Mechanical Category Cost Specialist

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll 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 world’s 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 you'll implement strategic procurement initiatives that make a meaningful impact on global healthcare, research, and environmental protection. As a Category Cost Specialist, you'll develop complex category strategies and collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize supply chain performance, reduce costs, and ensure continuous improvement. You'll 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.

LOCATION: This is a fully onsite position based at one of three sites.  
Site Options: Morrisville, NC; Pittsburgh, PA; or Austin, TX - Unfortunately, relocation assistance is NOT provided.  

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future. 
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screen. 
   

The Mechanical Category Cost Specialist 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.

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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 procurement’s 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.

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Minimum Requirements / Qualifications

• Advanced Degree plus 6 years of experience, or Bachelor's Degree plus 8 years of experience in procurement/sourcing cost engineering, procurement analytics, or category management. in 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
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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.

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Leadership Competencies

•    Customer Focus

•    Collaboration & Teamwork

•    Business Acumen

•    Drive for Results

•    Decision Quality

•    Negotiation Courage

•    Continuous Improvement Mindset

•    Regulatory compliance