AVP, Category Management

When you’re the best, we’re the best. We instill an environment where employees feel engaged, satisfied and able to contribute their unique skills and talents while living and working as their authentic selves . We provide extensive opportunities for personal and professional development, building both employee competence and organizational capability to fuel exceptional performance through an inclusive environment both now and in the future. Summary The AVP, Category Management provides executive leadership for a client-facing category management team and is responsible for setting the strategic vision, operating model, and organizational priorities for multiple category portfolios. As a transformational people leader, this role leads and develops an organization of professionals, including Category Management Executives, Senior Category Management Executives, Directors, and other people leaders, while fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture. The AVP oversees the continued evolution of the National Sourcing Center by developing organizational capabilities, driving enterprise sourcing and contracting strategies, and ensuring consistent execution across complex category initiatives that deliver measurable financial, operational, clinical, and strategic value for clients. Working closely with executive leadership, this role establishes long-term business strategy, develops future leaders, drives organizational transformation, and champions innovation across sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, supplier relations, and clinical stakeholder engagement. Serving as a trusted executive advisor, the AVP builds strong relationships with internal leaders, client executives, suppliers, and industry partners while ensuring the organization is positioned to meet evolving market needs and deliver exceptional business outcomes. Responsibilities Leadership & Talent Development Lead, coach and develop a multi-level organization of people leaders, senior professionals, and category management talent, including workforce planning, succession planning, performance management, engagement, and retention. Lead multiple people leaders responsible for Category Management teams, ensuring consistent leadership practices, talent development, performance management, and organizational effectiveness. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and employee engagement. Recruit, mentor, develop, and retain high-performing talent while promoting diversity of thought and inclusive leadership. Transformation & Growth Lead the continued evolution and scaling of the National Sourcing Center by developing organizational capabilities, governance models, and operational frameworks that support long-term growth. Drive organizational transformation initiatives that improve scalability, consistency, efficiency, client experience, and business performance. Identify opportunities to modernize processes, enhance organizational effectiveness, and implement best practices across the Category Management function. Lead change management efforts that successfully align teams, stakeholders, and business partners around strategic priorities. Partner closely with other leaders on the National Sourcing Center to develop ways of working and operating models that support growth and value Enterprise Category Strategy Establish the strategic vision and long-term direction for Category Management across multiple product and service portfolios. Ensure alignment of category strategies with Vizient's business objectives, client priorities, financial goals, and market opportunities. Provide executive oversight of complex sourcing, contracting, supplier, and category management initiatives led by Directors and senior category leaders. Balance near-term operational priorities with long-range strategic initiatives that position the organization for sustainable growth. Drive innovation, supplier optimization, standardization, value creation, and risk mitigation across the portfolio. Executive Leadership & Strategic Partnership Serve as a trusted executive advisor to senior leadership regarding category strategy, sourcing priorities, supplier relationships, market dynamics, and organizational performance. Build executive-level relationships with provider executives, supplier executives, and strategic business partners to advance Vizient's sourcing strategy and organizational objectives. Present organizational strategy, portfolio performance, business outcomes, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership. Represent Vizient as an executive spokesperson at client meetings, industry conferences, advisory councils, supplier engagements, and other external forums. Influence enterprise decision-making through collaboration across sourcing, contracting, analytics, implementation, legal, operations, and executive leadership teams. Operational Excellence Establish organizational goals, operating metrics, governance standards, and performance expectations across the Category Management organization. Ensure consistent execution of sourcing methodologies, contracting standards, and category management best practices. Monitor organizational performance against financial, operational, quality, and strategic objectives. Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, consistency, scalability, and client value. Lead enterprise change initiatives while building alignment across executive stakeholders and supporting adoption of new business capabilities and operating models. Partner closely with other executive leaders supporting the client account to maximize Vizient’s impact and value to the client Financial & Business Performance Accountable for organizational performance, resource allocation, financial planning, investment prioritization, and achievement of strategic business objectives across multipl