Category Manager at IFF overseeing strategic sourcing for OPEX and CAPEX procurement in North America. Leading negotiations and supplier relationships to enhance operational reliability.
About the role
- Senior Category Manager-Electronics Software leading software category strategies at Medtronic. Overseeing negotiations and developing cost-effective solutions in a collaborative environment.
Responsibilities
- Guide the development and execution of sub-category strategies (e.g., enterprise applications, SaaS subscriptions, AI tooling, cloud solutions, developer platforms) aligned with the broader Software category direction, working in close collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Supports the Software Category Program within the Electronics Vertical, overseeing targeted spend and third-party partnerships to advance strategic and operational priorities.
- Own and execute negotiations in collaboration with business partners (e.g., SaaS, ELAs, cloud commitments, license agreements), using advanced levers like benchmarking, financial modeling, and usage forecasting.
- Advocate on behalf of the supply management function with operating units and operational partners to ensure support for core business objectives.
- Identify and develop business cases for a healthy year-over-year cost-reduction pipeline with suppliers through lean, should-costing, process improvement, tier-2 strategies, and yield improvements.
- Perform market analysis in identifying the best cost country sourcing of said category, provide guidance to technical sourcing and engineering with supplier innovations, and proactively develop forward buy agreements where appropriate.
- Use your technical and commercial expertise in the end-to-end embedded software/firmware market, including design, trends, and integration technologies, to define and manage winning category strategies and approaches with suppliers.
- Manage supplier relationships and drive year-over-year performance improvements with quality, delivery, and costs to ensure governance, strategic alignment, and continuous improvement.
- Use your working knowledge of IT concepts, such as cloud infrastructure, software licensing, SaaS models, cybersecurity, and IT service agreements, to analyze received quotations and select or recommend new suppliers.
- Lead end-to-end supplier lifecycle management, including onboarding, performance optimization, and offboarding, with a focus on risk mitigation and value creation.
- Rationalize existing supplier base through stratification, market analysis, supplier development, and supplier consolidation.
- Support new and ongoing supplier quality audit activities to ensure the supply base has robust process controls and capabilities to meet existing and future Medtronic business requirements.
- Identify and utilize metrics, tools, business intelligence, and processes to optimize sourcing, supplier activities, and efficiencies, while working collaboratively with team members to prioritize and drive implementation.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant electronics software experience, or an advanced degree with a minimum of 5 years of relevant electronics software experience.
- Highly skilled in the electronics software category, with expertise in developing and executing negotiation strategies, supported by strong organizational and collaboration skills.
- Skilled in developing category strategies, complex contract reviews and negotiations, lean manufacturing, business case development, Best Cost Country (BCR) sourcing experience, and product/process transfer/change requirements in a regulatory environment, with strong presentation skills.
- Experience using lean methodology processes in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience in a low-volume and high-mix demand for products environment.
- Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong organization, project management, and follow-through skills, with the ability to prioritize, multitask, and act proactively.
- Microsoft, Excel, Analytics, and SAP experience preferred.
- Ability to travel to vendor locations is required- domestic and international.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability leave
- Dependent daycare spending account
- Tuition assistance/reimbursement
- Simple Steps (global well-being program)
- Incentive plans
- 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match
- Short-term disability
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums)
- Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums)
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