Position Summary / Career Interest:

The Category Manager is responsible for building category strategy to ensure operational efficiencies within The University of Kansas Health System. They establish a strong network and foster collaboration with customers, suppliers, key stakeholders and team members. They possess deep understanding of industry and category trends and have the ability to translate those into business value.


Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• Support Director of Category Management with innovative strategic objectives for the health system as it relates to Category Management.
• Executes upon the activities and tasks related to the position to achieve the department's strategic plan.
• Development and implementation of catgory strategy to provide resources on time, minimizing risk to customers and ensuring optimum price.
• Develop and maintain category plans that identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, drive cost savings, manage risk, improve safety, drive innovation and ensure the continuous development of categories managed.
• Supervise, plan, manage and assume complete responsibility for all activities and processes associated with the categories assigned.
• Generate and implement efficient sourcing and category management strategies through the RFx process.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and suppliers for the implementation of contract execution.
• Communicates opportunities with stakeholders to optimize current contract utilization or other programmatic values.
• Facilitate implementation of procurement change initiatives within the category to improve business performance and achieve value for the organization.
• Manage and build supplier relations through collaboration on strategic and innovative initiatives for the organization.
• Assist with the company's acquisition strategies by completing the due diligence and integration activities for the spend categories.
• Responsible for contract utilization and management of initiatives utilizing GPO and aggregate membership.
• Supports training of internal team members and customers as it relates to the Category Management team.
• Act as mentors and coaches for Category Management Coordinator(s) to support them during onboarding/orientation and in contract review and negotiations.
• Facilitate and report out on supplier Business Reviews relative to contract portfolio oversight across all classes of trade; inclusion of the affiliate network where applicable.
• In collaboration with the Category Management Coordinator, develop and maintain expert knowledge of respective global supply markets, competitors and product innovations.
• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain Management, business or a related field of study from an accredited college or university.
• 5 or more years of experience in legal or contract negotiations through excellent communication and written skills.
• 5 or more years in supply chain management, working on multidisciplinary projects to achieve a common goal.
• 2 or more years Coaching or mentoring individuals on category management.
• 2 or more years of experience managing a contract category portfolio in a healthcare setting (provider, medical sales, GPO)

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field of study from an accredited college or university. OR
• Juris Doctor from an accredited college or university.
• 8 or more years of experience in legal or contract negotiations through excellent communication and written skills

Knowledge Requirements

• Engaged and positive personalities toward change and process improvement. Acts as change agents.
• Manages contract portfolio with minimal intervention required from leadership.
• Strategically progresses their contract portfolio forward producing value add outcomes related to clinical, operational and financial pillars.
• Captures the audience in presentations and verbal and written communication. Excellent presentation skills amongst executives, clinical leaders, and physicians.
• Ability to confront negotiations with professionalism and tact to achieve low risk and high value contracts.
• Drives hard dollar value for the organization through attention to detail, collaborative communication, and influence.
• Ability to multi-task on multiple initiatives at once.
• Ability to connect the dots associated across multiple intiatives and projects.
• Ability to confront contract negotiations with professionalism and tact to achieve low risk and high value contracts.
• Self-driven individual who can work independently and within a team dependent upon the needs of the initiative.
• Relationship oriented individual who values relationships both internal to TUKHS and our external supplier partners.
• Drives hard dollar value for the organization through attention to detail, collaborative communication, and influence.
• Ability to understand, interpret and negotiate upon business terms within an agreement.
• Skilled at building strong strategic working relationships.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.