Category Manager

Job Overview

Join IDEXX as a Category Manager overseeing sourcing and procurement activities vital to the operation of Veterinary Reference Laboratories in the APAC region, based in Singapore. This pioneering role is centered on advancing our regional sourcing framework for materials such as consumables, reagents, biological, diagnostic materials, and sophisticated analytical testing apparatus.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including supplier evaluation, negotiation, contracting, and performance management.
• Forge robust collaborations with cross-functional teams including laboratory, quality, regulatory, logistics, and Global Procurement to align sourcing with business and technical priorities.
• Develop comprehensive sourcing strategies that optimize costs, quality, supply reliability, and compliance with relevant regulations and laboratory specifications.
• Contribute to the establishment of regional sourcing infrastructure by defining priorities, instituting processes, and cultivating supplier engagement and operational procedures.
• Assist in launching new regional laboratories by facilitating supplier preparedness, timelines, materials provisioning, and cross-departmental coordination.
• Utilize analytics, market data, supplier performance metrics, and risk assessments to identify opportunities and drive informed sourcing decisions.
• Oversee suppliers managing sensitive products requiring special handling, ensuring compliance with cold-chain logistics, traceability, and import/export documentation.
• Monitor and anticipate risks originating from suppliers, geopolitical factors, regulations, or logistics that may impact laboratory readiness or service delivery.
• Translate complex laboratory and business requirements into clear scopes of work, detailed supplier criteria, and contractual obligations.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and work experience combination.
• Fluency in English and Japanese to effectively engage with vendors across the APAC region, especially Japan-based suppliers.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills with a proven ability to manage and influence multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive expertise in strategic sourcing, supply chain management, and supplier capability assessment.
• Strong project management experience, including delivering large-scale initiatives independently.
• Advanced data analysis capabilities for supporting strategy and decision making.
• Proficiency with enterprise systems such as SAP APO, MRP, LiveLink, and Microsoft Office suite.
• Familiarity with GMP and ISO 9001:2000 standards preferred.
• Certification in Production & Inventory Management (APICS) is a desirable asset.

Additional Information

• Regular computer usage and occasional travel anticipated.
• Work environments include normal office, warehouse settings, and laboratory visits involving exposure to biohazards and chemicals; personal protective equipment is mandatory in labs.
• The role demands independent problem-solving skills and the capacity to handle complex, non-routine challenges.
• Preferred experience includes 5 to 8+ years in product development or category management, with over 7 years in medical device or biochemical manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of lean and six sigma practices is advantageous; a black belt certification is a plus.

About IDEXX

At IDEXX, our diagnostic labs empower veterinarians to make informed care decisions. This Strategic Sourcing Manager position offers a unique opportunity to shape procurement initiatives supporting regional lab operations and to influence the successful establishment of new facilities. The role demands a strategic, data-driven professional comfortable operating independently within a collaborative and evolving environment.