Sourcing Category Manager

Job Summary

This position is responsible for managing purchases of 500-750 unique items, focusing on best-cost negotiations, consistent and stable supply of goods while reducing risk to Medline. This person will provide insights on geo-political risks impacting costs and work on solutions globally to reduce risks while finding the next low-cost options. The role involves close collaboration with product management teams for new product launches and the development of sourcing strategies to optimize costs.

This person's responsibilities include negotiating favorable terms with suppliers, managing product categories, resolving quality issues, and evaluating sourcing strategies for both domestic and international suppliers. Manage a mix of finished goods, manufacturing inputs, and raw materials to drive value and enhance GM for target commodities.

• Manage direct spend categories to drive best-cost, supply continuity and reduce risk. Negotiate favorable terms, volume discounts and long-term contracts with suppliers and vendor partners. Leader and owner of category management driving key vendor conversations.
• Provide strategic insights on global and geopolitical changes impacting tariffs, raw materials and regulatory requirements. Define strategies to overcome obstacles driving higher costs and supply instability.
• Provide high-level product expertise on all managed categories including raw material inputs, manufacturing techniques, key vendors. Provide guidance and recommend actions to reduce costs through continuous improvement processes within Manufacturing, raw material changes, or other cost-down initiatives. Understand how Medline product compares to competition.
• Manage supplier relationships to secure cost reductions through effective negotiation on pricing and product development opportunities. Contribute to creation of long‑term vendor contracts, rebate plans, growth incentives to drive cost efficiency and year‑over‑year cost savings.
• Review analysis from Global Sourcing Operations team on vendor and supplier price increases, evaluating net impact against rebates. Develop and implement negotiation tactics to mitigate price hikes using Medline’s volume, sourcing tools, and options such as dual sourcing or engaging new global vendors.
• Develop and execute a risk profile for each sourced country. Consider multiple country sourcing, dual sourcing, and geopolitical factors. Recommend vendors based on strategic risk assessment.
• Manage a broad mix of product categories and become a subject‑matter expert on product requirements, manufacturing processes, raw materials, and other key value drivers. Analyze and evaluate cost inputs to contribute to cost optimization and best‑cost outcomes.
• Evaluate sourcing strategies for domestic versus import suppliers, assessing cost, quality, lead time. Conduct Make‑vs‑Buy analysis to identify the most cost‑effective solutions.
• Assist in creating and implementing a global sourcing strategy to drive vendor performance, including vendor allocation optimization, re‑sourcing and cost containment/reductions for assigned categories. Provide insights based on market research and supplier performance.
• Identify new cost‑saving opportunities within product categories to drive GM growth. Support identification and implementation of Medline‑branded opportunities and negotiate long‑term deals with domestic and import suppliers to secure favorable pricing and terms.
• Work collaboratively with Supply Chain, Quality and Product Management teams to maintain and develop vendors and products to reduce supply risk and ensure a healthy supply chain.
• Manage activity for Medline part and vendors numbers. Establish new part numbers for supplier moves, packaging optimization and PIRs.
• Work closely with the reorder buying group to address ongoing issues with problem suppliers when initial communication efforts have failed. Help analyze the situation, gather necessary data, and facilitate discussions to find resolutions and improve supplier performance.
• Travel required up to 10%, including domestic and international travel.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree.
• Work…