Indirect Category Lead

Laborie Medical Technologies Corp•Maple Grove, MN

About The Position

The Indirect Category Lead develops and executes global category strategies to establish a competitive, resilient, high-performing supply base aligned with Laborie's business objectives. The role is responsible for strategic management of assigned indirect categories, such as IT, MRO, professional services, facilities, or other indirect spend areas. This includes supplier portfolio optimization, sourcing strategy, commercial negotiations, contract management, supplier innovation, risk mitigation, and total cost of ownership. As a strategic business partner, the Category Lead collaborates with Operations, Engineering, R&D, Quality, Finance, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain leadership to align sourcing decisions with business priorities, accelerate innovation, improve supply continuity, and deliver sustainable value across the enterprise. The role develops multi-year sourcing strategies and category roadmaps; conducts market intelligence, supplier assessments, benchmarking, and spend analysis; leads strategic sourcing and supplier selection; manages supplier relationships and performance; leads supplier reviews and complex negotiations; and delivers cost savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and productivity initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, Finance, or a related field.
Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, Procurement, Supply Chain, or Manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing category strategies in complex global organizations.
Proven experience leading strategic sourcing initiatives and complex supplier negotiations.
Extensive experience managing supplier relationships, supplier performance programs, and contract negotiations.
Strong understanding of category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and procurement best practices.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline.
CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, CPM, or equivalent professional certification.
Experience within medical device, life sciences, healthcare, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing industries.
Knowledge of ISO 13485, FDA, or other regulated industry requirements.
Global sourcing and supplier management experience.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Experience leading supplier innovation, sustainability, ESG, or responsible sourcing initiatives.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute global multi-year indirect category sourcing strategies aligned with business growth, operational requirements, and corporate procurement objectives.
Conduct market intelligence, supplier assessments, benchmarking, and spend analysis to identify sourcing opportunities, emerging risks, and industry trends.
Build and maintain category roadmaps focused on cost optimization, supplier innovation, business continuity, sustainability, and risk mitigation.
Lead indirect category strategic sourcing initiatives, including supplier identification, market assessments, RFI, RFQ, and RFP development, supplier evaluation, and selection processes.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute sourcing strategies and ensure continuity of indirect services.
Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships to improve performance, quality, innovation, responsiveness, and total value.
Lead Supplier Relationship Management activities, including Quarterly Business Reviews and Executive Business Reviews.
Lead complex commercial negotiations involving pricing, contractual terms, intellectual property protection, service levels, and long-term strategic agreements.
Develop negotiation strategies and plans aligned with organizational objectives.
Deliver annual cost savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and productivity initiatives.