Category Specialist - Electronics

Terumo BCT, Inc. • Denver, CO

9d • $104,600 - $130,800 • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Category Specialist, you'll be responsible for enabling the business’ Sourcing Category strategy. Continuously improve the Company’s purchasing practices by identifying and leading efforts to proactively optimize category spend, manage supplier performance, reduce inventory, mitigate procurement risks, gain visibility to total spend and reduce total costs. Perform spend analysis to ensure best in class category sourcing leverage. Operates under the supervision of Category Manager and/or Sr. Manager, as an extension of the category manager and secondary contact for negotiation and supplier management with the Terumo Blood and Cell Technology (TBCT) supply base, responsible for the category and supplier strategy on a global basis. The Category Specialist will support the development, implementation and management of global strategies to provide the segment with supply assurance, pricing, flexibility, optimal inventory levels, lead-times, cycle times, quality and delivery performance.

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, preferably in a medical device company.
• Strong preference for direct experience with electronics and electrical components.
• Operational Excellence (Lean, Six Sigma, or Similar) experience.
• Proven success in managing suppliers or in managing complex manufacturing processes.
• 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 environment.
• Sound problem-solving skills in both functional areas of operations and interpersonal relationship management.
• 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

• Drive and manage supplier performance for on-time delivery, supply stability, cost management and cost increase mitigation.
• Pursue category performance improvement to stated goals: Lead time improvements, Minimum Order Quantity improvements, Localization or Vendor Managed Inventory opportunities, Payment Terms, Incoming Quality, optimized inventory levels and increase inventory turns.
• 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.
• Monitor current category market conditions, technology roadmaps and identify supply/demand challenges.
• Develop, implement and communicate tactical and strategic category plans internally as appropriate.
• Understand Internal and Supplier Manufacturing Processes to improve cost and reduce waste.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to develop and optimize business processes to improve speed, efficiency and accuracy of workstreams.
• 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.
• Accountable for working closely with customer-facing teams, Operations 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.
• 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.

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
• 401(k) plan with a matching contribution
• vacation and sick time programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level