications and skills to use them effectively.
Proven track record of driving positive results.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and data analytics to optimize processes, reduce waste, and enhance cross-functional efficiency.
Highly self-motivated team player who can work effectively with management, business unit personnel, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to interact with diplomacy and tact while maintaining appropriate assertiveness and persistence.
Effective project management skills.
Proven ability to positively persuade and influence decision making, at all levels in the organization.
Person of true convictions; Willing to stand up for those convictions; Able to communicate, reinforce and coach/counsel others on those convictions; Unafraid of change / improvement.
Interpersonal skills that could be described as “firm but fair”; Objective yet compassionate in evaluating performance; Can connect all people of the organization to the mission and goals of the organization.
Ability to prioritize very well and maintain appropriate balance in a fast-paced, heavy-workload environment.
Sound problem-solving skills in both functional areas of operations and interpersonal relationship management.

Nice To Haves

APICS and/or CPSM certification or willingness to work towards same.
An equivalent competency level acquired through a variation of these qualifications may be considered.

Responsibilities

Identify and execute alternate sourcing, supplier consolidation and localization to maximize pricing leverage, and cycle time improvements.
Drive and manage enhanced margin through improved material cost savings.
Drive category performance improvement to stated goals: Lead time improvements, Minimum Order Quantity improvements, Localization or Vendor Managed Inventory opportunities, Payment Terms, Incoming Quality, decrease inventory levels and increase inventory turns.
Drive supplier performance improvements to stated goals.
Understand Internal and Supplier Manufacturing Processes to improve cost and reduce waste.
Prepare Business Cases, including ROI models, and effectively present Cost Savings and Risk Mitigation proposals to appropriate parties for approval and qualification.
Develop and execute RFQ’s, cost models, and estimates for initial project resourcing needs.
Negotiate business T & C's relating to: payment terms, delivery terms, inventory strategies, lead times, price improvement, supply assurance and other strategic issues with key suppliers.
Provide rigorous analysis of spend data and market trends/dynamics by site, supplier and/or category to prioritize and launch sourcing initiatives.
Monitor current category market conditions, technology roadmaps and identify supply/demand challenges. Develop, implement and communicate tactical and strategic category plans internally as appropriate.
Accountable for working closely with customer-facing teams, operation teams, and R&D and supplier engineering teams to ensure that the supplier strategy supports product and customer needs.
Manage commodities/materials/spend to achieve the annual performance metrics applicable to Supply Chain – planning, logistics, warehousing, and procurement.
In conjunction with operations leadership, direct supervisor, and peer leads in other regions, construct category and supplier strategies by region that support the manufacturing technologies currently produced in each region.
Ensure that all supplier and sourcing strategies support the “best total landed cost” objective of the business, including costs of inventory ownership, transport, customs, duties and lead-time.
Ensure that product compliance of suppliers meets all existing and future corporate social responsibility and product compliance requirements. Conduct periodic reviews of suppliers to ensure such compliance.
Prepare and provide documentation of such compliance as is required by corporate and other regulatory reporting agencies.

Benefits

multiple group medical, dental and vision plans
a robust wellness program
life insurance and disability coverages
a variety of voluntary programs such as group accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and much more
a 401(k) plan with a matching contribution
vacation and sick time programs for associates

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