Job Description

Johns Hopkins University is seeking a Category Lead - Lab/Scientific/Academic that will perform strategic sourcing and procure supplies and services for assigned commodities/services under the direction of the Category Portfolio Group Manager.

This role’s primary focus will be in Administration, Facilities & Construction and is responsible for maximizing company profitability for an assigned category to achieve established annualized savings targets.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Procure products, equipment, services and arrange for leases and rentals.

• Coordinate and conduct negotiations with suppliers to achieve business objectives with a positive result.

• Develop new sources of supply as needed. Evaluate and select vendors. Perform strategic sourcing activities utilizing an array of e-procurement tools.

• Negotiate, write and revise contracts ensuring they include preferential commercial terms, adherence to relevant laws/regulations and risk mitigation.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal customers and enhance working relationships with preferred key suppliers.

• Establish category metrics and savings targets, monitor performance, and communicate these to stakeholders.

• Develop a working knowledge of relevant industry trends and issues, market conditions, audit process and ethical standards governing relationships between buyer and seller.

• Participates in portfolio category strategy development and implementation activities leveraging current and future business requirements, market intelligence, and historical spend to drive cost reduction, enterprise consistency, and business value.

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with stakeholders to ensure strategy alignment to divisional needs over time as well as work collaboratively with Johns Hopkins Health System where interests align.

• Provides category specific subject matter expertise and insights to internal clients and regular status updates of all projects to leadership.

• Maintains expertise in the spend category through relationships with internal customers, suppliers and market experts.

• Participates in the processing and maintenance of purchase orders, contracts and proposals for clients and vendors, per the spend category.

• Accountable for the negotiation and establishment of preferential commercial terms with suppliers and directing, preparing and reviewing related legal contracts.

• Works with legal, internal audit and other related compliance groups to ensure category strategies and supplier contracts account for relevant laws, regulations, and risk policies.

• Acts as change agent and advocate for procurement as a value-added partner.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Special Skills and Knowledge

• Keen negotiation skills.

• Be comfortable working in a de-centralized procurement environment.

• Familiarity with applicable state and federal laws and regulations helpful.

• Experience in use of eSourcing tools to enable optimal strategic outcomes.

• Experience compiling and analyzing data to identify trends.

• Knowledge of P2P process.

• Ability to process multiple projects, set priorities and work independently.

• Strong analytical and financial skills.

• Strong oral and written communication.

• Proficiency in MS Suite (Microsoft Word, Power Point, Project, Excel) and eSourcing tools.

• Knowledge of SAP a plus.

• Applies flexible approach to achieving category results in dynamic situations.

• Innovative Thinking: Proven ability to connect ideas, events, and circumstances to find solutions to business problems or goals.

• Contract knowledge of both commercial and legal terms.

• Ability to work independently. Energetic and self-motivated.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Two years of experience in purchasing or strategic sourcing.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required*, preferably in Supply Chain Management or related discipline. CPM or CPSM preferred.

• Additional year of progressive procurement experience, preferably designing and implementing successful Administration, Facilities & Construction category portfolio strategies.

Technical Qualifications & Specialized Certifications

• Proficiency in MS Office.

Technical Skills & Expected Level of Proficiency

• Analytical Skills - Developing
• Category Management - Developing
• Data Management and Analysis - Developing
• Influencing Skills - Developing
• Negotiation - Developing
• Procurement Industry Knowledge - Developing
• Supplier Performance Management - Developing
• Supplier Relationship Management - Developing
• Strategic Sourcing - Developing

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

Classified Title: Category Lead
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Category Lead - Administration/Facilities/Construction (Procurement Office)
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PC
Starting Salary Range: $55,145 - $96,760 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 5:00PM
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybbrid/JH at Keswick
Department name: Buying
Personnel area: University Administration