Global Category Manager

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Waters Global Sourcing organization!

Reporting to the Director of Global Procurement, the Global Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing global category strategies and coordinating with other category managers to leverage spend across the organization’s medical device portfolio. This role ensures supply assurance, optimizes cost, drives supplier innovation, strengthens sustainability performance, and maintains compliance with regulatory and quality requirements for medical applications.

The Global Category Manager partners closely with Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Global/Business Units Procurement teams to support new product development and lifecycle management.

Making effective supply-base decisions for this category and enhancing the user experience in support of a worldwide life sciences manufacturer. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global strategy, coordinating with other Category Managers to leverage the spend across the enterprise.
• Conduct market analysis, benchmark through RFP’s to evaluate supply base competitiveness, as well as to conduct supplier base consolidations
• Conduct market analysis, benchmark pricing, and assess supply risks across medical and industrial segments
• Identify and implement cost‑reduction opportunities through supplier consolidation, value engineering, specification harmonization, and should‑cost modeling.
• Lead strategic initiatives such as dual sourcing, regionalization, and risk mitigation aligned with corporate procurement goals.

• Manage global supplier relationships.
• Lead the supplier selection process and performance reviews, as well as actively participate in supplier qualifications and Joint Business Planning (JBP) activities.
• Negotiate global contracts, pricing agreements, and long‑term supply arrangements, ensuring competitive commercial terms.
• Evaluate supplier capacity and capabilities, adherence to industry standards (ISO 13485, GMP, USP Class VI, etc.).

• Partner with R&D and Engineering teams to influence material selection and ensure alignment with category strategies.
• Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory to ensure compliance with medical‑industry requirements and material documentation (RoHS, REACH, MDR, FDA, etc.).
• Support Operations and Supply Chain in supplier transfers and manufacturing validation activities.
• Participate in New Product Introduction (NPI) programs to ensure sourcing decisions meet long‑term category goals.

• Deliver annual cost savings, productivity improvements, and working‑capital targets.
• Monitor category performance KPIs, including cost, quality, service, risk, and sustainability.
• Maintain a robust and compliant supplier base through audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement plans.
• Develop and maintain spend analyses, cost models, and quarterly category business reviews.

• Assess and mitigate risks related to supply constraints.
• Ensure ethical sourcing and compliance with corporate standards and global regulations.
• Support sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Materials Science, Business, or related field. MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

Experience

• 5–8+ years of procurement or category management experience, ideally within the medical devices, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• Deep knowledge of category management and supplier relationship management.
• Experience working in a highly regulated environment with cross‑functional teams (Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Operations).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
• Understanding polymer chemistry, manufacturing processes, tooling, and cost drivers.
• Ability to lead complex supplier transitions and global sourcing initiatives.
• Excellent data analysis, strategic thinking, and project management skills.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building abilities across global teams.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT)  is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.  

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.