Senior Specialist, Procurement

Vantive is a vital organ therapy company on a mission to extend lives and expand possibilities for patients and care teams everywhere. For 70 years, our team has driven meaningful innovations in kidney care. As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, while looking beyond kidney care and investing in transforming vital organ therapies. Greater flexibility and efficiency in therapy administration for care teams, and longer, fuller lives for patients— that is what Vantive aspires to deliver.

We believe Vantive will not only build our leadership in the kidney care space, it will also offer meaningful work to those who join us. At Vantive, you will become part of a community of people who are focused, courageous and don’t settle for the mediocre. Each of us is driven to help improve patients’ lives worldwide. Join us in advancing our mission to extend lives and expand possibilities.

Senior Specialist SWAT  

(Senior Specialist - Procurement Supply Continuity Management)

Summary

The Senior Specialist - SWAT role is crucial to Baxter’s Global Procurement organization.

This position has responsibility for managing supplier-driven supply constraints across the Kidney Care organization,  in alignment with core end-to-end supply chain functions driving continuous improvement of Baxter’s supply base quality, delivery, productivity, and service performance.

The incumbent must have the ability to lead teams during crisis management with line-down risk, lead technical projects, and foster cross-functional collaboration by building positive relationships with internal stakeholders (plant managers, QMRs, business unit leaders, procurement partners and simplify the complex to solve business problems and drive business results.

The role is responsible for supplier manufacturing capability assessment, Advance Product Quality Planning (APQP),  Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and ongoing continuous improvement of supplier performance, such as quality, delivery, cost reduction, capacity planning, proactive risk mitigation, etc.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate the resolution of critical supplier quality/capacity issues threatening the continuity of supply to a Baxter manufacturing facility or External Contract Manufacturer. Drive suppliers through containment, root cause analysis, corrective action, and implementation.
• Maintain alignment between supplier, Baxter’s manufacturing plant, engineering, supply chain, and broader procurement organization. Discern whether issues are supplier-caused, raise issues (management reporting), and provide data that would support cost recovery, where appropriate.
• Coach supplier on key tools and methods, such as root cause analysis, 5 Whys, MSA, Gage R&R, capability analysis, FMEA, control plan, tooling capacity, statistical process control charts, DMAIC, SCAR, PPAP, CAPA, Continuous Improvement.
• Perform supplier capability assessments and/or audits, as related to process controls, manufacturing capabilities, and lean maturity. Publish assessment reports outlining non-conformities, opportunities for improvement, and work closely with suppliers to plan/implement appropriate and timely corrective actions.
• Maintain relationships with key external suppliers/partners and internal collaborators/customers (manufacturing operations, planning, fulfillment, quality, business units, engineering, etc.) promoting collaboration, diversity, and a cross-functional approach to solving business problems and driving business results.
• Drive supply base improvement for respective Baxter manufacturing facilities (manufacturing plants or External Contract Manufacturers (ECM), including systematically reviewing supplier’s performance, proposing continuous improvement activities, and working with suppliers to achieve process improvements to meet quality, delivery, and cost improvement targets.
• Identify the processes vital to get things done, adheres to ethics and compliance, ability to simplify ways of working, and ability to management multiple projects simultaneously to drive efficient and effective workflow.
• Balances process-centric behaviors (looking for new and better ways to accomplish work) and results-driven behaviors (getting the work done). Do and improve the work. Seeks to understand different perspectives, cultures, and diverse experiences to foster collaboration in a highly matrix and global organization.
• Flexibility to travel is required

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science field, or 7 years equivalent work experience in quality, tooling, or manufacturing.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in engineering, supplier quality, manufacturing operational excellence, and/or supplier development.
• Experience in plant operations is required; 3+ years in plant operations preferred.
• Demonstrated success with Cross-Functional leadership and project management capabilities.
• Strong understanding of functional disciplines, such as Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Compliance, Supply Chain, Supplier Quality, Materials Planning, etc.
• Strong manufacturing process and operations knowledge. Expertise in one or more discrete manufacturing operations (plastic molding, automated assembly, electronics (PCBAs, sensors, cables).
• Experience in a large-scale and global medical device, healthcare or highly regulated environment preferred. Experience in Automotive, Aerospace is a plus.
• Strong command of quality systems, methods and practices; ISO13485, APQP, FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, PPAP & Run at Rate
• Proven experience in technical problem solving and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes using tools, such a s: 8D, 5 WHYs, PDCA, and DMAIC. Six Sigma Green or Black Certified.
• Operations Manufacturing Management - lean manufacturing: such as takt time vs. cycle time, TLA/OEE, etc… to drive throughput.
• Operations Manufacturing Management - six sigma/DMAIC: ability to understand key elements such as process capability cpk/ppk, align measurement systems between supplier/Baxter (Gage R&R, Attribute Agreement study..), DOE if supplier process is not capable to meet Baxter requirements, etc.
• Solid quantitative and qualitative assessment skills, and critical thinking skills. Readily distinguishes between what’s relevant and what’s unimportant to make sense of complex situations and decision-making; Looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answers. Analyses multiple and diverse sources of information to define problems accurately before moving to solutions.
• Proven professional, accurate, clear and concise communication and presentation skills. Excellent technical writing skills and ability to communicate well (both written and verbal) laterally and vertically.
• Strong program management skills leading large-scale, cross-functional teams. Ability to navigate a highly matrixed, global organization. Ability to lead suppliers in completing tasks and activities on time.
• Experienced in working with people from multiple organizational levels, and with multinational employees

Reasonable Accommodation

Vantive is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information. Form Link

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