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.

• Category Management:
  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 supplier identification and deep subject matter expertise; understand supply market trends and competitor analysis to deliver proactive sourcing strategies.
• Sourcing:
  Lead or support sourcing initiatives to identify the right supplier partners, influence decisions, delivering ongoing 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 for dynamic interactive dialogue; drive sourcing activities for defined categories to support new products under development.
• Supplier Management:
  Develop and manage supplier partnerships to drive performance delivery, risk mitigation and value through supplier enabled innovation; cultivate strategic relationships with key business partners to shape, optimise 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.
• Contracting:
  Systematically and efficiently manage contract creation, approval, administration and compliance to maximise financial and operational performance while minimising risk.
• Project Support:
  Represent procurement in end‑to‑end supply chain initiatives of the manufacturing network, capacity programmes, digital tools/technology adoption and resiliency; support the development and drive the procurement vision for, with and through our stakeholder community; lead or 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 Direct Precision Materials and industry landscape (metals, ceramics, precision plastics, packaging materials and chemicals).
• Broad‑based understanding of business operations and core procurement areas of focus (e.g., spend management, category management, sourcing & supplier management).
• Strong leadership, communication (verbal and written), influencing and collaboration skills.
• Experience working across regions and understanding markets.
• Strong business sense.
• Preferred:
  Experience in other related fields of supply chain, including external operations, manufacturing, procurement, distribution or related field.
• 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…