Category Manager

February 16, 2026

Working at AbbottAt Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:<ul><li>Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.</li><li>Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.</li><li>An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.</li><li>Tuition reimbursement, the <a href="https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/strategy-and-strength/tackling-student-debt-for-our-employees.html" target="_blank">Freedom 2 Save</a> student debt program and <a href="https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/strategy-and-strength/college-degree-for-free-its-possible-with-freeu.html" target="_blank">FreeU</a> education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.</li><li>A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.</li><li>A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.</li></ul>The Opportunity Abbott Vascular provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products for treatment of vascular disease. Our extensive portfolio includes drug-eluting stents, bare metal stents, guide wires, balloon dilatation catheters, imaging catheters and software, vessel closure devices and peripheral stents.The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in Category Management, strong contract lifecycle management skills, and experience working with third-party or contract manufacturing partners. They should have a proven track record in cost reduction initiatives such as GMI, advanced negotiation capabilities, and the ability to lead strategic initiatives that impact global procurement. This is a leadership role, responsible for directing projects, managing a direct support team, and guiding virtual teams across regions. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, supplier relationship management, and collaboration across multiple business units to deliver measurable value and innovation.Our location in Temecula, CA or St. Paul, MN currently has an opportunity Onsite for a Category Manager. What You’ll Work On:<ul><li>Responsible for leading and executing the purchasing supply management activities for all categories and sub categories.</li><li>Works closely with key stakeholders in both Corporate and Division organizations to develop effective cost reduction strategies and implementation plans.</li><li>Nurtures stakeholder relationships by serving as a business partner; helping to identify critical business requirements and providing sourcing and procurement services that meet expectations.</li><li>Drives reduced total cost of ownership by optimizing Tier 2 and Tier 3 supply chains.</li><li>Experience implementing GMI or similar global cost reduction initiatives.</li><li>Leverages extensive market and supplier knowledge to drive lower TCO.</li><li>Represents Abbott strategically in the industry and community. Is recognized as a thought leader within strategic discipline.</li><li>Proactively identifies areas of opportunity for new business opportunities; process improvement; and cost efficiencies.</li><li>Provides insight to the business unit on how to best develop and leverage Supplier capabilities for the organization(s).</li><li>Works on projects that impact Abbott’s global procurement model (‘One Procurement’), which standardizes sourcing strategies and drives efficiencies across divisions</li></ul>Core Job Responsibilities:<ul><li>Responsible for implementing and maintaining the effectiveness of the quality system.</li><li>Develops plans and delivers results in fast changing businesses environments.</li><li>Develops and implements procurement plans and strategies to support business needs.</li><li>Leads projects/initiatives that have significant impact upon global business.</li><li>Anticipates internal/external business challenges and drives change.</li><li>Leads project teams to achieve milestones and objectives.</li><li>Solves complex problems; takes a broad perspective to identify solutions.</li><li>Manage PO approvals - up to $2,000,000.</li><li>Educates on existing solutions and enables performance and technical tools development.</li><li>Develops supplier KPI's and management.</li><li>Drives value and savings for categories.</li><li>Collaborates with matrix functional organizations.</li><li>Leverages professional expertise and relationships to contribute to strategy and drive business results.</li><li>Leads the development of functional strategy.</li><li>Leads change and innovation.</li><li>Supports change and takes risks.</li><li>Defines category procurement strategy for Abbott.</li><li>Aligns with overall strategy.</li><li>Drives Total Cost of Ownership reductions for category.</li><li>Clearly defines category taxonomy and manages baseline.</li><li>Coordinates across corporate functions/ divisions to share best practices and adherence to guidelines.</li><li>Negotiates an accepted portfolio meeting the most strategic needs of the category.</li><li>Measures and tracks internal performance for Abbott users.</li><li>Advises business unit(s) about similar strategies employed by other healthcare companies.</li><li>Manages initiatives that span virtual teams across the world and across cultures.</li><li>Partner with business leaders (Manager; Director) to manage and align the category.</li><li>Closely collaborate with adjacent business departments; and external partners to ensure adequate and timely delivery of agreed services in line with agreed service levels.</li><li>Partner and collaborate with key One Procurement staff of other Abbott divisions in order to support cross divisional business initiatives and explore Procurement synergies and efficiencies.</li><li>Build and maintain strategic relationships with key category vendors as well as counterparts at other Healthcare/Consumer companies.</li><li>Manage ongoing Supplier relationships.</li><li>Develops and implements agreed purchasing strategies for category. Initiates a collaborative environment among stakeholders.</li><li>Maintains strong relationships across various functions; demonstrates the value-add of leveraging and builds enthusiasm and support for adoption.</li><li>Ensure optimal balance between value for money and cost savings is achieved while ensuring quality and good customer service.</li><li>Continually look for opportunities for cost reductions and cost avoidance and to provide overall value.</li><li>Manages category projects across business unit and division wide when and where applicable.</li><li>Participates in business projects based on category expertise.</li><li>Leads project teams responsible for selection of category strategy.</li><li>Responsible for people leadership.</li><li>Recruits; mentors; trains and develops talent.</li><li>Identifies and deals with people issues in a constructive and timely manner.</li><li>Responsible for overall morale of team and promotes cohesive attitude.</li><li>Executes against established staffing/resources plan.</li><li>Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures</li></ul>Position Accountability/Scope:<ul><li>Operates with goals set by the DVP/Senior Director of Category.</li><li>Erroneous decisions would normally result in failure to complete projects critical to major objectives of the category.</li><li>Has direct impact on budgets; expenses and major project completion. Key Organizational Relationships: Corporate head of Procurement; Manufacturing Head of Divisions; Functional Heads such as head of IT; head of Legal; Division Purchasing leadership; Division commercial and operations stakeholders; Core and Lead Agents.</li><li>Manages virtual team and project staff up to 5-10 people.</li><li>Directly manages all Specialist roles.</li><li>Financial implications of the Spend ranging up to $ 50-75 Million.</li><li>Cumulative Category budgets ranging up to $1-2 Million. Spend: $25-50 Million. Suppliers: 250-500. Connection within business: 1-5. Span of control: global.</li></ul>Required QualificationsMinimum Education:<ul><li>BA or equivalent experience required: MBA preferred.</li><li>Successful; 3+ year track record within procurement and supply chain management.</li><li>Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM); Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or similar certification desirable.</li><li>Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar certification desirable.</li></ul>Minimum Experience/Training Required:<ul><li>5-8 years of procurement and category management experience, including contract lifecycle management and third-party/contract manufacturing sourcing</li><li>Background in sourcing and managing third-party or contract manufacturing relationships.</li><li>Strong project management skills.</li><li>Robust people skills that include developing strong relationships and solving problems.</li><li>Strong use of spreadsheet programs. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).</li><li>Excellent interdisciplinary, intercultural, influence, and networking skills. International experience.</li><li>Knowledge of markets by regions.</li><li>Experience with Supplier management.</li><li>Ability to develop actionable implementation plans.</li><li>Relevant business process knowledge, as related to Procurement and Category Management.</li><li>Knowledge of category technologies and products.</li></ul><a href="https://www.jobs.abbott/us/en" target="_blank">Apply Now</a>Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: <a href="http://www.abbottbenefits.com/pages/candidate.aspx" target="_blank">www.abbottbenefits.com</a>Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.Connect with us at <a href="http://www.abbott.com/" target="_blank">www.abbott.com</a>, on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Abbott" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/Abbott</a> and on Twitter @AbbottNews. The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 – $198,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

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