Director, Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

Neurocrine Biosciences • San Diego, CA

2d • $174,200 - $238,000

About The Position

Neurocrine Biosciences is hiring a Director, Strategic Sourcing & Category Management to provide strategic leadership for its Sourcing team. The role is accountable for category strategies, team performance, capability development, and business results, while retaining direct responsibility for selected complex, high-impact sourcing and category management initiatives. The Director translates company and functional priorities into multi-year category strategies intended to optimize total cost, supplier performance, continuity of supply, quality, innovation, and risk.

The position partners with senior business stakeholders, develops and coaches category management talent, and leads disciplined execution of source-to-pay processes across the organization. It advances sourcing policies, processes, negotiations, analytics, and operating practices to increase spend under management and strengthen Sourcing & Procurement effectiveness. The role is expected to lead as a strategic leader in a player/coach model, setting direction while personally handling complex sourcing work, negotiations, and stakeholder engagements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Management, or a related field and 12 or more years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain; biotech, pharmaceutical, or life sciences experience is preferred; OR a master’s degree in Supply Chain or Operations, or an MBA, and 10 or more years of similar experience.
• Demonstrated people management experience.
• Broad business acumen and deep expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, competitive bidding, negotiation strategy, total cost of ownership, and strategic supplier relationship management.
• Ability to translate business strategy and stakeholder needs into practical sourcing strategies, operational priorities, and execution plans with measurable business outcomes.
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including interpreting spend and market data, developing business cases, assessing commercial proposals, quantifying value, and communicating decision-relevant insights.
• Strong understanding of supplier risk, contracting, and procurement governance, with judgment to balance risk, speed, value, and business continuity in a regulated environment.
• Ability to lead through influence and communicate across functions and organizational levels, including with senior leaders and external suppliers; synthesize complex issues, frame options and trade-offs, and deliver clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• People leadership skills, including setting direction and expectations, coaching, delegation, performance management, capability building, talent development, succession planning, and developing high-performing teams.
• Ability to operate effectively in a player/coach model, setting strategic direction while personally leading complex sourcing work, negotiations, and stakeholder engagements.
• Advanced proficiency with common sourcing, procurement, analytics, and productivity tools.
• High degree of judgment, accountability, and adaptability, with the ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions amid ambiguity, interdependencies, and significant business impact.

Nice To Haves

• Sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience in biotech, pharmaceutical, or life sciences.
• APICS, CPSM, or Lean certification.
• Experience with enterprise procurement, contract lifecycle management, and business intelligence platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Sourcing team, with accountability for team performance, capability, priorities, and results, while directly managing selected complex, high-value, or high-risk sourcing initiatives.
• Develop and execute multi-year sourcing and category strategies aligned with company objectives, stakeholder priorities, market conditions, business risk, and supplier capabilities.
• Lead complex sourcing engagements using RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, negotiations, and competitive bidding; establish negotiation and commercial strategies, guide team members, and lead commercial discussions with senior supplier representatives.
• Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to understand business requirements, challenge demand where appropriate, influence business and sourcing strategy, shape sourcing approaches, and establish decision criteria and implementation plans.
• Identify, prioritize, implement, and document savings, cost avoidance, process improvement, and value creation initiatives.
• Lead strategic supplier management, including performance governance, business reviews, scorecards, service levels, executive-level supplier relationships, issue escalation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive adherence to applicable procurement policies, procedures, and governmental regulations, and recommend policy and operating-practice changes to strengthen governance, efficiency, and business outcomes.
• Lead third-party risk management activities, coordinating with appropriate functions to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor commercial, operational, and continuity risks.
• Represent Sourcing in enterprise and cross-functional strategic initiatives, influencing senior stakeholders through clear recommendations, risk assessment, and business results.
• Define and advance the strategic roadmap for sourcing capabilities through improved processes, templates, analytics, systems usage, market intelligence, supplier segmentation, and category management practices.
• Hire, manage, coach, and develop team members; establish expectations, build capabilities, assess talent, support succession and development planning, and hold the team accountable for strategic and operational objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual bonus with a target of 35% of earned base salary.
• Eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program.
• Retirement savings plan with company match.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and personal days.
• Paid caregiver, parental, and medical leave.
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage, subject to applicable plan terms and conditions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director