ABBOTT LABORATORIES Lead, Category Procurement, IT Salary in the United States

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 103,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Job Description: Responsible for leading and executing the purchasing supply management activities for the NA region related to Information Technology.  Work closely with key stakeholders in both Corporate and Division organizations to develop effective cost reduction strategies and implementation plans.   Nurture stakeholder relationships by serving as a business partner, helping identify critical business requirements and providing sourcing and procurement services that meet expectations. Drive reduced total cost of ownership by optimizing Tier 2 and Tier 3 supply chains. Leverage extensive market and supplier knowledge to drive lower TCO. Represent Abbott strategically in the industry and community. Is recognized as a thought leader within strategic discipline. Significantly influences functional strategy. Leads initiatives.

• Proactively identifies areas of opportunity for new business opportunities, process improvement, and cost efficiencies.
• Provides insight to the business unit on how to best develop and leverage Supplier capabilities for the organization(s).
• Considered an SME across categories.  Strong understanding of "One Procurement" category strategies and work on projects that impact the "One Procurement" team.

Core Responsibilities:

• Develops plans and delivers results in fast changing businesses environments. 
• Develops and implements procurement plans and strategies to support business needs
• Lead projects/initiatives that have significant impact upon global business.
• Anticipates internal/external business challenges and drives change
• Lead project teams to achieve milestones and objectives
• Solves complex problems, takes a broad perspective to identify solutions
• Manage PO approvals - up to $2,000,000
• Solves complex problems, takes a broad perspective to identify solutions
• Drive value and savings for categories
• Collaboration with functions

Strategic Thinking:

• Leveraging professional expertise and relationships to contribute to strategy and drive business results. Leads the development of functional strategy.
• Leads change and innovation. Stimulates creativity and innovation in others. Open to new ideas. Supports change and take risks.  Promotes a Global Perspective.
• Define category procurement strategy for Abbott- align with overall strategy and be an enabler
• Advise business unit(s) about similar strategies employed by other healthcare companies.
• Manage initiatives that span virtual teams across the world and cross cultures.

Relationship Management:

• Partner with business leaders (Manager, Director) to manage and align the category.
• Closely collaborate with adjacent business departments, and external partners to ensure adequate and timely delivery of agreed services, in line with agreed service levels.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key category vendors as well as counterparts at other Healthcare/Consumer companies. Manage ongoing Supplier relationships.
• Develop and implement agreed purchasing strategies for category
• Initiate a collaborative environment among stakeholders
• Maintain strong relationships across various functions, demonstrate the value-add of leveraging and build enthusiasm and support for adoption.
• Ensure optimal balance between value for money and cost savings is achieved, while ensuring quality and good customer service
• Continually look for opportunities for cost reductions and cost avoidance and to provide overall value.
• Manage category projects across business unit, and division wide when and where applicable. Participate in business projects based on category expertise.

Leading People:

• "Lead project teams responsible for selection of category strategy.
• Responsible for people leadership. Recruit, mentor, train and develop talent.
• Identifies and deals with people issues in a constructive and timely manner.
• Responsible for overall morale of team and promotes cohesive attitude.
• Execute against established staffing/resources plan.

Compliance

• Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures.

Accountability:

• Operates with goals set by the DVP/Senior Director of Category.
• Erroneous decisions would normally result in failure to complete projects critical to major objectives of the category. 
• Has direct impact on budgets, expenses and major project completion.

Staff:

• May manage virtual team and project staff up to 2-5 people.

Key Organizational Relationships:              

•  Corporate head of Procurement                                    
• Manufacturing Head of Divisions                
• Functional Heads ex: head of IT, head of Legal                                                              
• Division Purchasing leadership                    
• Division commercial and operations stakeholders                                                    
• Core and Lead Agents

Direct Budget Responsibilities:

• Financial implications of the Spend ranging up to $ 50-75MM. Cumulative Category budgets ranging up to $1-2MM.

Business Impact:

• Spend: $25-150MM                                       
• Span of control: NA Region   

Minimum Education:

• BA or equivalent experience required: MBA preferred    
• Successful, 3+ year track record within procurement and supply chain management             
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or similar certification desirable      
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar certification desirable

Minimum Education/Training Required:

• 5-8 years of Procurement and /or deep Category experience. Some functional experience.
• Strong project management skills.         
• Robust people skills that include developing strong relationships and solving problems.  Strong use of spreadsheet programs.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Excellent interdisciplinary, intercultural, influence, and networking skills
• International experience
• Some knowledge of markets by regions
• Some experience with Supplier management
• Ability to develop actionable implementation plans
• Relevant business process knowledge, as related to Procurement and Category Management.
• Knowledge of category technologies and products.
• Good negotiating skills
• Some experience leading teams