Category Specialist

Adtalem

At Adtalem Global Education, we seek to empower students and members to achieve their goals, find success and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Adtalem is a leading healthcare educator that partners with organizations to proactively address future workforce needs and empowers career development with access to world-class academic curriculums, certifications and training programs across the medical and healthcare industries.

Adtalem institutions and companies include: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and Walden University. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) For more information, please visit adtalem.com.

Opportunity at a Glance

Adtalem is seeking a Category Specialist to be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for assigned spend categories under the direction of the Senior Manager of Category Management to achieve intended business objectives. He/she/they shall use critical negotiating and competitive bidding skills to deliver cost control and reduction with current and prospective suppliers; manage supplier contracts and continuous supplier performance evaluation relative to business needs and market conditions; analyze category spend to initiate restructuring of the supplier base to achieve cost savings goals; seek continuous improvement to drive innovation for all products and services within assigned categories.

He/she/they shall partner with function and institution leaders to analyze spend, lead requests for proposals, negotiate contracts, evaluate effectiveness of product and service programs, and influence cost and quality improvements. He/she/they reports directly to the Senior Manager of Category Management within the Supply Management organization.

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Responsibilities

• Be a champion of Adtalem’s sourcing, contracting, and procurement processes.
• Analyze spend data, create sourcing plans and category strategies for assigned categories.
• Demonstrate strong market and industry knowledge of assigned categories.
• Coordinate with functional leaders to evaluate existing programs, optimize value, improve processes, rationalize Adtalem’s supply base, leverage Adtalem’s spend, and reduce costs.
• Meet with institutional and functional stakeholders regularly to plan sourcing, contracting and procurement activities for current and future projects.
• Support Quarterly Business Reviews with Strategic and Preferred Suppliers.
• Act as the escalation point between Adtalem and suppliers to ensure strong partnerships.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with suppliers, affiliates, and professional organizations.
• Work closely with Adtalem Contract Managers to draft, review, and execute contracts in accordance with Adtalem’s policies. Actively manage contracts (expiration, renewal, renegotiations) for assigned categories.
• Assist with negotiating agreements and determining negotiation strategies.
• Lead and support procurement activities for the assigned categories (goods or services, bid/quote collection, process improvement).
• Provide forecasting and budgeting support to category stakeholders as needed based upon knowledge of Adtalem’s contracts.
• As a member of the Supply Management Organization, initiate and assist with process improvement projects.
• Under broad direction, may manage one or more related categories as directed by category leadership.
• Responsible for the tracking and reporting of all value creation benefits including cost savings and cost avoidance for assigned categories.
• Decision Making - Solves a range of straightforward problems; analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures and receives stakeholder alignment with decision making.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

#LI-Remote

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, or related field is required.
• Licenses/Certifications in CPSM, C.P.M, or related certifications are a plus.
• 3+ years of professional work experience such as sourcing, contracting or procurement or the experience and ability to provide value to leaders of specific categories and functions.
• 3+ years of category management experience with an emphasis in Academics or Marketing.
• Knowledge of the KSAs.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn risk management, sourcing, purchasing, or contracting systems.
• Self-starter with solid organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Collaborative team player.  Creative, influential, unselfish problem solver.
• Related sourcing, contracting or procurement experience and ability to provide value to leaders of specific categories and functions.
• Strong working knowledge of sourcing procurement strategies and best practices.
• Thorough understanding of contracts with the ability to, revise and review, business terms.
• Understanding and practice of negotiation strategy.
• Solid buying, forecasting, budgeting, and planning skills.
• Process improvement and project management skills.
• Background in Academics and/ or Marketing.
• Experience leading or supporting RFx events.

In support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $47,766 and $86,253. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Our Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to learning more about your salary requirements. The position qualifies for the below benefits.

Adtalem offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match
• Participation in Adtalem’s Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy
• 12 Paid Holidays
  
  For more information related to our benefits please visit: https://careers.adtalem.com/us/en/benefits.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. At Adtalem, we welcome everyone and have a strong commitment towards diversity and inclusion. We encourage our Colleagues to be their true authentic selves and support laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business. We also maintain a drug-free workplace.