Category Director- Procurement

Preference will be given to ET or CT candidates. Our client is P/E backed and Growing!The Category Director owns vendor strategy and product-cost performance across 2 operating entities. This is a hands-on, results driven leadership role responsible for negotiating and managing all supplier relationships and contracts, driving measurable cost reduction across the purchased goods base, launching new product categories, and standing up a company-owned private-label program including the overseas sourcing that program requires.This person operates alone and will begin with a team of one category manager. They are expected to move negotiations, category launches, and sourcing projects forward independently while working cross-functionally with Purchasing, Operations, Finance, and Sales.Key Job Responsibilities:Vendor Strategy, Negotiation & Contract ManagementOwn the full portfolio of supplier relationships and commercial agreements across GM and DDP.Lead all vendor negotiations including pricing, rebates, program terms, payment terms, and freightDefine structured methods to evaluate spend and suppliers (i.e. should-cost / cost-plus modeling, competitive bidding via RFP/RFQ/RFI, multi-bid comparison).Structure and manage contracts, rebate agreements, and vendor programs; monitor supplier performance against defined KPIs and hold suppliers accountable to commitments.Cost ReductionOwn a quantified cost reduction agenda across the purchased goods base; identify, model, and execute savings without compromising product quality or supply continuity.Analyze supplier cost structures, landed cost, and total cost of ownership to target margin and pricing opportunities.Partner with Finance to validate savings and tie them to measurable P&L impact.Category Management & New Product LaunchesIdentify, evaluate, and launch new product categories, managing the full lifecycle from opportunity assessment through supplier selection, onboarding, and go-to-market.Use market, sales, and margin data to guide assortment and category-expansion decisions.Build the company's private label program from the ground up including category selection, supplier identification and qualification, product specification, cost modeling, and launch.Manage the private label product lifecycle from development through delivery, coordinating quality, packaging, and regulatory requirements with internal and external stakeholders.Overseas SourcingIdentify, qualify, audit, and develop international suppliers (primarily for private label and cost-advantaged categories).Manage the end-to-end import process including negotiating FOB/landed-cost terms, coordinating with freight forwarders and customs brokers, and managing duties, tariffs, and international lead times.Job Requirements:Minimum 8+ years of experience in the medical supply distribution or manufacturing market, in sourcing, procurement, category management, or supply chain roles.Demonstrated track record of successful vendor negotiations and delivered, quantified cost reduction.Proven expertise in cost modeling (should-cost, cost-plus) and competitive bidding.Strong analytical capability with the ability to build the models and business cases behind sourcing decisions personally, not delegate them.Travel ~20% Dom & Int.165-175K + Bonus + (Possible) Equity