Director, Category Lead

AbbVie•North Chicago, IL

5d•$160,500 - $305,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Category Management Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping long-term strategies for multiple procurement categories, ensuring strategies align with overarching business objectives. This role focuses on strategic advising and requires broad oversight of category procurement execution including supplier management, risk mitigation, and operations excellence. The Director, Category Management Lead will lead strategy through execution ensuring alignment across Category Managers, collaborating with Business Partners, cross functional partners, and capability owners to ensure efficient procurement of business needs. Specific IT categories under leadership include: Software, Hardware, Telecom, Cloud amongst other technology and services as required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt., or related field.
Minimum of 12 years of experience in procurement, supply chain or related business or operations function.
Previous experience leading category management teams and reporting to senior procurement leadership.
Strong executive presence and ability to influence across the organization, supplemented by robust soft skills.
Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry is required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Create overarching Category Strategy through execution inclusive of supplier strategies, governance mode, Supplier Relationship Management.
Implement innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement activities, contributing to the organization competitive edge and financial health.
Employ data analytics at a strategic level to transform procurement operations and decision-making.
Drive Innovation/Thought Leadership and lead complex programs, initiatives from strategy through implementation.
Orchestrate procurement projects with a strategic lens, ensuring they are not only aligned with overarching business objectives but also contribute to the long-term strategic vision.
Lead Stakeholder and functional engagement and management across Enterprise, Operations, R&D, and Operations within the IT categories of leadership.
Create Category playbooks, negotiations Strategy and Term Sheet.
Manage Category Council that ensure category strategy pull through and regional, local requirements.
Create project/supplier strategy team for strategy through execution based on complexities and aligned approach with established roles, escalations, and timelines.
Oversee and guide the development and execution of long-term category strategy across multiple procurement categories, optimizing cost, efficiency, and quality.
Act as the critical link between the procurement and business units, ensuring that procurement strategies are aligned and actively contribute to achieving business objectives.
In the absence of a designated business partner role, step into this capacity, serving as a strategic advisor and partner to senior business leadership.
Oversee market trend analysis and supplier landscape assessments to inform strategic decisions.
Champion sustainability and ESG initiatives, ensuring procurement practices align with organizational and global standards.
Cultivate high-level strategic partnerships with strategic category suppliers, spearheading joint initiatives that advance innovation and continuous improvement by challenging the status quo.
Lead a comprehensive approach to identifying and mitigating supplier risks at a category level.
Strategically ensure robust compliance with global standards, incorporating a holistic view that encompasses entire value chain processes.
Provide visionary leadership to and directly manage a team of category managers, focusing on strategic mentoring and development.
Cultivate a culture that prioritizes excellence, continuous improvement, and team cohesion.
Implement comprehensive workforce plans that ensure the category team’s capabilities are not only aligned with current organizational needs but are also scalable and adaptable for future challenges.