Vice President, Category Management & Supplier Partnerships

The Head of Category Management & Supplier Partnerships architects and scales our category management methodology and supplier strategy across PartsSource Parts and Service businesses. You are a strategic, execution-minded leader who can build the program, personally do the work in its earliest phase, and advance it into a durable, data-driven capability that materially improves how we source, merchandise, and manage our supplier network.

The function is organized around two pillars: a Supplier Network pillar that owns category strategy, supplier relationships, and deal execution; and a Performance Management pillar that operates as a shared service, providing the common methodology, scorecards, and analytics that hold supplier performance to our Service, Selection, and Value (SSV) commitments. You own the end-to-end outcome across both, building and leading a team of category managers, sourcing leads, and performance analysts as the function matures.

In this role, you differentiate our supply chain on Service, Selection, and Value; translate that differentiation into measurable client and financial outcomes; and build the operating system and methodology that lets category management scale beyond any one person.

Strategic Leadership & Category Architecture

Develop a strategic coverage framework that optimizes modality and geographic coverage, response times, quality, and cost-effectiveness across Parts and Service offerings. Build the playbook to create and reinforce differentiated supply chain capabilities for customers and drive growth.

Set multi-quarter category strategies to improve Service, Selection, and Value across assigned categories. Develop cost models for each modality and drive multi-quarter COGS roadmaps aligned with margin targets.

Create a system of record that links vendor attributes, category coverage, and transactional data for performance reporting and analytics.

Parts Category & Assortment Management

Define and execute category strategies including SKU rationalization, product positioning, and growth initiatives. Map the manufacturer and supplier landscape for each category; expand product selection based on customer demand and market gaps.

Develop compatible and exclusive parts strategies to complement OEM availability and drive private-label penetration. Lead cross-functional merchandising initiatives with Catalog, UX, and Product teams to optimize product detail, content, bundling, and cross-sell opportunities.

Leverage site analytics and GMV/margin data to refine strategies and continuously improve marketplace performance.

Supplier & Partnership Management

Identify and recruit strategic suppliers to close product gaps and expand coverage across Parts and Service. Manage direct relationships with PartsSource top suppliers and OEM partners; conduct executive relationship and account management.

Own strategic deal design and negotiations, including contracting, vendor network activation, and configuration. Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategy with recommendations on evidence-based merchandising and performance standards.

Support vendor onboarding and enablement for both parts fulfillment and service delivery. Own governance activities including quarterly business reviews, executive escalations, and roadmap alignment.

Service Strategy & Delivery

Partner with Parts & Service Operations to define delivery plans, coverage standards, and vendor requirements. Build the service supply network through vendor recruitment and deployment aligned with geographic and modality needs.

Develop service quality and performance standards to ensure reliable delivery, quality outcomes, and digital workflow integration. Own claims review and service escalation mitigation strategies to optimize customer experience and operational efficiency.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

Hire, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Category Managers, each with clear P&L responsibility in assigned categories. Establish accountability and KPIs aligned to business outcomes including revenue, margin, service levels, and customer satisfaction.

Coordinate with Marketing, Sales, and Demand Marketing to develop go-to-market plans and featured offerings. Serve as the category voice in product roadmap prioritization and supplier contract discussions.

Lead cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Operations, Catalog, Supplier Performance, and Product teams to deliver measurable business impact.

Your Background

15+ years of experience in eCommerce merchandising, category management, supplier management, or product strategy, ideally in B2B or marketplace environments.

10+ years of direct sourcing and/or category leadership in global environments.

8+ years of team leadership experience, including performance management and cross-functional collaboration.

Strong analytical mindset with ability to balance customer needs, margin targets, and operational complexity.

Proven track record of launching and scaling new product initiatives and optimizing marketplace performance.

Technical proficiency with eCommerce systems including Product Information Management (PIM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and eCommerce analytics tools (PowerBI, similar platforms).

Excellent communication and influencing skills; able to lead through ambiguity and across departments.

Data-driven mindset with passion for customer-focused problem solving and marketplace growth.

Bachelor's degree required.

Preferred

Healthcare, industrial, or complex regulated categories experience.

B2B eCommerce, supplier behavior, and marketplace economics experience.

Experience building scalable processes and simplifying complexity across teams.

Act Like an Owner

You own the supply chain differentiation end to end. You're equally comfortable personally executing the work and building the operating model that lets your team scale it. You measure yourself by outcomes: customer satisfaction, margin impact, and growth.

Ownership & Commitment, Results Driven, Accountability & Execution

Serve with Purpose

You understand that supply chain excellence is what allows healthcare providers to operate reliably and focus on patient care. You're passionate about how category management and supplier partnerships drive customer success. You bring rigor and customer obsession to every decision.

Customer Focus, Clear & Critical Thinking, Relationship Management

Adapt to Thrive

You move comfortably between big-picture strategy and tactical execution. You simplify complexity, balance competing interests, and build sustainable processes. You're comfortable with ambiguity and can influence stakeholders across sales, operations, product, and procurement.

Learning Agility, Composure Under Pressure, Strategic Thinking

Collaborate to Win

You lead a team with development and growth as core to your leadership. You coordinate across functions, align on goals, and build trust through transparency and delivery. You're a multiplier—your team gets better because of you.

Team Orientation, Influence & Persuasion, Alignment & Cohesion

Challenge the Status Quo

You see inefficiencies and you fix them. You ask why a supplier relationship isn't delivering and challenge both yourself and your partners to improve. You bring data-driven insights to product roadmap decisions and use supplier feedback to strengthen the platform.

Curiosity & Problem Solving, Continuous Improvement, Innovation