Procurement Category Manager, Direct Procurement

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Procurement Category Manager with deep expertise in Direct Procurement to join our high-impact Procurement and Supply Chain team at Ethos Veterinary Health. This role will focus on several Direct categories including but not limited to lab and diagnostics, distribution, pharmaceuticals, telemedicine, and aftercare. The ideal candidate has a strong track record managing complex supplier ecosystems, influencing cross-functional stakeholders in a heavily matrixed environment, and delivering measurable value through sourcing strategy, supplier relationship management, new product deployment, and cost optimization.

This is a critical role within our Direct Procurement team, offering the opportunity to shape sourcing strategies for multi-million-dollar categories directly tied to core business operations and patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Category Ownership: Lead and manage the strategic sourcing and procurement activities for direct materials and service categories such as lab and diagnostics, distribution services, pharmaceuticals, aftercare and telemedicine.
• Strategic Sourcing & Execution: Develop and execute short- and long-term category strategies based on spend analysis, supplier landscape, market trends, and internal requirements.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with stakeholders in R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to align procurement strategies with business needs.
• Supplier Management: Lead supplier selection, qualification, performance reviews, and ongoing relationship management. Facilitate Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic partners.
• Contracting & Negotiation: Lead end-to-end negotiation and contracting processes, including price, service levels, lead times, and commercial terms. Ensure contracts meet regulatory and business requirements.
• Cost Optimization: Identify and implement initiatives that drive cost savings, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency through Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), should-cost models, and supplier consolidation.
• Matrixed Stakeholder Engagement: Influence and align with cross-functional and global stakeholders, driving consensus and collaboration across business units in a complex matrixed structure.
• Risk & Compliance Management: Ensure supplier compliance with company policies, quality/regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Project Management: Manage multiple concurrent sourcing initiatives and priorities with strong focus on timelines, stakeholder engagement, and outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Direct Procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing, with a strong focus on lab diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or life sciences.
• Demonstrated success in a matrixed environment, influencing stakeholders across business functions and geographic regions.
• Deep knowledge of supply markets, suppliers, and trends in healthcare, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical supply chains.
• Understanding of GxP, cGMP, and regulated environments.
• Demonstrated skills in contract negotiation, cost modeling, and strategic sourcing frameworks.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including experience working with executive leadership.
• Strong project management capabilities and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Business, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or MBA preferred, with equivalent work experience.
• Veterinary or Human Healthcare related experience.
• Proficiency in ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, JDE.
• Data fluency with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Excel for spend analysis and reporting.
• Experience with eSourcing tools such as Ariba, iValua, Scout, or Jaggaer.
• APICS, CPSM, or equivalent professional procurement certifications.

What We Offer

• A high-impact role in a mission-driven, innovative organization.
• The opportunity to influence critical sourcing decisions in a fast-paced, regulated industry.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• A collaborative team culture that values continuous improvement and stakeholder partnership.

Job Details

• Job Title: Procurement Category Manager – Direct Procurement
• Department: Procurement and Supply Chain
• Reports to: Senior Manager of Direct Procurement
• Type: Full-Time
• Location: Remote
• Salary: The base salary range for this full-time position is $100,000-$120,000. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and relevant factors.