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Vizient

Category Management Director

Posted 3 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
60607, Chicago, IL, USA
102K-179K Annually
Entry level
In-Office
60607, Chicago, IL, USA
102K-179K Annually
Entry level
Leads category strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contracting, stakeholder committees, and value analysis initiatives. Manages complex portfolios, evaluates spend and market data, drives savings and standardization, monitors supplier performance, advises executives, and mentors team members. Applies AI fluency to category management, market intelligence, communications, and business decisions while promoting responsible AI use.
The summary above was generated by AI

When you’re the best, we’re the best. We instill an environment where employees feel engaged, satisfied and able to contribute their unique skills and talents while living and working as their authentic selves. We provide extensive opportunities for personal and professional development, building both employee competence and organizational capability to fuel exceptional performance through an inclusive environment both now and in the future.

Category Leadership & Strategy

  • 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.

Strategic Sourcing & Contracting

  • 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.

Stakeholder & Value Analysis Leadership

  • 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.

Portfolio Management & Advisory Leadership

  • 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.

Analytics & Business Performance

  • 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.

Estimated Hiring Range:

At Vizient, we consider skills, experience, and organizational needs in our compensation approach. Geographic factors may adjust the range estimate and hires typically fall below the top range. Compensation decisions are tailored to individual circumstances. The current salary range for this role is $102,400.00 to $179,000.00.

This position is also incentive eligible.

Vizient has a comprehensive benefits plan! Please view our benefits here:

http://www.vizientinc.com/about-us/careers

Equal Opportunity Employer:   Females/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender identity, ethnicity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law.

Vizient Chicago, Illinois, USA Office

Chicago, United States

Vizient Skokie, Illinois, USA Office

Skokie, United States

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