Category Manager, Molding

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

     

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

We’re empowering smarter medical and economic decision-making to help transform the way people manage their health at all stages of life. Every day, more than 10 million tests are run on Abbott’s diagnostics instruments, providing lab results for millions of people. 

The Category Manager, Molding is responsible for managing the procurement category for plastics, including supplier selection, supplier relationship management, negotiation, contracting and strategic sourcing. This role supports business growth through cost reduction initiatives, quality and service improvements, and proactive risk mitigation. This position plays a key role in ensuring reliable supply of injection‑molded and blow molded parts globally while developing strong supplier and internal stakeholder relationships. 

This position will be based at our office in Lake Forest, IL.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the overall supplier relationship for designated plastics suppliers, serving as the primary interface between suppliers and internal functions.
• Lead procurement activities for injection and blow molded components supporting global manufacturing
• Identify risks to supply continuity early and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Work closely with Supplier Quality Assurance to evaluate, audit and support suppliers, raising and addressing performance concerns proactively.
• Work closely with Molding and Automation Engineering to manage existing supplier performance, execute projects, and evaluate new supplier opportunities
• Work closely with Finance to provide financial predictability and stewardship for the organization
• Work closely with Planning and Manufacturing Supply Chain teams to understand short and long term demand requirements
• Develop and implement cost‑effective purchasing strategies, managing supplier pricing and cost structures to meet company targets.
• Drive cost‑reduction initiatives through competitive tendering, negotiations, and identification of alternative sourcing opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to support performance, quality and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with user departments to enhance supply chain performance, reduce lead times, and minimize inventory and material liabilities.
• Contribute effectively as part of cross‑functional teams and support global procurement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with the company’s quality systems, GMP standards, corporate policies and all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Adhere to all EHS regulations and standards, ensuring a safe working environment for self and others, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain full compliance with training, documentation and procedural requirements, including timely completion of mandatory training.
• Ensure all actions and behaviors align with the organization’s core values and Code of Conduct.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in related field OR equivalent combination of education and work experi