{"id":3412069,"url":"https://alion.io/job/intuitive-surgical-associate-category-manager","title":"Associate Category Manager","company":{"id":3128,"name":"Intuitive Surgical","domain":"intuitive.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/intuitive","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SmartRecruiters","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":64,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.984,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":29,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Sunnyvale, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":80000,"max_usd":165000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":2645},"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Kanban","optional":false},{"name":"Microsoft Excel","optional":false},{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":false},{"name":"Agile","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-28T15:28:16Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-28","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T11:02:14Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies-like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion -have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.\nWe’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.\nThe problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful-because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.\nIf you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.\n Job Description\nPrimary Function of Position\nManages supply chain of assigned direct materials suppliers and parts to support business continuity and optimization, including sourcing, development of category strategy roadmaps, negotiating contracts, analyzing spend, creating inventory management strategies, gathering commodity intelligence, and managing supplier performance; may include limited management of purchase orders.\nLeads cross-functional category team(s)\nIdentifies and may implement key Global Supply Chain initiatives\nEssential Job Duties\nCategory Management\nProvides cross-functional team leadership within assigned category(ies); leads cross-functional category team meetings\nCollaborates with manager and cross-functional peers to create long-term supplier strategies and roadmaps. Engages with internal stakeholders to develop and influence category strategy that aligns with long-term business objectives.\nCo-leads direct procurement supplier selection process with collaboration from Supplier Engineering and guidance from manager. Leverages knowledge of strategic sourcing practices to identify a core supply base able to offer lowest total cost of ownership and high-quality product while identifying value improvement opportunities.\nCollaborates with manager to align production supplier requirements and sourcing strategies with those of new product development (NPI) for designated suppliers/categories to ensure uninterrupted material availability, alignment of risk, and cost goals with long term vision for the category / business\nPrioritizes category team projects in collaboration with manager and ensures team goals and objectives are achieved\nLeverages knowledge of commodity trends to propose strategies and educate stakeholders\nDevelops and presents category strategy reviews\nSupplier Performance Management\nLeads supplier scorecarding and supplier business reviews for assigned suppliers\nProactively collaborates with supply base and procurement team to understand and communicate demand changes and minimize excess inventory or material shortages\nLeads continuous improvement efforts needed with suppliers\nEscalates issues with supplier executive leadership with support and guidance of manager\nRisk and Capacity Management\nDevelops mitigation plans and programs for assigned suppliers and critical sub-tier suppliers; collaborates with manager and cross-functional peers to drive implementation\nLeads capacity assessments for assigned suppliers and critical sub-tier suppliers; anticipates long-term risks and installs proactive mitigations\nMay serve as project manager for key supplier capacity or risk mitigation initiatives\nLeverages problem solving skills and develops counter-measures to implement long-term solutions to identified problems\nContract and Cost Management\nEstablishes contractual agreements with suppliers and amendments to existing agreements\nNegotiates long-term volume pricing, risk mitigation, and capacity agreements with key suppliers to support Intuitive’s volume growth\nReviews, administers, and manages long-term purchase order and delivery commitments to designated suppliers as necessary to support production and/or sales requirements within the business\nLeads identification and implementation of cost reduction ideas to achieve year-over-year cost goals within assigned category(ies)\nOperational Management\nSupports plant purchasing by leading negotiations with suppliers to adopt and implement lean sourcing principles to enable 100% material availability and optimization of on-hand inventory levels\nEmbraces continuous improvement techniques to drive toward attainment of key purchasing metrics (supplier on-time delivery, quality, risk management, inventory velocity, and cost reduction)\nMay lead change management/change order implementation for complex projects\nSupports master data integrity for suppliers and parts\nMentors colleagues within the supply chain organization. Identifies process and training improvement opportunities and drives closure of identified gaps.\n Qualifications\nRequired Skills and Experience\nExperience utilizing strategic sourcing principles, including six step sourcing process, category strategy development, and collaborative supplier management\nStrong negotiation skills, proven track record of savings, and thorough understanding of key supplier agreement terms\nSignificant computer experience including MS Office products and ERP systems. Strong Excel skills.\nProven track record of effective project management in a fast-paced manufacturing company. Ability to handle multiple tasks and projects successfully and adapt to changing priorities.\nThorough knowledge of and experience working with kanban systems and other lean principles\nWorking knowledge of buying, material planning, master scheduling, and forecasting\nDemonstrates concern for precision and thoroughness\nProven ability to consistently achieve stretch goals and objectives\nExcellent verbal and written communication skills\nRequired Education and Training\nBS degree or equivalent and 10+ years of supply chain experience in a regulated industry manufacturing environment. Master’s degree preferred.\nWorking Conditions\n~25% travel to both domestic and international suppliers\nPreferred Skills and Experience\nExperience in the medical device industry preferred.\nSAP and Agile experience preferred.\nExperience managing [INSERT CATEGORY] spend/suppliers and/or technical expertise in this category preferred.\nCertifications: CPSM, CPIM, and/or PMP preferred.\n Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.\nIntuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.\nMandatory Notices\nU.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.\nCertain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).\nFor any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.\nWe will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.\nPreference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.\nThis position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on\nbusiness need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.\nCompensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the\ncandidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.\nAccommodation & Accessibility Notice:\nIntuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at .\nWe provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. 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