VP Procurement - Azura
Fresenius Medical CarePURPOSE AND SCOPE: VP Category Management is a strategic leader who is responsible for defining and executing company-wide category strategies that drive sustainable value across AZURA. This role leads the Category Management organization that oversees category strategy development, strategic sourcing, supplier and external ecosystem management, innovation and performance management across key spend categories as well as the Purchasing team. This role ensures Procurement strategies support enterprise objectives including cost optimization, supply continuity, risk management, operational excellence, and long-term value creation. This position partners closely with senior leadership across AZURA and FME Corporate, including Clinical Management & Staff, Finance, Operations, Manufacturing and Supply Chain to embed Procurement as a strategic business partner. This leader plays a pivotal role in strengthening the end-to-end Source-to-Pay model (including supporting implementation S4/Hana) by driving alignment, effective execution and embedding best practices across Procurement’s transformation initiatives, roadmap and calendar. By combining deep category expertise, robust supplier partnerships, advanced negotiation strategies, and market intelligence, the role ensures FME effectively manages risk, fosters innovation, strengthens supply resilience, and optimizes commercial value. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Category Management Develop, implement and continuously refine enterprise-wide category strategies that leverage healthcare industry cost drivers and are aligned with FME objectives. Provide AZURA employees, Medical Management & Staff with the optimal supply of all products and services required (incl. quality, security of supply, price, innovative alternatives, others) Proactively engages and work closely with the Procurement Business Partner(s), other Category Managers, and cross-functional stakeholders/teams to gather business requirements to develop, share and implement category strategies Establish and lead teams that strategically manage spend by utilizing a proven sourcing process that engages stakeholders, aligns business objectives, and ensures supply continuity. Leverage supplier capabilities across FMC to meet the near and long-term needs of the business. Ensure robust supplier selection, diligent management of supplier performance issues, and innovative thinking on supplier capability Determine industry/category specific cost drivers, emerging trends, technologies and market shifts to inform sourcing strategies, continuous risk management, category specific innovation and continuous improvement initiatives Identify opportunities for financial value generation including cost savings, cost avoidance and working capital optimization Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, complex negotiations and materials management best practices to achieve targeted financial outcomes Key Performance Metrics & Performance Management Secure optimal supply of all products and services across all Azura entities (security of supply, price/TCO, quality/specification, others) Deliver measurable financial impact including cost savings, cost avoidance and working capital improvements Drive performance across a comprehensive suite of Procurement KPIs (Financial and Non-Financial) that are tied to FME objectives Report on key performance metrics that provide Executive leadership transparency into category performance and Procurement’s contribution to FME objectives Implement performance governance frameworks to track category performance, ensure ownership of results and drive corrective actions if targets are at risk of not being met Supplier & External Ecosystem Management Lead supplier segmentation, performance and relationship management, and preferred supplier programs Oversee supplier performance management, including quality assurance, contract compliance and service delivery Monitor market trends, supply risks, and emerging technol…