Supplier Management Program Manager
Location: Madison, WI (Hybrid)
Position Overview
Carex is partnering with a leading biotech organization to identify a seasoned and strategic Supplier Management Program Manager to design, implement, and lead a formalized, company-wide Supplier Management Program.
This role will be responsible for transforming supplier relationships from transactional engagements to strategic partnerships — particularly across Exact’s highest-tier suppliers, defined by spend, complexity, criticality, performance, risk exposure, and regulatory considerations.
The Supplier Management Program Manager will stand up and operationalize a comprehensive framework covering the full supplier lifecycle, including onboarding, segmentation, performance monitoring, risk mitigation, governance, compliance, and continuous improvement. This individual will serve as a key interface between Procurement Leadership, Category Management, Risk Partners, and business stakeholders to define, implement, and scale the program across the enterprise.
Key Responsibilities
Program Design & Implementation (50%)
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Design, document, and launch a centralized Supplier Management Program, including standardized policies, procedures, governance models, and templates.
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Develop program charter, roles and responsibilities, and establish ongoing cross-functional engagement forums.
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Review and refine supplier tiering methodology to ensure appropriate prioritization and oversight of Tier 1 suppliers.
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Recommend and support implementation of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) tools or enhancements to existing procurement systems to create a single source of truth.
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Define governance standards to ensure compliance with internal policies, data privacy requirements, regulatory standards, and cybersecurity controls.
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Partner with Center of Excellence and Operations teams to design scalable tracking mechanisms for supplier performance, compliance, and issue escalation.
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Lead phased rollout of the Supplier Management Program across the organization.
Performance & Risk Management (30%)
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Develop and implement supplier scorecards to measure performance across quality, timeliness, responsiveness, cost, and service levels.
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Track and report on KPIs and SLAs for high-tier suppliers.
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Create and oversee a proactive supplier risk management framework addressing financial, operational, cybersecurity, ESG, business continuity, and insurance compliance risks.
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Facilitate regular business reviews with key suppliers and internal stakeholders.
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Escalate and manage supplier-related risks through appropriate governance channels, including risk committees.
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Monitor industry trends and evolving risk landscapes to adapt program strategy accordingly.
Relationship & Change Management (20%)
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Collaborate with business units to align supplier strategy with enterprise goals.
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Drive organizational adoption of new supplier management processes and standards.
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Develop training materials and conduct workshops for Category Management and related teams.
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Engage stakeholders to clarify and prioritize program value and performance targets.
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Promote awareness of supplier expectations and foster strong, strategic supplier partnerships.
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Document and communicate program improvements and engage business owners in required process changes.
Additional Responsibilities
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Serve as a subject matter expert in supplier management strategy for assigned categories.
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Provide analytical insights and innovative ideas to drive value generation across the program.
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Manage multiple workstreams with shifting priorities in a dynamic environment.
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Present program updates and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
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Operate autonomously, making informed decisions with limited information.
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Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
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Support and comply with the Quality Management System (QMS) policies and procedures.
Required Qualifications
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8–10+ years of experience within Procurement, including Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, or Vendor Management.
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Demonstrated experience introducing, building, or scaling a formal Supplier Management Program.
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Strong understanding of supplier lifecycle management, risk frameworks, and performance management practices.
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Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and organizational change efforts.
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Excellent analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
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Strong executive-level communication and presentation skills.
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Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
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Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
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Demonstrated ability to perform essential job functions with or without accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or related field (MBA or Master’s degree preferred).
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Experience in a large-scale, cross-functional organizational change initiative.
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Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and Supplier Management/Procurement platforms (e.g., Coupa).
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Familiarity with process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma).
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Strong ability to translate complex data into actionable business insights.
Work Environment
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Hybrid role based in Madison, WI.
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Ability to work on a computer for approximately 90% of the workday.
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Up to 5% travel, including occasional overnight or weekend travel.
Why Carex
Carex partners with leading organizations like Exact Sciences to deliver high-impact talent solutions. This role offers the opportunity to build and scale a strategic enterprise program that will materially strengthen supplier partnerships, risk oversight, and long-term business value.
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