Category Manager

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead sourcing and category support for the materials and equipment our Veterinary Reference Laboratories depend on, including consumables, reagents, biological materials, diagnostic materials, and high-value analytical testing equipment.
• Build strong relationships with lab, operations, quality, regulatory, logistics, business, and Global Procurement partners so you can understand what matters most and turn those priorities into practical sourcing strategies.
• Own sourcing projects from start to finish, from identifying the opportunity and evaluating suppliers to negotiating, contracting, implementing, and managing supplier performance.
• Work independently and use good judgment to move regional priorities forward, while staying closely connected to Global Procurement and key stakeholders for alignment and support.
• Create sourcing plans that balance cost, quality, service, supply continuity, regulatory expectations, and the technical needs of veterinary diagnostic testing.
• Help build the regional sourcing foundation by setting priorities, creating processes, establishing supplier engagement routines, and shaping ways of working that support growth and operational maturity.
• Play a key role in standing up a new regional lab by supporting supplier readiness, sourcing timelines, equipment and material availability, and cross-functional launch needs.
• Use data, spend analytics, supplier performance insights, market intelligence, and risk indicators to spot opportunities, make informed recommendations, and show the value delivered.
• Work across teams to make sure sourcing decisions support validated lab workflows, compliance needs, service levels, and consistent availability of the materials needed to serve IDEXX customers.
• Manage suppliers and products that may involve special handling, cold-chain logistics, shelf-life management, traceability, and import/export documentation.
• Look ahead for supplier, material, geopolitical, regulatory, and logistics risks that could affect lab readiness, cost, quality, or timely diagnostic service delivery.
• Partner closely with Global Procurement to connect regional sourcing work with enterprise category strategies, global supplier relationships, procurement standards, and best practices, while adapting to local lab needs and Singapore requirements where applicable.
• Turn lab, technical, and business needs into clear scopes of work, supplier expectations, specifications, and contract requirements.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• English and Japanese language proficiency required as this role covers APAC region including Japan. This incumbent is expected to liaise directly with local vendors in Japan, who only speak Japanese.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to communicate and present technical information to all levels of the organization and to supplier companies
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and manage meetings
• Demonstrated negotiation skills and techniques, knowledge in contract negotiation strategies, administration of contracts and confidentiality disclosures
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate with, influence, and facilitate cross-functional teams involving multiple competing tasks and goals
• Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence
• Strong background in strategic sourcing, supply chain management programs, and the ability to assess supplier capability
• Strong project management skills; demonstrated ability to lead projects and/or teams
• Ability to develop and deliver large-scope projects
• Ability to analyze data in order to summarize and recommend action plans/strategies
• Ability to read and analyze complex drawings/documents, governmental regulations, technical procedures in mathematical or diagram form, and financial statements
• Proficient in SAP APO, MRP, data base management and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience with enterprise-wide systems (i.e. SAP, LiveLink, etc.)
• Knowledge of GMP or ISO 9001:2000 requirements preferred

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Certified in Production & Inventory Management - American Production & Inventory Control Society (APICS) preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• High computer use
• Some travel may be required

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Normal office and warehouse environments
• Visits to Laboratories with exposure to biohazard material, chemicals, instrumentation, fumes, airborne particles and/or toxic or caustic chemicals. Personal protective equipment and/or clothing required.
• Noise level varies from low to moderate

LEVELING GUIDE:

• Typically works with suppliers providing increasingly complex goods and services.
• Manage category relationships with assigned suppliers, and develop and grow those relationships.
• Manage and develop the strategy of existing supplier contracts and/or agreements, the sourcing and developing of new suppliers, and establishing and executing sourcing strategies.
• Assist and/or lead projects and teams. Assist and/or develop standards and practices. May be responsible for ensuring that standards and practices are followed.
• Requires in-depth knowledge and experience.  Uses best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve products or services.   Contributes to process improvements.  Advanced degree may substitute for experience in certain specialties.
• Solves complex problems or problems that do not have routine solutions; takes a new perspective using existing solutions. 
• Works independently; receives minimal guidance. 
• Solve problems independently and assume responsibility.
• Strong skills; solid proficiency.
• 5 - 8+ years in new product development, or category or commodity management.
• 7+ years experience working in high-volume medical device/biochemical manufacturing industry preferred.
• Experience with lean and six sigma practices. Black belt a plus.

At IDEXX, our Reference Laboratories help veterinarians make confident diagnostic decisions for pets and the people who care for them. In this first-of-its-kind Strategic Sourcing Manager role in the region, you’ll have a unique opportunity to shape how sourcing supports our regional lab priorities from the ground up, including playing an instrumental role in standing up a new lab in the region. You’ll work closely with the laboratory, operations, quality, regulatory, logistics, business, and Global Procurement partners to support the products and supplier relationships our labs rely on every day, including clinical laboratory consumables, reagents, biological materials, and high-value analytical testing equipment.

Procurement at IDEXX is more than buying goods and services. We help the business move faster, manage risk, strengthen supplier partnerships, and deliver the quality and value our teams need to serve customers well. This is a great opportunity for someone who is independent, driven, analytical, and energized by building structure in a growing regional sourcing environment. You’ll bring your sourcing expertise, curiosity, and collaborative style to help our labs operate with consistency, speed, insight, and confidence.

Quick candidate overview

This is a first-in-region sourcing role for someone who wants to build, shape, and grow the way Procurement supports IDEXX Veterinary Reference Laboratories. You’ll own regional sourcing priorities, partner closely with Global Procurement, and help stand up a new lab by using data-driven insights to support supplier decisions, risk management, regulatory readiness, launch planning, and reliable lab operations. The strongest candidates will bring strategic sourcing experience, comfort working in regulated laboratory environments, strong analytical capability, and the independence to move work forward in a growing regional setting.

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