Category Manager - Direct Procurement

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine global category strategies for API & Excipients
• Perform market intelligence, supply–demand analysis, and risk assessment
• Define short‑, medium‑, and long‑term roadmaps aligned with organizational goals
• Drive standardization, specification alignment, and demand aggregation across regions

• Lead end‑to‑end strategic sourcing initiatives, including RFx execution, negotiations, and contracting
• Support cost‑reduction and value‑creation programs, including should‑costing, price benchmarking, and total cost of ownership (TCO) optimization.
• Track and deliver cost savings, ensuring transparency and alignment with finance validation processes.

• Own the supplier portfolio for assigned categories, including strategic, core, and emerging suppliers.
• Establish and manage supplier performance frameworks covering cost, delivery, quality, and service
• Drive long‑term strategic partnerships, joint improvement programs, and development initiatives.
• Ensure supplier compliance with quality, regulatory, ESG, and sustainability standards.

• Act as the single point of accountability for category‑related matters across global stakeholders.
• Proactively align stakeholders on category priorities, risks, and decisions.

• Identify and mitigate single‑source, geopolitical, regulatory, and capacity risks within the category
• Develop and execute dual‑sourcing and contingency strategies to ensure uninterrupted supply
• Support business continuity planning across regions.

• Own category‑level dashboards/KPIs, covering savings, supplier performance, risk, and service levels.
• Provide regular updates and executive‑ready presentations on category and supplier health
• Leverage analytics tools such as Power BI to enable data‑driven decisions and transparency.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10-12 years of progressive experience in Direct Procurement, Category Management, or Strategic Sourcing, preferably within pharmaceutical, biologics, or biotech manufacturing.
• Proven ownership of category strategies, sourcing waves, and supplier negotiations.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree or MBA preferred.