Category Management Specialist-Packaging & Specialty Materials

About the role

The Category Management Specialist role is a key contributor within Medtronic's Global Materials & Contract Manufacturing organization. This is a global role that allows you to partner with stakeholders across many functions, regions, and businesses to drive value.

Responsibilities

• Support Supplier Relationship Management
• Strengthen supplier relationships while partnering closely with internal stakeholders
• Actively engage suppliers to support performance, alignment, and issue resolution
• Unlock Category Strategy Through Execution
• Execute category strategies and convert implementation plans into business results
• Support strategy development and execution across defined sub-categories and initiatives
• Turn Market Intelligence into Advantage
• Monitor market intelligence and industry trends to anticipate risks and opportunities
• Convert insights into proactive, actionable sourcing strategies
• Manage Inflation and Drive Savings
• Negotiate supplier price changes and tariff requests using data-driven insights and category strategies to limit inflationary impact
• Engage suppliers and Medtronic stakeholders to unlock process, technical, and commercial savings levers
• Enable High Impact Negotiations
• Support negotiations by preparing RFx packages, cost models, and negotiation strategies
• Participate in supplier discussions and ensure commercial commitments translate into year-over-year performance improvements
• Lead Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives
• Develop and deploy standard work, drive continuous improvement and strategic initiatives, and apply benchmarking and industry best practices to enhance category performance
• Lead and manage cross-functional initiatives, preparing and delivering clear updates on progress, risks, and results to stakeholders
• Support Risk, Compliance & Resiliency
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks (capacity, financial, geopolitical, regulatory)
• Ensure supplier adherence to regulatory and quality requirements
• Support ESG and sustainability objectives

Requirements

• Minimum Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain plus a minimum of 2 years of sourcing experience, or an advanced degree with 0 years of experience
• Nice to Have: Direct sourcing experience, preferably within complex, global supply chains; Experience developing and analyzing detailed cost models, with strong financial acumen; Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial and legal agreements in partnership with Legal; Demonstrated project management, supply chain, or engineering experience within a large, multi-plant organization; Proven ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization; Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely; Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a track record of translating data into actionable insights; Experience leveraging AI-enabled and agentic tools to improve sourcing, analysis, or decision-making processes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 2 years of sourcing experience, or advanced degree with 0 years of experience

Skills

• Business Acumen
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Category Strategy Development
• Inflation Management
• Negotiation Skills
• Continuous Improvement
• Risk Management
• ESG and Sustainability

Benefits

Competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package including Health, Dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Long-term disability leave, Dependent daycare spending account, Tuition assistance/reimbursement, and Simple Steps (global well-being program).