The Supply Chain Category Manager, Specialist develops and implements strategies to optimize the portfolio performance of multiple categories of clinical products or purchased services within VCU Health. This includes negotiating with suppliers and leveraging their expertise to secure advantageous terms and conditions while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
This role serves as a subject matter expert on sourcing processes and technologies to include drafting curriculum and educating fellow team members.
Essential Job Statements
Develop and implement comprehensive sourcing strategies to deliver a clinically integrated supply chain that aligns with organizational goals and objectives (quality/safety, service, financial).
Leads continuous improvement initiatives with key suppliers and internal stakeholders to enhance efficiency, financial performance, and improve overall supply chain performance.
Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, assess their capabilities, conduct due diligence, and make recommendations for supplier selection based on criteria such as quality, reliability, and cost.
Ensure responsibility and visible commitment of diversity equity and inclusion programs/initiatives through collaboration and implementation of initiatives across your categories.
Execute cost reduction strategies, including vendor consolidation, value engineering, and alternative sourcing options, to achieve cost savings within assigned categories.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, such as supplier disruptions, quality issues, geopolitical factors, and regulatory compliance, to ensure continuity of supply and minimize operational disruptions.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders across departments, such as clinical leadership, operations, finance, and many others, to align category strategies with business objectives and ensure seamless execution of supply chain activities.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies related to supplier selection, procurement practices, ethical sourcing, and sustainability initiatives within assigned categories.
Patient Population: N/A
Employment Qualifications
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, or related field (10 years of healthcare sourcing experience may serve in lieu of degree).
Preferred Education: Master’s degree in supply chain, business, or related field.
Licensing/ Certification
Licensure/Certification Required: N/A
Licensure/Certification Preferred: Certification in paralegal studies; Certified Resource Management Professional (CRMP), Certified Professional in Supply Chain Management (CSCP)
Minimum Qualifications
Years and Type of Required Experience: >10 years of experience contracting and/or sourcing and demonstrated track record managing spend categories and achieving non-labor expense reduction goals.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Strong analytical skills with ability to collect, organize, analyze and disseminate significant amounts of data and documentation with attention to detail and accuracy.
Cultural Responsiveness: Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: 5-10 years of progressive experience in a healthcare setting autonomously leading various types of solicitations, e.g., RFPs, RFIs, RFWQs, etc.
Combination of education and experience in lieu of a degree.
Working Conditions: Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May have periods of constant interruptions. Prolonged periods of working alone.
* Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.
Physical Requirements
Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Balance,
Bending
Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing
Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards
Physical Requirements: Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity
Hazards: N/A
Mental/Sensory – Emotional
Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly,
Reading, Logical Thinking
Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change
EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.
Top Skills
What We Do
We are a strong, passionate team of more than 12,500 who take pride in caring for every person who comes through our doors. We lift each other up so we can provide the very best and safest care to those who need us most. Together. Every day.
With the support of our university, we make up an academic medical center committed to excellence in patient care, innovation and training tomorrow’s health care workforce. We continue to educate, research and evolve – staying on the cutting edge of care.
As a community of innovators, every team member can contribute a spark of ingenuity igniting a force to discover the next cure, hold the next hand, solve the greatest challenges and create the health care of tomorrow.
We foster an atmosphere of respect and welcoming for all communities. We infuse our teams with diverse talent that inspires everyone to contribute openly and freely, maximizing their impact and creating meaningful change for our patients and community.
Join our team and help us create a new kind of patient experience. Join VCU Health.
EEO Statement:
VCU Health System strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against, or harassment of, team members, applicants, or any other covered persons because of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex (sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and pregnancy), protected veteran status, marital status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Pay Transparency Provisions:
VCU Health System complies with the Pay Transparency Provisions
