Company Overview

Nuance is the pioneer and leader in conversational artificial intelligence (AI) innovations that bring intelligence to everyday work and life. We deliver solutions that understand, analyze, and respond to people, amplifying human intelligence to increase productivity and improve security. With decades of both domain and AI expertise, we work with thousands of organizations across a wide range of industries. 

Check out our team Life at Nuance!

Join our team! At Nuance, we are constantly reinventing how people connect with technology and with each other. Our AI-powered solutions empower organizations to transform “business as usual.” For decades, the world’s leading financial, healthcare, telecommunications, retailers, and government organizations have trusted Nuance to bring them award-winning solutions that deliver more meaningful outcomes and empower a smarter, more connected world. From clinical speech recognition technologies that free physicians to spend more time caring for patients to real-time intelligence that powers billions of customer interactions, we’re deeply committed to helping organizations push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Job Summary

This position leads the strategic sourcing activities for the Indirect Materials categories, assists with the management of other categories as needed and manages the supply chain in achieving the targeted cost reductions, while maintaining/improving product quality and supplier service levels. This successful candidate will work closely with key stakeholders to execute and further develop effective cost reduction strategies and implementation plans. The Category Manager's primary responsibilities are to utilize the strategic sourcing best practices to capture real savings while making effective supply base decisions and mitigating contractual risk. This includes savings captured through negotiations, consolidating company-wide volume, applying operational and commercial TCO levers to reduce cost and leading the review and negotiation of contract T&Cs.

Principal Duties and responsibilities:

• Develop and implement commodity strategies and establish and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers to ensure successful implementation and support.
• Develop, champion, and ensure implementation of ideas that will optimize and reduce the total cost of ownership year-over-year for assigned spend categories according to group guidelines.
• Assist with the management of other procurement categories as requested.
• Work with the Operations Purchasing team to streamline and improve sourcing processes.
• Deliver the targeted savings amount for the category that contributes to the overall cost savings goals
• Track forecasted vs actual savings and be responsible for communicating performance against these measures and their potential budgetary impact.
• Work with business unit leadership to monitor supplier performance contract compliance and communicate/present results to the executive leadership team
• Manage supplier development/relationships to ensure continuity of goods and services that meet the quality, service and price performance standards of the company
• Develop negotiations strategies and drive negotiations to achieve stated goals and objectives
• Drive improvement of procurement efficiency and effectiveness throughout Nuance
• Remain current with market trends
• Identify and communicate new technologies and solutions to key problems in the assigned spend areas
• Maintain a working knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations as well as any internal policies (e.g. code of ethics) or procedures to ensure that the behavior exhibited by the organization with the highest level of integrity, honesty, and transparency.
• Lead cross-functional negotiating teams targeting key spend categories.
• Collaborate effectively across different organizational levels, functions, businesses, and geographies to realize procurement goals and objectives
• Lead and participate in special projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualification:

• Education: BA/BS in Supply Chain Management/Business or related field required with MBA preferred
• Years of experience: 5-7 years minimum in indirect Procurement/Sourcing.

Required Skills:

• Able to take the lead on implementation of savings opportunities that affect numerous lines of business
• Strong ability and prior experience effectively communicating with and presenting to executive leaders
• Ability to respectfully challenge senior leadership with data/fact driven hypothesis
• Results Orientation
• Comfort and familiarity with constructing presentations, organization communications, and business cases
• Extensive Excel & Power Point experience assessing data and having the ability to present it appropriately at an executive level
• Strong ability to build relationships and networks with multiple functions and at the leadership levels
• Strong analytical capabilities and negotiation skills
• Self-starter and independent worker
• Strong leadership skills

Preferred Skills:

• Global indirect procurement experience (minimum 5 years)
• Prior category management experience in the professional service and facilities sectors a plus

Additional Information

Nuance offers a compelling and rewarding work environment. We offer market competitive salaries, bonus, equity, benefits, meaningful growth and development opportunities and a casual yet technically challenging work environment. Join our dynamic, entrepreneurial team and become part of our continuing success.

Nuance celebrates diversity and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by law or Nuance policy.  If you need an accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 781-565-5086 and let us know.