Senior Category Manager - Pleasanton, CA

About the role

The Senior Category Manager, Sustaining, is responsible for driving sourcing and supplier strategies that support sustaining product initiatives within a regulated medical device environment. This role partners closely with Product, R&D, Engineering, Manufacturing, S&OP, and Commercial teams to ensure robust sources of supply, optimal supplier mix, and seamless lifecycle support—from NPD through production scale.

Responsibilities

• Supply Chain lead on sustaining initiatives related to our supplier community. Collaborate with R&D, Product, Engineering, and Commercial teams on Supply Chain and overall project deliverables to ensure robust sources of supply and optimal mix
• Develop multi-year category strategies to drive quality, risk mitigation, cost improvement, and scale efficiency through our supplier community; optimize supplier mix against category objectives
• Relationship manager for strategic suppliers and contract manufacturers
• Collaborate closely with New Product Development (NPD) teams to provide inputs for new products (evaluate current supply mix for future requirements, assist in DFM-type activities based on experience with similar suppliers and technology in the market, assist in running sourcing events for new product sources of supply)
• Work closely with S&OP and Purchasing teams to ensure material availability and supplier readiness
• Work closely with NPD teams on handover of new projects
• Identify and manage risks associated with meeting technical and operational targets
• Use your influencing skills to gain support from the Product, R&D, and Manufacturing teams to evaluate new sources of supply, drive spec improvements, and evaluate alternative methods / processes for incumbent suppliers to drive improvements

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant sourcing / procurement experience in a Medical Device industry REQUIRED
• Domestic and International travel to suppliers and contract manufacturers as needed (15-30%)
• Proven experience managing a Direct Spend category such as raw materials and components
• Experience working with Contract Manufacturing
• Catheter based medical device experience a strong plus
• Strong project management skills
• Continuous improvement experience, experience with building new processes
• Self-starter, demonstrated ability operate and excel in ill-defined environments requiring structure
• Excellent business partner engagement skills, influencing will be a key component of this role
• Ability to navigate through a matrixed organization
• Global experience a plus

What We Offer

• A competitive base salary of $180,000 - $190,000 and variable incentive plan
• Stock options – ownership and a stake in growing a mission-driven company
• Employee benefits package that includes 401(k), healthcare insurance and paid vacation

Legal Authorization

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.