Category Management Specialist

Medtronic•Minneapolis, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world. A Day in the Life At Medtronic, we not only get the opportunity to manage categories for the largest medical device company in the world, but we also get to experience the immense sense of purpose that comes from knowing that the money we save is reinvested into technology that helps alleviate pain, restore health and extend lives of millions of patients across the world. The work we do supports the Medtronic Mission and it matters. This is a global role that allows you to partner with stakeholders across many functions, regions, and businesses to drive value. Strong business acumen and prior sourcing experience are a must as you will be called upon to support complex engagements with strategic partners. The Category Management Specialist is a key contributor within Medtronic’s Global Materials & Contract Manufacturing organization. In this role, you will help shape and execute category strategies, manage inflationary pressures, drive cost‑savings initiatives, support contract negotiations, and enable pan‑Medtronic category management processes. Your work will directly influence cost, continuity of supply, and supplier performance across the enterprise. At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working a minimum of 4 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. Our team culture is grounded in the principle of “Lead from Every Seat.” Regardless of level or title, everyone is expected to be bold, curious, accountable, and proactive in tackling challenges and bringing forward solutions. The successful candidate will be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, will build trust with cross‑functional and external partners, and will confidently influence decisions through strong insights, clear communication, and disciplined execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain plus a minimum of 2 years of sourcing experience, or an advanced degree with 0 years of experience
For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.

Nice To Haves

Direct sourcing experience, preferably within complex, global supply chains
Experience developing and analyzing detailed cost models, with strong financial acumen
Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial and legal agreements in partnership with Legal
Demonstrated project management, supply chain, or engineering experience within a large, multi-plant organization
Proven ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization
Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a track record of translating data into actionable insights
Experience leveraging AI-enabled and agentic tools to improve sourcing, analysis, or decision-making processes

Responsibilities

Support Supplier Relationship Management Strengthen supplier relationships while partnering closely with internal stakeholders Actively engage suppliers to support performance, alignment, and issue resolution
Unlock Category Strategy Through Execution Execute category strategies and convert implementation plans into business results. Support strategy development and execution across defined sub‑categories and initiatives.
Turn Market Intelligence into Advantage Monitor market intelligence and industry trends to anticipate risks and opportunities. Convert insights into proactive, actionable sourcing strategies.
Manage Inflation and Drive Savings Negotiate supplier price changes and tariff requests using data‑driven insights and category strategies to limit inflationary impact. Engage suppliers and Medtronic stakeholders to unlock process, technical, and commercial savings levers
Enable High Impact Negotiations Support negotiations by preparing RFx packages, cost models, and negotiation strategies. Participate in supplier discussions and ensure commercial commitments translate into year-over-year performance improvements.
Lead Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives Develop and deploy standard work, drive continuous improvement and strategic initiatives, and apply benchmarking and industry best practices to enhance category performance. Lead and manage cross‑functional initiatives, preparing and delivering clear updates on progress, risks, and results to stakeholders.
Support Risk, Compliance & Resiliency Identify and mitigate supply chain risks (capacity, financial, geopolitical, regulatory) Ensure supplier adherence to regulatory and quality requirements Support ESG and sustainability objectives

Benefits

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
Health, Dental and vision insurance
Health Savings Account
Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
Life insurance
Long-term disability leave
Dependent daycare spending account
Tuition assistance/reimbursement
Simple Steps (global well-being program)
Incentive plans
401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match
Short-term disability
Paid time off
Paid holidays
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employee Assistance Program
Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums)
Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums)