Manager, Category Management
About The Position
The Manager, Category Management serves as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders within R&D, supporting the development and leading the execution of category strategies within R&D Procurement. This role translates business priorities into actionable sourcing strategies grounded in market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation. The position requires solid expertise in category management and strategic sourcing, with the ability to lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives, manage supplier relationships, and deliver measurable outcomes aligned to R&D objectives, including innovation, speed, quality, and cost.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
- Scientific background (e.g., life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related field) preferred, particularly for R&D-aligned categories.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement, category management, or related strategic roles.
- Demonstrated experience executing sourcing strategies and category initiatives (or equivalent experience in strategic sourcing, consulting, or business strategy roles).
- Experience supporting R&D, scientific, or technical organizations within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry preferred.
- Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels across complex categories.
- Strong financial and analytical acumen, including cost modeling, market analysis, and value quantification.
- Ability to influence stakeholders and build alignment across a matrixed organization.
- Experience leading supplier negotiations and managing supplier relationships.
- Strong collaboration, change management, and cross-functional teamwork capabilities.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.
Responsibilities
- Partner with R&D, scientific, and functional stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies, ensuring alignment with research and development priorities.
- Contribute to the development of multi-year category strategies informed by market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
- Apply category management and strategic sourcing expertise to drive structured sourcing, demand management, and value creation initiatives.
- Build and manage supplier relationships across R&D categories, enabling innovation and long-term partnerships.
- Define and deliver value drivers beyond cost (e.g., speed to clinic, quality, innovation, risk mitigation), aligned with R&D priorities.
- Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities, including performance governance, supplier reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into sourcing and supplier selection processes.
- Identify and help mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks across the category landscape.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing execution, including competitive events, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Drive cross-functional project execution, ensuring stakeholder alignment, disciplined delivery, and measurable outcomes.
- Mentor and develop analysts and junior team members, building category capability and analytical rigor.
Benefits
- paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick)
- medical/dental/vision insurance
- 401(k)
- long-term incentive programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
