Sr. Sourcing Manager, MRO

Company 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.

We’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.

The 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.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

The Strategic Sourcing Manager, MRO will lead sourcing initiatives related to maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) as well aspects of research and development, to ensure Intuitive Surgical (Intuitive) secures services and products at optimal value. This role plays a pivotal part in driving innovation by supporting our internal teams. Key spend categories include R&D lab and other technical equipment, consumables, safety equipment and supplies (PPE), and preventative maintenance and calibration services. The individual will work closely with Intuitive's engineering teams, operations, and supplier quality departments.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to conduct comprehensive supplier and category/market research, including market index analysis, data analysis, baseline development, RFP development, bid management, contract negotiations, offer analysis, and category strategy development. This role also involves post-bid management activities, such as contract and business reviews, spend analysis, and supplier management. Additionally, the candidate will manage multiple projects concurrently and support ad-hoc project requests.

1. Supplier Relationship Management:

• Build and sustain strong supplier partnerships to promote collaboration, trust, and mutual success.
• Act as the main liaison for suppliers concerning performance and strategic initiatives.
• Regularly review supplier performance, evaluate capabilities, and implement plans to boost performance and reliability.
• Set global standards to evaluate supplier performance and minimize business risks.

2. Strategic Sourcing:

• Independently manage the RFx or strategic sourcing process for complex projects, from initiation to completion.
• Analyze spending patterns and conduct market and supplier assessments to uncover cost-saving and innovation opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional teams to develop category strategies aligned with business goals and market trends.
• Optimize buying channels and create strategies for assigned spend categories, considering Procure to Pay (P2P) requirements.
• Provide comprehensive financial analysis for bid comparisons and alternative proposals.

3. Contract Management:

• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry standards.
• Monitor contract performance and compliance with terms and conditions.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of terms and conditions included in MRO and related R&D contracts.
• Identify opportunities for contract optimization or consolidation to enhance cost efficiency and reduce risks.
• Secure favorable terms, quality, service compliance, and discounts while mitigating company risk.

4. Category Management:

• Establish a baseline for current spend categories and define future success criteria considering business goals and market conditions.
• Analyze market trends, risks, and potential new suppliers.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the health of managed spend categories.
• Implement spend treatment plans for all levels of spend and risk within the category.
• Work with suppliers and stakeholders to execute the category strategy.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of experience, with at least 4 years in a strategic sourcing & category management role.
• Proven experience working with suppliers and stakeholders for MRO categories.
• Exceptional negotiation skills, capable of guiding teams through complex and ambigu