Sr Category Cost Manager

Thermo Fisher Scientific • Morrisville, NC

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Category Cost Manager (Band 8) is responsible for driving cost transparency, cost modeling excellence, and negotiation readiness across the assigned category. This role leads cost analysis initiatives, interacts directly with suppliers to drive cost improvements, and partners with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions. The Category Cost Lead Manager provides structured reporting to the CMVA team and ensures alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8-10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, cost engineering, procurement analytics, or category management.
• 3+ years people management experience leading procurement teams, including coaching and development.
• Demonstrated technical expertise relevant to the category (manufacturing processes, component design, materials, cost drivers).
• Strong experience in cost modeling, cost analysis, and financial modeling.
• Proven ability to engage suppliers and drive cost-improvement and technical discussions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.
• Strong analytical mindset and attention to detail.
• Technical expertise to understand and challenge supplier manufacturing processes, cost drivers, and design impacts.
• Strong understanding of mechanical component and sub-assembly manufacturing processes, including machining, molding, forming, welding, and assembly operations.
• Knowledge of mechanical materials and cost drivers, including labor, machine rates, tooling, yields, scrap, and overhead allocation.
• Experience with costing and analyzing mechanical and electromechanical sub-assemblies, including assembly labor, testing, and integration complexity.
• Ability to lead cost-focused and technical conversations with suppliers and internal engineering teams.
• Ability to apply should-cost, clean-sheet modeling, DFM/DFA, and value engineering principles to identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Strong business and financial acumen.
• Understanding of make-versus-buy decisions, total cost of ownership, and global supply base dynamics for mechanical and electromechanical categories.
• Effective collaboration across global, matrixed teams.
• Strong collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and CMVA teams to align cost models with design intent and production realities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High accountability, ownership, and results orientation.

Nice To Haves

• International/multi-cultural work experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Driving cost transparency, cost modeling excellence, and negotiation readiness across the assigned category.
• Leading cost analysis initiatives.
• Interacting directly with suppliers to drive cost improvements.
• Partnering with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions.
• Providing structured reporting to the CMVA team.
• Ensuring alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies.

Benefits

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually
• Paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave)
• Accident and life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

What This Job Offers

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