Category Manager

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position

• Manages supply chain of assigned direct materials suppliers and parts to support business continuity and optimization, including sourcing, development of category strategy roadmaps, negotiating contracts, analyzing spend, creating inventory management strategies, gathering commodity intelligence, and managing supplier performance; may include limited management of purchase orders.
• Leads cross-functional category team(s)
• Identifies and may implement key Global Supply Chain initiatives

Essential Job Duties

• Category Management• Provides cross-functional team leadership within assigned category(ies); leads cross-functional category team meetings

• Collaborates with manager and cross-functional peers to create long-term supplier strategies and roadmaps. Engages with internal stakeholders to develop and influence category strategy that aligns with long-term business objectives.
• Co-leads direct procurement supplier selection process with collaboration from Supplier Engineering and guidance from manager. Leverages knowledge of strategic sourcing practices to identify a core supply base able to offer lowest total cost of ownership and high-quality product while identifying value improvement opportunities.
• Collaborates with manager to align production supplier requirements and sourcing strategies with those of new product development (NPI) for designated suppliers/categories to ensure uninterrupted material availability, alignment of risk, and cost goals with long term vision for the category / business
• Prioritizes category team projects in collaboration with manager and ensures team goals and objectives are achieved
• Leverages knowledge of commodity trends to propose strategies and educate stakeholders
• Develops and presents category strategy reviews

 

• Supplier Performance Management

• Leads supplier scorecarding and supplier business reviews for assigned suppliers
• Proactively collaborates with supply base and procurement team to understand and communicate demand changes and minimize excess inventory or material shortages
• Leads continuous improvement efforts needed with suppliers
• Escalates issues with supplier executive leadership with support and guidance of manager

 

• Risk and Capacity Management

• Develops mitigation plans and programs for assigned suppliers and critical sub-tier suppliers; collaborates with manager and cross-functional peers to drive implementation
• Leads capacity assessments for assigned suppliers and critical sub-tier suppliers; anticipates long-term risks and installs proactive mitigations
• May serve as project manager for key supplier capacity or risk mitigation initiatives
• Leverages problem solving skills and develops counter-measures to implement long-term solutions to identified problems

 

• Contract and Cost Management

• Establishes contractual agreements with suppliers and amendments to existing agreements
• Negotiates long-term volume pricing, risk mitigation, and capacity agreements with key suppliers to support Intuitive’s volume growth
• Reviews, administers, and manages long-term purchase order and delivery commitments to designated suppliers as necessary to support production and/or sales requirements within the business
• Leads identification and implementation of cost reduction ideas to achieve year-over-year cost goals within assigned category(ies)

 

• Operational Management

• Supports plant purchasing by leading negotiations with suppliers to adopt and implement lean sourcing principles to enable 100% material availability and optimization of on-hand inventory levels
• Embraces continuous improvement techniques to drive toward attainment of key purchasing metrics (supplier on-time delivery, quality, risk management, inventory velocity, and cost reduction)
• May lead change management/change order implementation for complex projects
• Supports master data integrity for suppliers and parts
• Mentors colleagues within the supply chain organization. Identifies process and training improvement opportunities and drives closure of identified gaps.

Required Skills and Experience

• Experience utilizing strategic sourcing principles, including six step sourcing process, category strategy development, and collaborative supplier management
• Strong negotiation skills, proven track record of savings, and thorough understanding of key supplier agreement terms
• Significant computer experience including MS Office products and ERP systems. Strong Excel skills.
• Proven track record of effective project management in a fast-paced manufacturing company. Ability to handle multiple tasks and projects successfully and adapt to changing priorities.
• Thorough knowledge of and experience working with kanban systems and other lean principles
• Working knowledge of buying, material planning, master scheduling, and forecasting
• Demonstrates concern for precision and thoroughness
• Proven ability to consistently achieve stretch goals and objectives
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Required Education and Training

• BS degree or equivalent and 10+ years of supply chain experience in a regulated industry manufacturing environment. Master’s degree preferred.

Working Conditions

• ~25% travel to both domestic and international suppliers

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in the medical device industry preferred.
• SAP and Agile experience preferred.
• Experience managing spend/suppliers and/or technical expertise in this category preferred.
• Certifications: CPSM, CPIM, and/or PMP preferred.

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on

business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.

Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the

candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.