Category Manager Direct Precision Materials

Abiomed, a part of Johnson & Johnson Med Tech is recruiting for a Category Manager for Direct Precision Materials, located in Danvers, MA.

• Develop and/or support the category sourcing strategy for the defined portfolio through Business needs assessment, Market intelligence, Supplier evaluations and sourcing choices.
• Proactively engage business partners to identify needs and incorporate those needs into sub-category strategies.
• Build supply network through developing, identifying suppliers applying deep subject matter expertise based on supply market analysis, industry intelligence.
• Understand supply market trends, competitor analysis to deliver proactive sourcing strategies.

• Lead or support sourcing initiatives to identify the right supplier partners, Influence decisions, delivering on‑going value improvements while driving competitive advantage.
• Develop spend analysis and gather market intelligence in alignment with business goals.
• Develop and lead cost management initiatives;
  Prepare and execute RFQs for medium to high complexity sourcing decisions;
  Conduct negotiations with suppliers.
• Build short term, and long-term capacities with suppliers to support business growth.
• Deliver on financial, service, reliability, quality, innovation, and growth commitments.
• Build and maintain relationships throughout Abiomed that results in dynamic interactive dialogue on a broad range of perspectives and information critical to the development of optimal approaches and solutions.
• Drive sourcing activities for defined categories to support new products under development.

• Develop and manage supplier partnerships to drive performance delivery, risk mitigation, and value through supplier enabled innovation.
• Cultivate and use strategic relationships with key business partners (e.g., Internal partners, supplier leadership) to shape, optimize, and diversify the supply base.
• Develop innovative and sustainable solutions to identify and mitigate risk, drive long‑term, end‑to‑end value, and achieve unmet business needs. Identify and pursue opportunities to develop supplier capabilities.
• Conduct Business Review meetings with suppliers that include holistic supplier performance management and review.

• Systematically and efficiently manage contract creation, approval, administration, and compliance to maximize financial and operational performance while minimizing risk.

• Represent procurement in End‑to‑End Supply Chain initiatives of the manufacturing network, capacity programs, digital tools/technology adoption, and resiliency.
• Support the development and drive the Procurement vision for, with and through our stakeholder community.
• Lead / Support projects in defined spend scope, to deliver procurement performance metrics.

• A minimum of 5‑8 years of strong procurement experience.
• BSc in Operations/Supply Chain Management, Engineering or related field, MSc preferred.
• Good level of understanding of the Direct Precision Materials and industry landscape:
  Metals, ceramics, precision plastics, packaging materials and chemicals.
• Broad‑based understanding of business operations and practices and core procurement areas of focus (e.g., Spend Management, Category Management, Sourcing & Supplier Management).
• Strong leadership, communication (verbal and written), influencing, collaboration skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to confidently present complex information.
• Experience to work across regions and understand markets.
• Strong business sense.

• Experience in other related fields of Supply Chain, including External Operations, Manufacturing, Procurement, Distribution and / or related field is advantageous.
• Medical Devices (specifically Abiomed relevant industry) experience preferred.
• Multi‑country and multi‑sector experience preferred.
• Continuous improvement/lean/six sigma experience, black belt preferred.
• Experience with SAP preferred, or another ERP, device management and procurement systems.

• Willingness to travel, particularly to visit suppliers. This position may require up to 30% International travel based…