Category Sourcing Manager – Specialty Material

Responsibilities

• Join our Global Supply Management team as a Category Manager – Specialty Materials.
• Support and execute sourcing strategies for highly specialized and regulated material categories.
• Help manage a complex and strategically important supply base.
• Partner closely with Operating Units, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Technical Sourcing, Supply Network, and supplier partners.
• Negotiate supplier agreements, mitigate risk, and drive cost optimization.
• Monitor tissue source availability, biologic material requirements, supplier capacity and capabilities, inventory posture, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and execute opportunities for cost savings, inflation mitigation, contract coverage improvement, process optimization, supplier consolidation, supplier development, and value improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, R&D, and Technical Sourcing to support supplier qualification, audits, change control, material validations, supplier corrective actions, traceability expectations, and compliance with Medtronic requirements for biologic and tissue-based materials.
• Lead and support cross-functional teams, facilitate alignment across stakeholders, communicate project and supplier developments, and influence internal and external partners without direct authority.
• Use spend analytics, supplier scorecards, contract coverage data, savings and inflation dashboards, risk tools, and business intelligence.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in category management, strategic sourcing, supply management, procurement, program management, or supplier management; or an advanced degree with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in category management, sourcing, or supply chain for biologics, animal tissue, collagen, xenograft‑derived materials, or other highly regulated specialty materials.
• Understanding of supplier qualification, traceability, quality systems, regulatory requirements, and risk management considerations for biologic or tissue‑based materials.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, problem‑solving, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to manage supply‑constrained and technically complex categories.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute category and negotiation strategies, with a track record in cost reduction, process improvement, supplier development, and risk mitigation.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, organization, and project management skills; strong presentation abilities and comfort influencing cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel, analytics tools, SAP, spend analytics, supplier scorecards, and business intelligence tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally to supplier sites, manufacturing locations, and business reviews as needed.

Demonstrates expertise in category management and strategic sourcing for biologic and tissue‑based materials, with a strong focus on supplier qualification, risk management, and cost optimization. Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence stakeholders while executing effective negotiation and process improvement strategies.