VP - Supply Chain Management

About the role

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) has served the health care needs of the people of Memphis and the Mid‑South for over a century. The Vice President, Supply Chain Management is responsible for the overall strategic planning, design, and execution of all supply chain and medical equipment operations. This role establishes and maintains effective standards and processes that ensure excellent, efficient services supporting the organization’s mission, values, and goals. The VP leads development of policies and procedures for efficient supply chain directives in support of quality, cost‑effective patient care, serves as executive lead for the Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) relationship to develop cost‑reduction opportunities, realize savings, and leverage purchasing volume and discounts, and models behavior aligned with the MLH Mission, Vision, and Values.

Responsibilities

Supply Chain Management

• Leads integration of the supply chain and materials management function across the organization; provides ultimate oversight for strategies to advance supply chain and materials management savings opportunities.
• Ensures broad organizational support around identified goals, strategies, budgets, and metrics associated with the supply chain and materials management function.
• Responsible for establishing, measuring, and achieving performance metrics.
• Serves as key liaison between leadership teams, physician partners, and applicable governing boards of health care entities and programs.
• Assesses the healthcare environment for emerging industry trends influencing supply chain services enterprise‑wide and at department or service‑line levels.
• Develops supply chain strategies drawing from national best practices, analytics, personal expertise, and creativity to deliver high‑value, innovative solutions.
• Develops and implements comprehensive materials planning efforts, focusing on effective transition of strategy into operational objectives and measurable goals supporting cost‑effective supply and logistic programs.
• Ensures capital purchases are fully evaluated and final negotiations completed by Supply Chain Management for maximum discounting and most favorable terms prior to purchase completion.
• Leads expense‑reduction efforts system‑wide for supplies, equipment, and purchased services.
• Oversees management of GPO relationship and performance compliance, as well as Strategic Vendor Partnerships.
• Manages the purchasing and accounts payable function for the System.

Medical Equipment

• Oversees system‑wide contracting for medical equipment, supplies, and services; capital acquisition; planning; and life‑cycle forecasting for medical equipment.

Other Management Functions

• Develops, recommends, and manages labor, operating, and capital budgets for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Directs activities of Associates; monitors performance, clarifies work expectations, and assists with goal setting.
• Develops and implements processes through orientation, training, and education to ensure staff competence is assessed, maintained, improved, and demonstrated throughout employment.
• Builds the organizational structure, talent, and capabilities to implement and operate the supply chain and materials management function.
• Selects, engages, and develops leaders and staff.

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration
• Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Management, Finance, or Supply Chain
• Preferred: Master’s Degree in Business Administration/Management, Finance, Healthcare Administration, or Supply Chain

Experience

• Required: 7–9 years progressive supply chain leadership experience in a health system, distribution services, or procurement.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge in developing system‑wide purchasing strategies, processes, and programs supporting a service‑focused, cost‑effective, centralized model.
• In‑depth knowledge of inventory management and related accounting processes.
• Ability to develop strategic/tactical plans to meet business objectives.
• Experience leading and designing advanced distribution models across large, complex organizations.
• Demonstrated record of leadership ability and accomplishment; successful track record resolving critical issues, contributing to business unit/area development, and improving operational efficiencies.
• Ability to understand and prepare complex written materials such as contracts and business plans.
• Excellent communication skills with a high degree of professionalism and personal presence.
• Expertise in planning, budgeting, resource allocation and management, and building collaborative teams.
• Skill in negotiating with vendors, management, and physicians.
• Experience in long‑range strategic planning and the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of operating budgets.

Supervision

Manages directly or indirectly the leaders, professional staff, and administrative support staff in materials/supply chain, purchasing, and accounts payable.

Physical Demands

• Physical activities may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion.
• Must have good balance and coordination.
• Light work: exerting up to 25 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently.
• Close visual acuity required for preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, or extensive reading.
• Work environment: not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions; typically performed under general office or administrative conditions.