Category Manager -00056236 bei Georgia Department of Community Health, GA

About the Department

The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is one of Georgia's four health agencies serving the state's growing population of over 10 million people. DCH serves as the lead agency for Medicaid, oversees the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) and Healthcare Facility Regulation, impacting one in four Georgians.

Through effective planning, purchasing and oversight, DCH provides access to affordable, quality health care to millions of Georgians, including some of the state's most vulnerable and under-served populations. Six enterprise offices support the work of the agency’s three program divisions. DCH employees are based in Atlanta, Cordele and across the state. 

DCH is committed to providing superior Customer Service and Communication, embracing Teamwork and fostering Accountability to ensure that our internal and external customers and stakeholders feel included, respected, engaged and secure.

The Department of Community Health is looking for a skilled Category Manager for the Procurement Unit of the Financial Management Division. The successful candidate will lead a specialized category in Strategic Sourcing and be responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies that are designed to maximize customer satisfaction and minimize cost for assigned complex category(s). This role also develops and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The Category Manager directs subordinate supervisors and staff and may also manage multiple categories. The Office of Procurement Services (OPS) is responsible for the centralized procurement of goods and services for the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH). It is the mission of OPS to obtain quality goods and services at the lowest reasonable cost for the best value, while operating at the highest standards of ethical conduct and achieving optimum results for its members and recipients.  

Position Duties

• Leads assigned complex strategic sourcing initiatives (including Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotes (RFQs), etc.) and independently manages end-to-end sourcing projects, ensuring alignment with overall procurement strategy.
• Develops and executes procurement strategies that align with organizational priorities, identifying and prioritizing high-impact sourcing opportunities.
• Oversees category management activities to procure goods and services that meet quality, cost, and compliance standards.
  • Manages the relationship between procurement and contract management, ensuring proper documentation, workflow processes, and contract execution.
• Analyzes and maintains contract data using the agency-wide contracts database; monitors contract status and provides timely reporting to stakeholders, including budget analysts and business owners.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for category-specific communications with internal stakeholders and vendors.
• Maintains and updates the category dashboard to report performance metrics and track progress toward procurement goals.
• Trains and supports agency staff on procurement policies and best practices, ensuring understanding of how to obtain quality products and services while maximizing value for the organization.
• Ensures timely completion of category goals and projects in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and deadlines.
• Collaborates with other Category Managers and central procurement staff to coordinate annual sourcing plans and initiatives.
• Prioritizes and allocates resources within the category to ensure successful execution of procurement activities and special projects.
• Conducts and manages vendor negotiations independently and effectively, ensuring favorable terms while maintaining ethical and professional standards.
• Establishes and maintains productive relationships with vendors and internal customers within the assigned category.
• Responds to vendor questions, protests, and stakeholder concerns related to solicitations, ensuring compliance with established procedures and timelines.
• Partners with internal teams and external agencies to resolve vendor or contract-related issues efficiently and appropriately.
• Contributes to recruitment and onboarding of procurement team members, sharing subject matter expertise and mentoring junior staff as needed.
• Researches and applies best practices in procurement and category management to improve efficiency and outcomes within assigned category.
• Interprets and applies procurement rules, regulations, and the General Procurement Manual (GPM) to ensure compliance in all activities.
• Identifies process improvement opportunities and recommends changes to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
• Participates in relevant professional development to stay current with procurement trends and regulatory changes.

• Performs additional duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or a related field from an accredited college or university and seven (7) years of professional job experience in inventory, purchasing, or supply chain management which includes four (4) years in a managerial role; or Two (2) years of experience at the lower level Mgr, Purchasing (FEM050) or equivalent position.

Preferred Qualifications:

   Georgia Certified Purchasing Manager (GCPM) Certification or equivalent Supply Chain Management Experience.

Other Qualifications

EARN MORE THAN A SALARY! In addition to a competitive salary, the Georgia Department of Community Health offers a generous benefits package, which includes employee retirement plan; paid holidays annually; vacation and sick leave; health, dental, vision, legal, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, health and childcare spending account.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification. 

THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO CLOSE AT ANY TIME ONCE A SATISFACTORY APPLICANT POOL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. APPLICATIONS WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE LISTED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. CURRENT GEORGIA STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WILL BE SUBJECT TO STATE PERSONNEL BOARD (SPB) RULE PROVISIONS. THE POSITION MAY BE FILLED AT A LOWER OR HIGHER POSITION LEVEL.

This position is unclassified and employment is at-will. Candidates for this position are subject to a pre-employment background history and reference check. For more information about this job contact: http://dch.ga.gov.