Sr Category Cost Manager

ThermoFisher Scientific; Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 118,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific is seeking a Senior Category Cost Manager (Band 8) to lead cost transparency, modeling, and negotiations within the mechanical/electromechanical category. You will drive cost improvements, run cost analyses, and partner with category leaders to steer strategic sourcing decisions.

This role requires 8–10+ years in strategic sourcing and 3+ years of people management, with strong stakeholder communication and cross-functional collaboration across Engineering, Operations,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8–10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, cost engineering, procurement analytics, or category management.
• 3+ years of people management leading procurement teams.
• Demonstrated technical expertise relevant to the category (manufacturing processes, component design, materials, cost drivers).
• Strong experience in cost modeling, cost analysis, and financial modeling.
• Proven ability to engage suppliers and drive cost-improvement and technical discussions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive cost transparency and cost modeling across the assigned category.
• Lead cost analysis initiatives and engage with suppliers to drive cost improvements.
• Partner with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions.
• Provide structured reporting to CMVA and ensure alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and CMVA to align cost models with design and production realities.

Skills

Cost modeling

Cost analysis

Financial modeling

Supplier engagement

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

DESCRIPTION:

The Senior Category Cost Manager (Band 8) is responsible for driving cost transparency, cost modeling excellence, and negotiation readiness across the assigned category. This role leads cost analysis initiatives, interacts directly with suppliers to drive cost improvements, and partners with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions. The Category Cost Lead Manager provides structured reporting to the CMVA team and ensures alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

• 8-10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, cost engineering, procurement analytics, or category management.

• 3+ years people management experience leading procurement teams, including coaching and development

• Demonstrated technical expertise relevant to the category (manufacturing processes, component design, materials, cost drivers).

• Strong experience in cost modeling, cost analysis, and financial modeling.

• Proven ability to engage suppliers and drive cost-improvement and technical discussions.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical mindset and attention to detail.

• Technical expertise to understand and challenge supplier manufacturing processes, cost drivers, and design impacts.

• Strong understanding of mechanical component and sub-assembly manufacturing processes, including machining, molding, forming, welding, and assembly operations.

• Knowledge of mechanical materials and cost drivers, including labor, machine rates, tooling, yields, scrap, and overhead allocation.

• Experience with costing and analyzing mechanical and electromechanical sub-assemblies, including assembly labor, testing, and integration complexity.

• Ability to lead cost-focused and technical conversations with suppliers and internal engineering teams & ability to apply should-cost, clean-sheet modeling, DFM/DFA, and value engineering principles to identify cost-reduction opportunities.

• Strong business and financial acumen. Understanding of make-versus-buy decisions, total cost of ownership, and global supply base dynamics for mechanical and electromechanical categories.

• Effective collaboration across global, matrixed teams. Strong collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and CMVA teams to align cost models with design intent and production realities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• High accountability, ownership, and results orientation.

• Travel required 25-50%

• International/multi-cultural work experience preferred

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range estimated for this position based in North Carolina is $118,100.00–$160,000.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.