Procurement Category Lead (2 years assignment)

Fresenius Medical Care is a people business. Our success depends on having the best and brightest employees, and helping them attain their personal and professional goals while delivering excellence in patient care and business results. Our employees embody our culture which is based on six core values supporting our promise to improve the quality of life of every patient every day. These core values are: Patients and Partners First, Honesty and Integrity, Quality and Compliance, Collaboration, No-Limits Mindset and Results Oriented.

The Category Lead is responsible for implementing procurement plans and managing relationships with 3rd party suppliers in alignment with Fresenius Medical Care’s One Procurement objectives. This role focuses on category management, sourcing execution, supplier negotiations, contracting, and ongoing supplier management for the assigned category.

The Category Lead works closely with Procurement Partner(s) and key stakeholders to ensure the effective alignment and execution of procurement plans. This position requires strong relationship management skills to collaborate effectively with suppliers and internal teams, ensuring the successful execution of established category strategies and goals.

The ideal candidate will support regional category initiatives by executing procurement activities, driving cost efficiency, and ensuring compliance with procurement processes. This role will involve analyzing supplier performance, supporting procurement-related projects, and maintaining clear communication with stakeholders to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Drive and implement multi-year category plans for the assigned category, including demand aggregation, definition of buying channels, strategic relationship management, and supplier risk management.

• Maintains knowledge of current trends, supplier capabilities, innovation, and changes within the technology landscape.

• Identify, develop and lead/support opportunities to optimize spend, reduce costs, mitigate supply risks, improve services, bring innovation and assure supply.

• Leads or supports cross functional supplier selection activities and management of formal strategic sourcing and RFx processes.

• Performs proposal analysis, including price analyses, “Should Cost” modelling, benchmarking and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

• Develops negotiation strategy, including targets for costs and key commercial/business terms.

• Working in conjunction with Legal, drafts and negotiates key legal and commercial terms.

• Evaluates financial stability of suppliers and manages supplier risks as needed.

• Actively manages key supplier relationships in collaboration with the VMO, including resolution of issues and disputes.

• Build relationships and work closely with the Procurement Business Partner(s), other Category Managers, and cross-functional teams to share and implement procurement strategies.

• Leads or participates in supplier business reviews.

• Champions use of eSourcing, Spend Visibility, and R2P tools within category; leverages and utilizes eAuctions where appropriate.

• Acts as an ambassador of Procurement and a champion in the function for all Procurement policies, processes and tools to ensure compliance.

• Demonstrates the highest ethical standards and ensures Fresenius procedures are adopted and followed.

• Drives the category management process to develop strategies that include diversity, sustainability, risk assessment, currency, and overall continuity, in alignment with business KPIs.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s Degree desirable.

• 5+ years of procurement, contract negotiation and management experience.

• 1-3 years of experience with the latest procurement and contract management solutions.

• 2+ years of direct Resins, Compounds and Injection Molding category experience will be nice to have.

• Project management expertise with the ability to carry projects from planning through implementation.

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of contract terms and conditions, including DPA, GDPR, ESG and others.

• Able to tailor communication and context across diverse geographic backgrounds and cultural settings.

• Able to negotiate the best possible terms with strategic suppliers that have a far-reaching impact on our business

• Requires ability to deal with ambiguity and the corresponding capacity to make decisions or recommendations based on potentially incomplete information.

• Experience with hands on analysis and data interpretation; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suites required

• Robust knowledge of the strategic sourcing and category management process.

• International experience a plus – working experience in different countries/regions/languages.

• Managership of subcategories

• Ability to collaborate and communicate with senior executives and stakeholders both internally and externally.

• Critical thinking and decision-making skills with ability to understand opportunities, create value and solve complex problems.

• Able to prioritize multiple initiatives/projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Able to develop relationships and build both a strong direct and indirect sphere of influence.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills; familiarity and knowledge of Agile ways of working.