Senior Specialist, Category Management (Supply Management)

About Adtalem Global Education

Adtalem Global Education is a national leader in post-secondary education and leading provider of professional talent to the healthcare industry. Adtalem educates and empowers students with the knowledge and skills to become leaders in their communities and make a lasting impact on public health, well-being and beyond. Through equitable access to education, environments that nurture student success, and a focus on expanding and diversifying the talent pipeline in healthcare, Adtalem is building a brighter future for communities and the world.

Adtalem is the parent organization of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Walden University.

We operate on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week (Monday–Thursday). This approach enhances creativity, innovation, communication, and relationship-building, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment.

Visit Adtalem.com for more information, and follow on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Opportunity at a Glance

Adtalem is seeking a Senior Category Specialist to be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for assigned spend categories.. 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 annual spend profile of approximately $100M; continuous supplier performance evaluation relative to business needs and market conditions; analyze category spend to initiate restructuring of the supply base to achieve cost savings goals; seek continuous improvement to drive innovation for all products and services within assigned categories. He/she/ they shall use effective communication and presentation skills to establish partnerships with key stakeholders and present category strategies to executive leadership.

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 Director of Category Management within the Supply Management organization

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

• Present category strategies to executive leaders and obtain buy in

• 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

• Lead 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.

• Lead and develop strategies for negotiations of contract business terms

• 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

• Manage multiple 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

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, or related field required
• 3+ years professional work experience such as sourcing, contracting or procurement or the experience and ability to provide value to leaders of specific categories and functions required
• 3+ years category management experience with an emphasis in IT, Academics or Marketing required
• 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
• 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 IT, Academics and/ or Marketing
• Experience leading RFx events

In support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $61720.78 and $108334.92. 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/benefits.
  
  You are also eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

Equal Opportunity – Minority / Female / Disability / V / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation