Category Manager

Lehigh Valley Health Network; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lehigh Valley Health Network is seeking a strategic sourcing professional to oversee the sourcing, negotiation, and purchasing of complex goods and services. The successful candidate will have experience in managing diverse stakeholders, developing sourcing strategies, and delivering cost-effective solutions. This role requires at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and a minimum of six years of experience in strategic sourcing or supply chain management. The position offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for making impactful contributions.

Qualifications

• 6 years of experience in facilitating and negotiating contracts within strategic sourcing or supply chain management.
• Experience managing diverse stakeholder interests and expectations.
• Demonstrated capability in strategically sourcing corporate services and/or commodities.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for timely and cost-effective strategic sourcing of complex goods/services.
• Develops category strategies based on spend data and market dynamics.
• Leads the entire contract life cycle from Request for Proposal to supplier exit.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Healthcare or equivalent experience

Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)

Job description

Join a team that delivers excellence. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is home to nearly 23,000 colleagues who make up our talented, vibrant and diverse workforce.

Summary

Responsible for the timely and cost-effective strategic sourcing of complex goods and/or services. This position advises and guides business units regarding the application and integration of procurement philosophies and techniques to meet the needs of identified internal customer requirements using a global category view. This individual is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, contracting, and purchasing complex categories by influencing teams with various levels of employees and management to leverage buying power and recommend appropriate procurement strategies and tactics to obtain desired results. Extensive interaction with Business Units, Leadership, Finance, Legal, and suppliers is required to ensure that total costs are identified, and optimal savings are realized in executing a contract. Goods and services are reviewed by this position and managed across the company for all locations.

Job Duties

• Strategic category sourcing, through the development of category strategies based on rigorous analysis of spend data, supply market dynamics, category intelligence, business requirements, the continuous supply and quality of products, and driving cost savings and cost avoidance while supporting strategic and innovative technologies. Ensuring savings are delivered promptly and achieving the realization of expected benefits. Ensuring high‑quality customer service, including conducting sourcing analysis and addressing sourcing–related questions and problems. Driving continuous improvements.
• Interfacing with and managing business units for assigned strategic sourcing area(s) and partnering with key stakeholders to build influence, evaluate, and challenge the status quo. Working with business units to plan and set targets for sourcing activity for assigned complex categories.
• Working on complex sourcing initiatives requires high technical, market impact, and supply base competence. Identifying options for reverse auctions in category strategies. Actively setting, leading, and driving the sourcing team and timeline for all assigned sourcing initiatives. Leading the entire contract life cycle from Request for Proposal to supplier exit to meet the organization’s cost, quality, and service expectations for assigned categories. Analyzing supplier proposals and facilitating fact‑based supplier selection processes; preparing recommendations for leadership. Developing and executing negotiation strategies to maximize total value and minimize risks. Working with legal to ensure proper representation and enforcement of binding terms and conditions.
• Regularly monitoring the market for category‑leading practices and demand/supply shifts such as supply consolidation, technology innovations, etc. Leveraging market data, external expert resources, spend analytics, and cost modeling to drive fact‑based decision‑making. Preparing and presenting business cases and should‑cost models; performing complex data analysis and building financial models (i.e., ROI, supplier scorecards, savings tracking, make vs. buy decision models). Supporting supplier diversity and sustainability goals by explaining them and advocating for diverse suppliers and sustainable options when they are viable.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Healthcare or equivalent experience.
• 6 years of experience in the facilitation and negotiating of contracts within strategic sourcing or supply chain management, or …
• 6 years of experience developing, initiating, and managing sourcing strategies with tactical processing capabilities, or …
• 6 years of experience identifying and implementing sourcing objectives and goals supporting organizational strategies, or …
• 6 years of experience within Supply Chain capability areas relevant to Strategic Sourcing.
• Experience managing diverse stakeholder interests and expectations.
• Demonstrated capability in strategically sourcing corporate services and/or commodities.
• Knowledge of corporate services industry market trends and dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience building strategic supplier relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).
• Dynamic influencing, communication, and facilitative skills across cultures and geographies.
• Strong understanding of technical, business, and commercial concepts.
• Solid analytical and problem‑solving skills and external focus.
• Excellence in supplier negotiation and both internal and external communication.
• Proactive collaborator in a matrix organization.
• Desire to achieve assigned results in a fast‑paced environment and be a change agent.
• Fluency with the 7‑Step Strategic Sourcing Process, including tools and their application to the Process.
• Ability to build and lead teams attaining cross‑functional consensus.
• CMRP‑Certified Materials & Resource Professional AHACC – State of Pennsylvania upon hire.

Physical Demands

Lift and carry 25 lbs.; frequent sitting/standing; frequent keyboard use; patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Lehigh Valley Health Network is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with, and where applicable, in addition to federal, state and local employment regulations, Lehigh Valley Health Network will provide employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other such protected classes as may be defined by law. All personnel actions and programs will adhere to this policy. Personnel actions and programs include, but are not limited to recruitment, selection, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, educational programs and/or social activities.