Global Category Manager

Kerry Search Partners; United States; Remote; USD 125,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry Search Partners is seeking a Senior Metals Sourcing Leader for a fully remote role in the United States. You will own the metals/direct-spend category strategy across implants and surgical products, collaborating with Engineering, Quality, Operations, R&D and Finance to shape strategy and deliver results.

You will lead supplier selection, build a robust supplier base, and drive cost reductions through negotiations, VA/VE and supplier consolidation while ensuring compliance with FDA/ISO

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. MBA, engineering degree or certification (CPSM, CSCP, Six Sigma) a plus.
• 5-7+ years of strategic sourcing or category management experience.
• Experience in metals and machining preferred; medical device or regulated industries a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own sourcing strategy for metals and machining direct spend across raw materials and components.
• Lead supplier selection to align with category strategy and drive value.
• Build and maintain a supplier base ensuring quality, on-time delivery, and competitive cost; qualify dual sources to reduce risk.
• Negotiate long‑term agreements, pricing and terms; conduct supplier reviews and scorecards.
• Deliver cost reduction through VA/VE, should-cost analysis, supplier consolidation and manufacturing transfers.
• Monitor market conditions, metals pricing, capacity and risk; translate into leadership recommendations.
• Support new product introductions ensuring supplier readiness from development to launch.
• Apply FDA and ISO 13485 requirements in purchasing activities.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA / CPSM / CSCP / Six Sigma plus

Job description

Location: Remote, United States

About the company

Our client is a publicly traded, global medical technology company with a strong portfolio in orthopedics, sports medicine and surgical products. It’s large enough to offer global reach and real resources, and small enough that one sourcing leader can shape strategy and see the results. This is a confidential search, so the company will be named to shortlisted candidates.

The opportunity

This is a newly opened role leading the Metals category: one of the company’s most strategic direct-spend areas, supporting implants, instruments and surgical products across its manufacturing network. You’ll own the category strategy end to end and work closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, R&D and Finance. You’ll have real influence across the organization, not a narrow role inside a very large company.

What you’ll do

• Own sourcing strategy for metals and machining direct spend: raw materials (titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chrome and others), precision-machined and fabricated components, and mechanical assemblies
• Lead supplier selection for new and existing business, so that awards follow a clear category strategy
• Build and maintain a supplier base that delivers quality parts on time at competitive cost, including qualifying alternate and dual sources to reduce risk
• Negotiate long‑term agreements, pricing and commercial terms, and run supplier business reviews and scorecards
• Deliver cost reduction through negotiation, value engineering (VA/VE), should‑cost analysis, supplier consolidation and manufacturing transfers
• Track market conditions, metals pricing, capacity and geopolitical and tariff risk, and turn that into clear recommendations for leadership
• Support new product introductions so suppliers are ready from development through launch
• Apply company purchasing policies and work within FDA and ISO 13485 requirements

What we’re looking for

• 5-7+ years of strategic sourcing or category management experience
• Hands‑on experience in metals and machining (CNC, Swiss‑turned, castings, forgings, MIM or fabrication)
• Medical device experience strongly preferred. Candidates from aerospace, defense or other regulated, precision‑manufacturing industries are encouraged to apply.
• A record of measurable savings and supplier performance improvement
• Strong negotiation, analytical and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to set strategy as well as execute it
• Bachelor’s degree required. MBA, engineering degree or certification (CPSM, CSCP, Six Sigma) a plus.

Why this role

• Fully remote, with travel to suppliers and sites as needed
• Visible, high‑impact category with direct exposure to senior leadership
• A growing company where your strategy is yours to build and own