Global Category Lead, Indirect Procurement

**Job Objective**:
The Global Category Leader is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies with 3rd party suppliers in support of Fresenius Medical Care’s One Procurement strategy. Responsible for category management, strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contracting, and ongoing supplier management for the Corporate Services category and the leadership of all subcategory managers. Coordinates with procurement partners and key stakeholders to ensure alignment of procurement strategies.

**Tasks**:

- Drive, develop, and implement multi-year category plans for the assigned category, including demand aggregation, definition of buying channels, strategic relationship management, and supplier risk management.
- Leads a global team of subcategory managers, aligned with overall Category 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.
- May include cross-regional people management responsibilities, including hiring, developing, and terminating employees.
- Leads and 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
- Ensure Sustainability and Diversity are an integral part of the Category Strategy
- Bachelor’s Degree in either Technical or Business field
- MBA and/or CPSM/CPM desired but not required
- Strong leadership and effective business partnering capabilities - influence without authority
- 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
- Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills
- Robust knowledge of the strategic sourcing and category management process
- International experience a plus - working experience in different countries/regions/languages

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s Degree in either Technical or Business field
- Minimum of 7 years' related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or a Master's degree; or equivalent directly related work experience
- Extensive experience in the professional services category required
- Working in a multi-national, multi-cultural environment
- MBA and/or CPSM/CPM desired but not required
- Strong leadership and effective business partnering capabilities - influence without authority
- 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
- Strong negotiation, communication, and presentation skills
- Robust knowledge of the strategic sourcing and category management process