Manager, Category Management and Procurement

Job Summary

The Manager, Category Management and Procurement manages and leads the implementation of the overall category management and procurement processes for multiple categories and commodities. The position manages continuous improvement of the L.A. Care source-to-pay process. The Manager works closely with the Chief Procurement Officer and other senior management and cross-functional teams in developing and executing category plans and all related procurement and activities.

The Manager is an expert on all category management, procurement, and relationship management requirements and processes.  The position leads and provides consultation to other cross-functional teams with executing cost reduction and related activities across the enterprise. The Manager ensures that the team's collective efforts increase value (service and monetary), decrease request for proposal (RFP), vendor contract cycle time, and increase customer service in support of optimizing L.A. Care operations. This position will interface senior management and senior level vendor contacts. 

The position manages all aspects of running an efficient team, including hiring, supervising, coaching, training, disciplining, and motivating direct reports.

Duties

Manages the overall category management and procurement process to ensure high-value execution and integrity of all vendor relationships, pricing and contracts within L.A. Care source-to-pay. Develops requirements that will leverage and optimize the source-to-pay system(s). Ensures accurate vendor records and pricing with corresponding executed RFx/contracts; optimized process for proper source-to-pay system maintenance; proper procedures to ensure accurate reports, training program and materials. 

Manage staff, including, but not limited to: monitoring of day to day activities of staff, monitoring of staff performance, mentoring, training, and cross-training of staff, handling of questions or issues, etc. raised by staff, encourage staff to provide recommendations for relevant process and systems enhancements, among others.. Effectively trains staff to ensure they are equipped with up-to-date category management and procurement process and policy, and support staff in all aspects of category management and procurement. Provides guidance, instruction, and requirements to staff and supports in trouble shooting issues.

Manages complex projects, engaging and updating key stakeholders, developing timelines, leads others to complete deliverables on time and ensures implementation upon approval. Leads Vendor Selection Process/Request for RFxs and negotiations on select high value vendor contracts from cross-functional teams and provides consultative expertise to the team on other vendor RFxs.

Plans and implements systems and procedures to maximize operating efficiency and achieve strategic priorities.

Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for cross-functional teams on proper category management and procurement execution that balances risks and flexibility.  Ensures end-to-end source-to-pay process complies to L.A. Care policies while incorporating best practice for effectiveness, efficiency, and better customer service. Implements end-to-end category management and procurement procedures that are compliant to L.A. Care policies and that meet L.A. Care's objectives. Ensures that category management and procurement procedures and training materials compliment procurement processes.

Duties Continued

Liaisons with the L.A. Care legal department to develop effective contract processes, tools, and standard procedures while leveraging the contract management system to its fully extent possible. Responsible for safeguarding the acceptable contract clauses, language, templates, and tools pre-approved by the legal team.

Leads and facilities formal meetings with senior internal staff in developing strategic and tactical plans for category management, vendor relationship management, savings opportunities and/or RFx/contracting strategies that allow L.A. Care to function more effectively. Performs vendor contract inventory analysis and reports that include contracts expirations, contract spend, and other data for L.A. Care Officer review and that will feed into category management and procurement plans for potential Request for Quotes (RFQs)/Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and vendor consolidation opportunities as well as better management of vendor compliance to contracts.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Required

Education Preferred

Experience

Required:

At least 6 years of related experience in assigned categories contract lifecycle management for services related categories and commodities.

At least 4 years of experience in leading, supervising, and/ or managing staff, whether directly or indirectly.

Experience drafting, negotiating, red lining, finalizing and managing complex supplier agreements for a wide variety of goods and services.

Skills

Required:

Strong legal and business acumen with demonstrated ability to manage complex negotiations and relationships.

Effective communications and presentation skills required.

Able to or provide direction to team members to execute category management, procurement, and contract efforts with outside vendors.

Ability to negotiate and manage relationships and contracts with outside vendors that are in the best interests of L.A. Care.

Tactful, diplomatic in implementing new processes, procedures, and systems across L.A. Care and be able to convince staff and management why changes are needed. 

Skilled in incorporating change throughout companies.

Must be proactive, resourceful, and able to find alternative solutions to deliver results.

Demonstrated ability to communicate, problem solve, and work effectively with business, procurement and legal professionals.

Ability to be consultative to Procurement and L.A. Care staff on developing the best category management and strategic sourcing (including contract) options.

Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Licenses/Certifications Preferred

Required Training

Physical Requirements

Additional Information

Skills Continued:

Strong internal stakeholder management skills: capacity to listen, build trusting relationships in all levels of the organization, understand and capture stakeholder's needs and deliver effective solutions.

Good knowledge of legal environment related to purchasing contracts and framework agreements.

Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with keen understanding of relevant cost drivers.

Demonstrated ability to select, manage, develop and coach others.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to secure most favorable terms, prices and/services levels and contract terms.

Persuasion Skills: Effective negotiator who exhibits high levels of personal integrity and honesty. Skill in planning and coordinating vendor visits and negotiations, and comprehensive knowledge of market conditions. Understanding of the flow and accounting requirements to facilitate document flow and efficiency. Ability to enforce policy compliance.

Financial Impact: Effective vendor contract negotiation will have a high financial impact and influence because of negotiation of pricing and contract terms.