VP Procurement - Azura

Purpose and Scope

VP Category Management is a strategic leader responsible for defining and executing company-wide category strategies that drive sustainable value across AZURA. This role leads the Category Management organization overseeing category strategy development, strategic sourcing, supplier and external ecosystem management, innovation and performance management across key spend categories as well as the Purchasing team. The role ensures Procurement strategies support enterprise objectives including cost optimization, supply continuity, risk management, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Category Management

• Develop, implement and continuously refine enterprise-wide category strategies that leverage healthcare industry cost drivers and are aligned with FME objectives.
• Provide AZURA employees, Medical Management & Staff with the optimal supply of all products and services required (incl. quality, security of supply, price, innovative alternatives).
• Proactively engage and work closely with Procurement Business Partner(s), other Category Managers, and cross-functional stakeholders to gather business requirements and implement category strategies.
• Establish and lead teams that strategically manage spend by utilizing a proven sourcing process that engages stakeholders, aligns business objectives, and ensures supply continuity.
• Determine industry/category specific cost drivers, emerging trends, technologies and market shifts to inform sourcing strategies, continuous risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for financial value generation including cost savings, cost avoidance and working capital optimization.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, complex negotiations and materials management best practices to achieve targeted financial outcomes.

Key Performance Metrics & Performance Management

• Secure optimal supply of all products and services across all Azura entities (security of supply, price/TCO, quality/specification).
• Deliver measurable financial impact including cost savings, cost avoidance and working capital improvements.
• Drive performance across a comprehensive suite of Procurement KPIs tied to FME objectives.
• Report on key performance metrics that provide Executive leadership transparency into category performance.
• Implement performance governance frameworks to track category performance and drive corrective actions.

Supplier & External Ecosystem Management

• Lead supplier segmentation, performance and relationship management, and preferred supplier programs.
• Oversee supplier performance management, including quality assurance, contract compliance and service delivery.
• Monitor market trends, supply risks, and emerging technologies to translate insights into proactive sourcing strategies and supplier risk mitigation plans.
• Ensure supply continuity and resilience across the supplier network.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with senior leadership across Azura, including Procurement, Finance, Operations, Manufacturing and business units to align Procurement strategies with FME objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on supplier risk, innovation, cost optimization opportunities, and investment trade offs.

Source-to-Pay Integration, Digital Optimization & Process Excellence

• Integrate Category Management feedback within the end-to-end Source-to-Pay operating model.
• Embed and enforce consistent adoption of Procurement frameworks, governance standards, and processes across the Category Management team.
• Lead continuous improvement of Procurement frameworks, governance standards and processes in partnership with Procurement Center of Excellence and Process and Platforms teams.
• Represent Category Management in enterprise transformation initiatives, including companywide ERP and digital Procurement platform implementations.

Supervision

• Responsible for direct supervision of various levels of Category Management roles.
• Identify, recruit and actively develop skills and competencies required for the future organization.
• Develop own successor and successors within the Procurement organization for all levels of management and key individual contributor roles.
• Coach subordinate managers in the delivery of performance feedback and career management for direct reports.
• Reporting hard-lined into FME Procurement Organization and acting as the Procurement Business Partner to the AZURA COO.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Supply Chain, Finance or related field.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience and Required Skills

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Supply Chain Management.
• Experience in hospital, outpatient healthcare environments or clinics strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of medical products, equipment, and manufacturers related to cardiology and vascular surgery.
• Proven experience in developing and executing Category strategies in complex Global organizations.
• Strong financial acumen with a proven track record of delivering financial results.
• Deep expertise in supplier management, contract negotiation and sourcing strategy development.
• Experience optimizing Procurement transformation initiatives and digital Procurement programs.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to influence, communicate and collaborate effectively across executive leadership and cross-functional teams.

Core Competencies

• Executive presence with influence at Board and C-suite levels.
• Exceptional financial acumen, including P&L impact and cost-to-serve optimization.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate corporate objectives into actionable procurement outcomes.
• Global cultural awareness and expertise in best-cost-country sourcing.
• Inspirational leadership, fostering high-performing, inclusive teams across geographies.
• Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.

Leadership Style & Personal Attributes

• Results-driven, resilient, and comfortable leading through complexity and ambiguity.
• Collaborative, transparent, and trusted by senior stakeholders.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Passionate about developing talent and building inclusive, high-engagement teams.