Mechanical Category Cost Specialist

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team youll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the worlds toughest challenges like protecting the environment making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

DESCRIPTION:
Join our team at Thermo Fisher Scientific the world leader in serving science where youll implement strategic procurement initiatives that make a meaningful impact on global healthcare research and environmental protection. As a Category Cost Specialist youll develop complex category strategies and collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize supply chain performance reduce costs and ensure continuous improvement. Youll leverage your expertise to develop and execute effective sourcing solutions while building strong supplier relationships that advance our mission of making the world healthier cleaner and safer.

The Mechanical Category Cost Manager is responsible for driving cost transparency cost modeling excellence and negotiation readiness across the assigned category. This role leads cost analysis initiatives interacts directly with suppliers to drive cost improvements and partners with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions. The Category Cost Lead Manager provides structured reporting to the CMVA team and ensures alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Strategy & Execution

Lead the development and execution of cost modeling strategies across the category.

Conduct detailed cost breakdowns benchmarks and total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses.

Identify cost drivers and improvement levers to support sourcing decisions.

Supplier Engagement for Cost Improvements

Engage directly with suppliers to review cost structures challenge assumptions and identify cost-reduction opportunities.

Lead supplier cost workshops and technical reviews to drive transparency and value engineering initiatives.

Collaborate with suppliers on alternative materials processes and continuous improvement opportunities.

Negotiation Support & Leadership

Provide fact-based cost insights to strengthen negotiation strategies.

Build negotiation frameworks and scenarios based on cost models and market intelligence.

Participate in supplier negotiations with a focus on cost elements and value-engineering opportunities.

Cost Modeling & Analytics

Develop validate and maintain advanced cost models for key commodities and components.

Analyze supplier cost drivers challenge cost submissions and identify savings opportunities.

Present cost analytics and recommendations to category leadership and stakeholders.

SPCI / CMVA Governance Direction & Collaboration

• Support CMVA projects and workshops by supplying necessary cost data and category analytics through the lifecycle of the projects.
• Ensure CMVA focus areas and deliverables accelerate category objectives support upcoming negotiations supplier segmentation decisions and/or strategic initiatives
• Challenge and validate CMVA analytical methods assumptions and outputs to ensure accuracy objectivity and alignment with procurements business requirements
• Partner with Category Managers to ensure CMVA contributions pull through to enable and support larger scale supplier negotiations
• Support the development of dashboards insights and governance materials.

Cross-Functional Support

Collaborate with Operations Engineering Quality Finance and Business Units on cost expectations and improvement initiatives.

Maintain strong interactions with CMVA (Cost Value & Manufacturing Analytics) NPI (New Product Introduction) and DPP teams to support cost modeling product development and design optimization on specific products.

Serve as the technical cost subject-matter expert within the category and support key project reviews.

Ensure adherence to Thermo Fisher procurement policies compliance standards and sustainability initiatives.

Minimum Requirements / Qualifications

Advanced Degree plus 6 years of experience or Bachelors Degree plus 8 years of experience in procurement/sourcing cost engineering procurement analytics or category large multinational organizations

Preferred Fields of Study: Supply Chain Management Business Engineering or related field

Demonstrated technical expertise relevant to the category (manufacturing processes component design materials cost drivers).

Demonstrated expertise in strategic sourcing category management and supplier relationship management

Strong experience in cost modeling cost analysis and financial modeling.

Proven ability to engage suppliers and drive cost-improvement and technical discussions.

Proficiency in procurement and analytical tools ERP systems spend analytics and e-sourcing platforms

Excellent communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.

CPSM CPIM or equivalent procurement certification preferred
Strong analytical and financial acumen with ability to develop business cases and drive cost savings
Project management capabilities and experience managing complex global initiatives
Proven negotiation skills and ability to influence in matrix environment
Advanced proficiency in MS Office suite particularly Excel PowerPoint and project management tools
Experience in life sciences biotech pharmaceutical or regulated industries preferred
Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (Lean Six Sigma etc.)
Travel 10-50% as required by role
Fluency in English required; additional languages beneficial

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

Strong analytical mindset and attention to detail.

Technical expertise to understand and challenge supplier manufacturing processes cost drivers and design impacts.

• Strong understanding of mechanical component and sub-assembly manufacturing processes including machining molding forming welding and assembly operations.
• Knowledge of mechanical materials and cost drivers including labor machine rates tooling yields scrap and overhead allocation.
• Experience with costing and analyzing mechanical and electromechanical sub-assemblies including assembly labor testing and integration complexity.

Ability to lead cost-focused and technical conversations with suppliers and internal engineering teams & ability to apply should-cost clean-sheet modeling DFM/DFA and value engineering principles to identify cost-reduction opportunities.

Strong business and financial acumen. Understanding of make-versus-buy decisions total cost of ownership and global supply base dynamics for mechanical and electromechanical categories.

Effective collaboration across global matrixed teams. Strong collaboration with Engineering Operations Quality and CMVA teams to align cost models with design intent and production realities.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

High accountability ownership and results orientation.

Leadership Competencies

Customer Focus

Collaboration & Teamwork

Business Acumen

Drive for Results

Decision Quality

Negotiation Courage

Continuous Improvement Mindset