Senior Global Category Manager (Logistics)

Fresenius Medical Care North America

1mo ago

Job
Full-time
Senior Level
Logistics
Bad Homburg

AI generated summary

You need a degree in Economics/Business, 7+ years in tactical procurement (2+ in warehousing & road freight), strong negotiation skills, data analysis, fluent in German & English, and MS Office proficiency.
You will develop procurement strategies, manage suppliers, conduct sourcing activities, ensure alignment with stakeholders, and optimize supplier performance while maintaining compliance and ethical standards.

Requirements

University Degree in Economics, Business Administration or respectively equal educational training incl. relevant work experience
Extensive purchasing experience in an international context, Healthcare sector preferred
Minimum 7 years professional experience within tactical Procurement
Minimum 2 years professional experience within Warehousing Procurement
Minimum 2 years professional experience within Road Freight Procurement – Including FTL, LTL
Ocean freight, air freight, customs and patient transportation experience highly desired (but not required)
Knowledge of industry-specific rules and regulations as well as industry standards
Understands the business environment, financial key principles/metrics, products/services offered, key customers, competitors, and industry trends to drive sound decisions that create value for our company and our patients.
Ability to interface with various departments and functions
Ability to work independently with a low level of manager guidance, identify solutions to complex and business critical problems and take decisions within the assigned area of responsibility
Ability to prioritize large number of business critical activities and solution them in a structured and target oriented manner
Collects, handles, and analyses diverse data types while leveraging digital communication technologies.
Delivers structured and compelling strategies based on data-driven insights, stakeholder needs and business objectives.
Embraces change and new ideas as well as formulates and applies creative responses to problems.
Communicates effectively
Drives negotiations for strong outcomes including optimal financial and operational results.
Collaborates to create and manage contracts aligned with legal standards.
Takes an organised approach to managing projects, including defining a clear scope, key deliverables and timeline that is communicated regularly to stakeholders.
Demonstrates and applies a holistic Procurement approach based on a deep internal & external analysis jointly with strong stakeholder engagement and a long-term vision and strategy.
Develops and applies a methodology for selecting, negotiating, contracting, and implementing supplier agreement(s) with the aim of reducing the total costs of purchased materials/goods/services while maintaining and improving levels of quality, service, and technology.
MS Office
Knowledge of eSourcing tools a plus
Fluent German
Fluent English
Other languages a plus
Flexibility for occasional business travelling (10-20%)

Responsibilities

The Global Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies with 3rd party suppliers in support of Fresenius Medical Care’s One Procurement strategy. Responsible for category management, strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contracting, and ongoing supplier management for assigned category. Coordinates with Procurement Partner(s) and key stakeholders to ensure alignment of procurement strategies. Acts as an ambassador of Procurement and a champion in the function for all Procurement policies, processes and tools to ensure compliance.
Drive, develop, and implement multi-year category (sub-category) plans for the assigned category, including demand aggregation, definition of buying channels, strategic relationship management, and supplier risk management.
Identifies key stakeholders and acts as Business Partner to them. Becomes a trusted advisor for key suppliers, and senior stakeholders for strategic advice and counsel.
Identifies business priorities and objectives, deducts procurement actions and suggests strategic approach as input to category strategy.
With internal and/or external stakeholders, creates a clear vision and presents and show-cases the value proposition of Procurement. Achieves alignment between stakeholders and Procurement also in cases of divergent interests and objectives.
Interacts with relevant management functions and closely collaborates with relevant stakeholders to identify short and long-term plans for creating value (eg, sourcing plans, roadmaps).
In alignment with category strategy, defines sourcing strategies, conducts large and complex sourcing activities, and performs supplier selection activities and RFx processes including supplier identification, contract negotiations and supplier due diligence activities. Identifies relevant stakeholders for the sourcing event and manages them as a project team.
Owns supplier life-cycle management and is responsible for the supplier performance management. Manages and escalates business critical issues arising from supplier performance, for example as a consequence of low delivery performance by a supplier, identifies solutions and remediation actions and drives their implementation in alignment with the business stakeholders including any relevant management functions.
Works with a high degree of autonomy, taking decisions within the assigned area of responsibility and acting always in line with category and procurement strategy.
Presents results and recommendations for management decisions to relevant decision boards and stakeholders.
Coaches, supervises, leads and collaborates with sourcing specialists for specified sourcing initiatives and supplier management. Delegates selected non-critical activities to sourcing specialists.
Advanced knowledge of eSourcing, Spend Visibility, and R2P tools to precisely delegate to and closely collaborate with sourcing specialists supporting their initiatives.
Leads and participates in supplier business reviews.
For assigned areas, resolves diligently quality, supply, or any other issues in close collaboration with the local and regional stakeholders.
Performs proposal analysis, including price analyses, “Should Cost” modelling, benchmarking and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Generates proposal/quote comparisons and compiles detailed assessment of cost breakdowns.
Develops negotiation strategy, including targets for costs and key commercial/business terms.
Ensures full documentation (RFQs documents, contracts, and data & price maintenance at each sourcing project closure).
Evaluates financial stability of suppliers and manages supplier risks as needed while considering the local plans, regulations, and specificities.
Demonstrates the highest ethical standards and ensures Fresenius procedures are adopted and followed.

FAQs

What is the primary responsibility of the Senior Global Category Manager in Logistics?

The primary responsibility is to develop and execute procurement strategies with 3rd party suppliers in support of Fresenius Medical Care’s One Procurement strategy, which includes category management, strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and ongoing supplier management.

What kind of experience is required for this position?

The position requires a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in tactical Procurement, with at least 2 years in Warehousing Procurement and 2 years in Road Freight Procurement. Experience in the healthcare sector is preferred.

Is knowledge of eSourcing tools necessary for this role?

While extensive knowledge of eSourcing tools is a plus, it is not a mandatory requirement; however, advanced knowledge of eSourcing, Spend Visibility, and R2P tools will be beneficial for collaboration with sourcing specialists.

What languages are required for this position?

Fluency in both German and English is required. Proficiency in other languages is a plus.

How much travel is expected for this role?

The role requires flexibility for occasional business travel, estimated at around 10-20%.

What educational background is preferred for candidates applying to this role?

A university degree in Economics, Business Administration, or an equivalent educational training is preferred.

Will the Senior Global Category Manager work independently?

Yes, the position requires the ability to work independently with a low level of manager guidance and to take decisions within the assigned area of responsibility.

What skills are necessary for successful stakeholder collaboration?

Candidates must possess strong communication skills, the ability to prioritize tasks, and the capacity to create a clear vision and present the value proposition of Procurement to achieve alignment between stakeholders.

Are there any specific qualities the company is looking for in a candidate?

The company seeks a candidate who embraces change, formulates creative responses to problems, has a structured approach to managing projects, and demonstrates ethical standards while managing supplier risks.

What is involved in supplier management and selection for this role?

The Senior Global Category Manager defines sourcing strategies, conducts complex sourcing activities, performs supplier selection, manages supplier performance, and resolves business-critical issues arising from supplier performance in collaboration with stakeholders.

Fresenius Medical Care North America

Every patient, every day

1-10

Employees

1996

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities and outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated healthcare services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world’s largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products, and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com/.