Category Lead
$88,800–$133,245 year
On-siteMadison, Wisconsin, United States or Minnetonka, Minnesota, United States
Job Summary
Lead the full vendor lifecycle for strategic vendors while owning category strategy, vendor outcomes, and business alignment. Drive sourcing initiatives including RFx strategies, negotiate outcomes, and structure deals to improve category performance and optimize demand. Serve as the primary strategic interface between business stakeholders and the vendor ecosystem, translating needs into actionable plans and influencing senior leaders through data-driven insights. Maintain vendor scorecards, SLAs, and performance dashboards to ensure strong service delivery, while facilitating Quarterly Business Reviews and managing audit findings. Ensure all vendor and category activities align with contractual obligations and risk frameworks. This role shapes Medica's procurement transformation to a category-led operating model, expanding influence beyond sourcing into enterprise decision-making.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field
- 8+ years of experience in vendor management, sourcing, or procurement
- Strong understanding of vendor lifecycle management and sourcing principles
- Experience partnering with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders
- Proven ability to influence decisions and deliver measurable business outcomes
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills with internal and vendor executives
- This position is an Office role, which requires an employee to work onsite, on average, 3 days per week
- We are open to candidates located near one of the following office locations: Minnetonka, MN, or Madison, WI
- Eligibility to work in the US: Medica does not offer work visa sponsorship for this role. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application
- Employment is contingent on verification of identity and eligibility to work in the United States
Desired Qualifications
- Industry experience in healthcare, fintech, or technology
- Knowledge of compliance- and regulatory- heavy functions (Fraud, Payments, Compliance, Information Security)
- Can connect market dynamics, vendor performance, and business goals
- Builds trust with stakeholders and vendor executives
- Understands pricing, contracts, and value levers
- Uses analytics to lead decisions and tell a compelling story
- Drives outcomes while managing competing priorities
- Thrives in a transforming, evolving operating model
- Experience with Zip Procurement, Workday, Microsoft Products, including Power BI
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