Associate Category Management Specialist-Packaging & Specialty Materials

Medtronic; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 56,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Medtronic is seeking an Associate Category Management Specialist to shape category strategies, manage inflation, and enable cross-functional procurement across the enterprise.

This global role partners with stakeholders to drive cost savings, negotiate supplier agreements, and support continuous improvement while mitigating risk and ensuring supply continuity. The position is primarily onsite, collaborating with teams across regions and functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related field.
• Exposure to cost analysis, financial modeling, or data analysis through coursework or internships.
• Experience supporting contract review, supplier engagement, or commercial negotiations.
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, or process improvement through projects or roles.

Responsibilities

• Support Supplier Relationship Management with internal stakeholders.
• Strengthen supplier relationships to improve performance and issue resolution.
• Turn Market Intelligence into Advantage with proactive sourcing strategies.
• Manage Inflation and Drive Savings through data-driven insights and category strategies.
• Enable High Impact Negotiations via RFx, cost models, and strategic planning.
• Lead Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives with cross-functional teams.
• Support Risk, Compliance & Resiliency to mitigate supply chain risks.

Skills

Supplier relationships

Category strategy

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Data visualization tools

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 28 Sep 2026Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first — developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.A Day in the LifeAt Medtronic, we not only get the opportunity to manage categories for the largest medical device company in the world, but we also get to experience the immense sense of purpose that comes from knowing that the money we save is reinvested into technology that helps alleviate pain, restore health and extend lives of millions of patients across the world. The work we do supports the Medtronic Mission and it matters.This is a global role that allows you to partner with stakeholders across many functions, regions, and businesses to drive value. Strong business acumen and prior sourcing experience are a must as you will be called upon to support complex engagements with strategic partners.The Associate Category Management Specialist is a key contributor within Medtronic’s Global Materials & Contract Manufacturing organization. In this role, you will help shape and execute category strategies, manage inflationary pressures, drive cost‑savings initiatives, support contract negotiations, and enable pan‑Medtronic category management processes. Your work will directly influence cost, continuity of supply, and supplier performance across the enterprise.At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working a minimum of 4 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary.Our team culture is grounded in the principle of “Lead from Every Seat.” Regardless of level or title, everyone is expected to be bold, curious, accountable, and proactive in tackling challenges and bringing forward solutions. The successful candidate will be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, will build trust with cross‑functional and external partners, and will confidently influence decisions through strong insights, clear communication, and disciplined execution.As the Associate Category Management Specialist, you will:Support Supplier Relationship ManagementStrengthen supplier relationships while partnering closely with internal stakeholdersActively engage suppliers to support performance, alignment, and issue resolutionUnlock Category Strategy Through ExecutionExecute category strategies and convert implementation plans into business results.Support strategy development and execution across defined sub‑categories and initiatives.Turn Market Intelligence into AdvantageMonitor market intelligence and industry trends to anticipate risks and opportunities.Convert insights into proactive, actionable sourcing strategies.Manage Inflation and Drive SavingsNegotiate supplier price changes and tariff requests using data‑driven insights and category strategies to limit inflationary impact.Engage suppliers and Medtronic stakeholders to unlock process, technical, and commercial savings leversEnable High Impact NegotiationsSupport negotiations by preparing RFx packages, cost models, and negotiation strategies.Participate in supplier discussions and ensure commercial commitments translate into year-over-year performance improvements.Lead Continuous Improvement & Strategic InitiativesDevelop and deploy standard work, drive continuous improvement and strategic initiatives, and apply benchmarking and industry best practices to enhance category performance.Lead and manage cross‑functional initiatives, preparing and delivering clear updates on progress, risks, and results to stakeholders.Support Risk, Compliance & ResiliencyIdentify and mitigate supply chain risks (capacity, financial, geopolitical, regulatory)Ensure supplier adherence to regulatory and quality requirementsSupport ESG and sustainability objectivesRequired QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Supply Chain plus a minimum of 0 years of experience.Preferred QualificationsInternship, co-op, or academic project experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, Engineering, or a related business function.Exposure to cost analysis, financial modeling, data analysis, or business case development through coursework, internships, or project work.Experience supporting contract review, supplier engagement, or commercial negotiations through internships, student organizations, or cross-functional projects.Demonstrated leadership, project management, process improvement, or problem-solving experience through academic, extracurricular, internship, or professional experiences.Ability to build collaborative relationships and effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders in team-based environments.Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize data and identify actionable recommendations.Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools; experience with enterprise systems, supply chain technologies, or data visualization tools is a plus.Interest in leveraging AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to improve sourcing, analysis, decision-making, or business processes.For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.Physical Job RequirementsThe above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position.The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.U.S. Work Authorization & SponsorshipAt Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.Recruitment Fraud AlertWe are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind:Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.Medtronic will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information (such as bank account or Social Security details) during early stages of the hiring process. Any such requests are not legitimate.If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Medtronic, do not respond, click links, or open attachments.If you have any questions, concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of Medtronic, please contact us immediately at [e-mail] .Benefits & CompensationMedtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits PackageA commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$56,000.00 - $84,000.00This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: Health, Dental and vision insurance , Health Savings Account , Healthcare Flexible Spending Account , Life insurance, Long-term disability leave , Dependent daycare spending account , Tuition assistance/reimbursement , and Simple Steps (global well-being program).The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees: 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) , and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.Further details are available at the link below:Medtronic benefits and compensation plansIt is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.