Strategic Category Leader - AI-Driven Sourcing & Value

Vizient; Centennial (CO); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

Vizient seeks a Category Management Director to lead category strategies, manage complex sourcing, and guide value-based decisions for members and suppliers. This role engages clinicians, executives, and supply chain leaders to drive measurable financial and operational value.

The position requires deep category expertise, stakeholder influence, and strong analytics, with a hybrid work model including Centennial, CO three days a week and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree preferred.
• 7+ years in category management or related fields.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders.
• Experience leading complex sourcing initiatives.
• Strong negotiation and contracting experience.
• Advanced analytics and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent executive communication and relationship management.
• AI tools knowledge and responsible use in business.
• Healthcare or regulated industry experience preferred.
• Hybrid work model with three days in the office.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead comprehensive category strategies for assigned portfolios that align with client priorities and organizational objectives.
• Serve as the primary category subject matter expert and strategic advisor for stakeholders across sourcing, contracting, and value analysis initiatives.
• Identify category opportunities through analysis of spend, utilization, supplier performance, market conditions, and member priorities.
• Establish strategic plans that drive value realization, standardization, innovation, risk mitigation, and cost optimization.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives including opportunity assessment, requirements development, RFI/RFP execution, supplier evaluation, negotiations, contract development, and implementation.
• Develop and negotiate complex business, financial, operational, and contractual terms with suppliers.
• Build consensus among client stakeholders, suppliers, and Vizient teams to create solutions that meet clinical, operational, and financial objectives.
• Provide guidance and direction on complex contracting strategies and negotiations.
• Lead stakeholder committees consisting of physicians, clinicians, value analysis leaders, supply chain professionals, operational leadership and executive stakeholders as applicable.
• Facilitate discussions that align stakeholder priorities and support informed sourcing and contracting decisions.
• Present category strategies, sourcing recommendations, and initiative outcomes to executive-level audiences.
• Build trust-based relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers to drive long-term value delivery.
• Manage a complex category portfolio with significant cross-functional collaboration across sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, and value analysis teams.
• Anticipate and respond to market, regulatory, supply chain, legal, and competitive factors impacting category strategies.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, and subject matter expertise to other team members.
• Represent Vizient in supplier, member, and industry-facing engagements related to assigned categories.
• Evaluate and interpret spend, utilization, supplier, and market data to inform category strategies and recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for savings, standardization, quality improvement, technology adoption, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor supplier performance and market developments to ensure ongoing category effectiveness.
• Partner with internal teams to achieve annual operational, financial, and strategic portfolio goals.
• Applies advanced AI fluency to enhance category strategy development, market intelligence, stakeholder communications, and business decision-making; evaluates and refines AI-generated outputs for accuracy, relevance, and business impact, while promoting effective and responsible use of AI tools across sourcing, contracting, and category management activities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytics

Stakeholder management

AI fluency

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Vizient seeks a Category Management Director to lead category strategies, manage complex sourcing, and guide value-based decisions for members and suppliers. This role engages clinicians, executives, and supply chain leaders to drive measurable financial and operational value.

The position requires deep category expertise, stakeholder influence, and strong analytics, with a hybrid work model including Centennial, CO three days a week and travel as needed.