Sr. Category Manager, Chemicals

Medtronic • Minneapolis, MN

18h • Onsite

About The Position

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world. A Day in the Life Join our Global Supply Management team as a Sr. Category Manager-Chemicals, where you utilize your strong track record of delivering results in a matrixed organization, where collaboration with diverse individuals, teams, and skill sets is essential for success. As the Sr. Category Manager – Chemicals, you will take charge of key chemicals categories, including liquids, solids, and other commodity chemicals. You’ll put your strong negotiation skills, technical know-how, and relationship-building abilities to work—driving results across Medtronic’s global network. In this role, you’ll dive deep into global raw materials markets and apply your expertise in secondary manufacturing processes to craft robust, world-class sourcing strategies. You’ll harness Medtronic’s purchasing power to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions for our operating units. You’ll also look beyond immediate suppliers, focusing on multiple tiers of the supply chain to maximize leverage, ensure compliance, and safeguard supply continuity. At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working a minimum of 4 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. As a Sr. Category Manager – Chemicals, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our supply management strategy for our chemicals spend. This is a high-impact position where you’ll drive innovation, optimize costs, and ensure best-in-class supplier relationships.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant chemicals category management experience, or an advanced degree with a minimum of 5 years of relevant chemicals category management experience

Nice To Haves

• Experience in category management, sourcing, or supply chain for chemical materials.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute category and negotiation strategies, with a track record in cost reduction, process improvement, and supplier development.
• Familiarity with quality audit standards, supply chain risk management, and lean manufacturing methodologies (especially in low-volume, high-mix environments).
• Excellent communication, collaboration, organization, and project management skills; strong presentation abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel, analytics tools, and SAP.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally to vendor sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead Category Strategy & Supplier Management: Develop and execute global sourcing strategies, build strong supplier partnerships, and drive continuous improvement in cost, quality, and delivery.
• Negotiate & Optimize Contracts: Secure competitive agreements and foster year-over-year performance gains through effective negotiation and supplier engagement.
• Drive Cost Reduction & Process Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities for cost savings via lean initiatives, should-cost analysis, process optimization, and supplier development.
• Conduct Market & Supply Chain Analysis: Perform market research, identify best-cost sourcing opportunities, and proactively manage supply chain risks across multiple tiers.
• Support Quality & Compliance Initiatives: Oversee supplier quality audits, ensure robust process controls, and support compliance to Medtronic’s evolving requirements.
• Leverage Data & Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Utilize data-driven insights and business intelligence to optimize sourcing activities and collaborate with teams to deliver impactful results.

Benefits

• Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
• We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.
• Health, Dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Long-term disability leave, Dependent daycare spending account, Tuition assistance/reimbursement, and Simple Steps (global well-being program).
• Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match, Short-term disability, Paid time off, Paid holidays, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Employee Assistance Program, Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums), and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).

What This Job Offers

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