Category Manager

Position Overview:
This is a key role within the Global Procurement function driving a high-performance culture and setting the standard for Procurement Excellence. We are looking for a Category Manager who will bring a strategic and innovative Category Management approach to Convatec as we continue our transformation journey.

The Category Manager will be accountable for the end-to-end Global Category Management of a defined Category or Sub-Category within the Plastics & Metals group within Convatec Direct Procurement.


You will be lead the development of short, medium and long term strategic plans for the category that align to current and future customer/business needs.


This will include defining category strategy through to key stakeholder and supplier interaction that delivers optimal levels of cost management, resilience and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• You will develop fully integrated and customer/business-aligned Category Strategy(s) for the Plastics & Metals category, including but not limited to Injection Moulding, Resins, Molds, Films, Metals assigned spend area(s) engaging with key stakeholder groups in doing this. This could be on a regional or global basis dependent on the category profile.
• You will manage critical relationships (stakeholder and supplier) to ensure that Category Strategies are highly aligned to current and future business needs and that the supply base is capable of supporting these strategies.
• You will engage with key category stakeholders and suppliers to develop strategic plans, in order to deliver category strategy.
• You will be responsible for the implementation of the category plan to ensure that procurement activities deliver the expected value to the business.
• You will be accountable for delivering the contracts, agreements, and sourcing strategies for the supply of materials/products and/or services that support defined strategies.
• You will be accountable for the Source to Contract (S2C) process, including identification of opportunities, sourcing strategy (e.g. RFP or E-Auction), evaluation, recommendation, and award.
• You will be accountable through Supplier Relationship Management for ensuring that the supplier base supporting your category(s) is continually assessed and developed to meet changing business/customer demands. This will include identifying and driving continuous improvement/innovation initiatives that will generate value through increased supplier performance and/or capabilities.
• You will be responsible for ensuring ESG targets are met for the suppliers that fall within your category(s).
• Depending on complexity of categories being managed, you might be required to line manage a Strategic Buyer(s) to ensure timely implementation of category plans.

Team

• Direct reports (where applicable);
• Strategic Buyer, Junior Buyer, Procurement Interns

Principal Contacts & Purpose of Contact

• Internal - Quality, Operations, Technology and Innovation (including Sustaining Engineering), Advanced Operations, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance and others as required.

• External - Suppliers and other relevant external stakeholders

Travel Requirements

• Travel will be required with this role including to other Convatec manufacturing facilities and to supplier facilities as required. This could be domestic or international travel location dependent

Languages

• Speaking: Yes English*

• Writing/Reading: Yes English*

*additional languages as required or nice to have

Working Conditions

• Hybrid - This role will be predominately remote however we are looking for someone local to the Lexington, MA office to come in approximately once a week.

Special Factors

• Flexibility outside of core working hours may be required at times.

Qualifications/Education:

• Educated to degree level / MCIPS to level 6 or equivalent
• 5 years+ working in a Strategic Procurement / Sourcing / Process Engineering / Continuous Improvement Environment

Skills & Experience:

• 5 years + working within a Strategic Procurement/Sourcing environment, employing a formal category/sourcing management process.
• Previous experience obtained from working in the Injection Moulding Category with ability to engage technically with suppliers and support cross functional discussions with tool makers
• Demonstrable knowledge of total cost of ownership models and detailed understanding of key market drivers
• A clear understanding of Category Management principles with a demonstrated ability to define a strategy and translate it into actionable plans and manage these plans through to implementation.
• Able to work with a range of technically and culturally diverse people in a matrix environment, influencing them to achieve goals in a timely manner to help drive business results.
• Able to influence senior key stakeholders and comfortable challenging requirements to secure best value for the business.
• Experience working with e-procurement tools to find, evaluate & select the best vendors to support category plans.
• An autonomous, self-starter with a good understanding of how to map out and build a relevant stakeholder network.
• Able to demonstrate the values and behaviors required to be successful in the role and support the Convatec 'Forever Caring' Promise.
• Excellent inter-personal & communication skills with ability to communicate through a variety of formats to an audience of internal stakeholders of differing seniority and with external partners.
• Results and solution oriented, with a focus on meeting required targets and deadlines.
• Possess significant ability for analytical problem-solving and analysis/interpretation of complex problems, incorporating data gathered from a variety of sources/software tools.
• Good understanding of financial principles, resource planning and allocation, to support delivery of a Category Plan to deliver cost management, resilience and continuous improvement.
• Experience of negotiating with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters and applying judgement as to what constitutes an acceptable level of contractual risk and supply resilience.
• Able to promote and foster new ideas and strategies among internal and external stakeholders, challenging the status quo with sustainable solution(s).
• Need to demonstrate and apply analytical as well as strategic thinking skills, support teamwork, display exceptional judgment, collaboration, and decision-making.

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Equal opportunities

Convatec provides equal employment opportunities for all current employees and applicants for employment. This policy means that no one will be discriminated against because of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, nationality, citizenship, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic predisposing characteristics or any other basis prohibited by law.

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About Convatec

Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch:

Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in Advanced Wound Care, Ostomy Care, Continence Care, and Infusion Care. With over 10,000 colleagues, we provide products and services in around 90 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our solutions provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention, treatment for hard to heal wounds, at-risk skin and ulcerated tissue to supporting debilitating conditions, improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs. Convatec's revenues in 2025 were over $2 billion. The company is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index (LSE:CTEC). To learn more please visit: