Category Manager - Professional Services; Indirect Procurement

Category Manager
- Professional Services (Indirect Procurement)

Location: Lakewood, CO, US

Requisition : 35099

As the Category Manager
- Professional Services, you will execute and implement effective procurement and sourcing strategies for Terumo Blood & Cell Technologies across multiple spend categories, with an emphasis on Professional Services and Marketing. You will develop short‑term and long‑term strategies that align with company goals for reducing costs and meeting financial expectations, continuously improve global purchasing practices, and manage supplier performance, risk, and spend visibility.

• Execute strategic sourcing strategies, best practices, and initiatives that support improvements in supplier quality, total cost effectiveness, enhanced service levels, improved coordination, delivery, pricing, payment terms, risk compliance and other areas as identified.
• Execute indirect procurement category sourcing strategies including the development and execution of RFXs, requirements gathering, development of supplier selection criteria, and supplier negotiations all in collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Actively seek ways to streamline business processes; research and provide information on industry category trends and best practices.
• Develop negotiation strategies, gain alignment from stakeholders, lead cross‑functional, category‑based negotiation teams, and implement appropriate supplier risk analysis. Directly negotiate with suppliers.
• Use spend data and business knowledge to identify sourcing projects for individual sub‑categories and develop an overall multi‑year plan.
• Manage category performance by adhering to savings goals, business objectives, and supplier management.
• Forge close working relationships throughout the company.
• Prepare business cases, including ROI models, and effectively present cost savings proposals to appropriate parties for approval and qualification.
• Ensure purchasing compliance with legal, financial, and regulatory requirements (e.g., JSOX).
• Advocate and adhere to global procurement policies and procedures.

• Bachelor's Degree or, equivalent of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be considered.

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in Procurement or category management, preferably in a multi‑national company.
• Experience managing and supporting various categories of spend, particularly professional services and marketing and sales.
• Demonstrated sourcing experience developing and leading RFx’s and negotiating with suppliers.
• Proficient in sourcing and category management concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Proven critical thinking, analytics ability, and business acumen.
• Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of business requirements and category ownership having created category strategies with sound analytics.
• Excellent understanding of contracts and contract management.
• Track record for achieving savings that impact the bottom line.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and possess the ability to thrive in a continuous improvement environment.

• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to move seamlessly from tactical to strategic tasks.
• Must have a keen eye for detail, provide insights based on market conditions and trends, optimize value from/with suppliers, and improve and influence the decision‑making process.
• Excellent analytical, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to develop and execute negotiation strategies. Strong negotiation skills.
• Proactive, results‑oriented, reliable, persuasive and an excellent team player.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with diplomacy and tact while maintaining appropriate assertiveness and persistence.
• Proven ability to positively persuade and influence decision making at all levels in the organization.
• Ability to prioritize well and maintain appropriate balance in a fast‑paced, heavy‑workload environment.

• CPSM, CPM, CPP, CPIM, or other designation preferred but…