Manager, Direct Sourcing & Procurement

Empower Pharmacy•Houston, TX

About The Position

Empower Pharmacy is a healthcare company focused on making quality, affordable medication accessible nationwide. The Manager, Direct Sourcing & Procurement leads sourcing for APIs, excipients, raw materials, packaging, components, and other critical direct materials across the company’s 503A and 503B operations. The position also supports procurement of indirect materials and services required for production and oversees purchasing execution and inventory planning to protect availability, quality, cost, and supply continuity. The manager leads supplier negotiations and performance, develops procurement employees, and works with Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Finance, Planning, and Manufacturing to support production and product development. ERP records, Excel, Power BI, and validated AI-supported analytics inform demand planning, spend visibility, and working capital decisions. The role includes sourcing strategy and market intelligence; supplier partnerships, negotiations, and performance management; supply continuity and supplier qualification; team leadership and cross-functional coordination; and ownership of ERP purchasing workflows, procurement records, order execution, replenishment, safety stock, inventory aging, and working capital. The employee is required to talk and hear, often remain stationary for a significant amount of the workday, and frequently use hands and fingers to work with computers and office productivity devices. Regular movement around the office and corporate campus is also required, including standing, walking, reaching, climbing or balancing, and stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent combinations of relevant education and practical experience are considered.
At least 5 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain operations.
At least 3 years of experience supervising or leading employees, setting performance expectations, providing coaching, and addressing operational challenges.
Experience evaluating suppliers, negotiating contract terms, managing purchasing activities, and using operational and financial data to guide sourcing decisions.
Expertise sourcing APIs, excipients, pharmaceutical packaging, components, and other direct materials, with the ability to support indirect materials and production services.
Strong supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, cost analysis, inventory planning, alternate sourcing, and supply continuity capabilities.
Proficiency with ERP purchasing workflows, Excel, Power BI, and validated AI-supported analytics for forecasting, spend visibility, reporting, and operational decisions.
Knowledge of 503A/503B operations, supplier qualification, change control, cGMP principles, and applicable FDA requirements, including 21 CFR Parts 210 and 211.
Ability to coach staff and work across functions.

Nice To Haves

Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification.
Experience sourcing pharmaceutical APIs, excipients, packaging, or other regulated materials.
Experience in 503A, 503B, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or a similarly regulated environment.

Responsibilities

Develop sourcing strategies for APIs, excipients, packaging, components, and other critical direct materials, considering specifications, supplier capability, quality, total cost, and supply risk.
Support sourcing of indirect materials and services needed for production.
Monitor pharmaceutical markets, supplier capacity, lead times, pricing, and shortages; identify alternate sources, sourcing opportunities, and risk-mitigation actions.
Partner with Finance to monitor purchase price variance and validate realized savings; pursue competitive sourcing, volume leverage, and supplier actions that improve total cost while protecting quality and supply reliability.
Build strategic relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers to strengthen pricing, quality, capacity, service, and supply reliability.
Lead supplier selection and negotiations of contract terms, including pricing, payment terms, minimum quantities, lead times, capacity, and service expectations.
Lead strategic vendor business reviews; monitor delivery, quality, capacity, service, and single-source exposure; resolve gaps and drive corrective actions.
Protect material availability through alternate sourcing, contingency planning, supplier engagement, and cross-functional responses to shortages, backorders, and delays.
Partner with Quality and Regulatory to qualify suppliers, materials, and alternate sources, coordinating documentation, specifications, testing, and commercial readiness.
Coordinate supplier and material changes with Quality, R&D, Planning, Manufacturing, and Materials Management to address inventory, production, and product-launch impacts.
Supervise, coach, and develop procurement employees; set performance expectations, provide feedback, and strengthen sourcing, negotiation, and analytical skills.
Align sourcing priorities with Operations, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Planning, and Finance to support production needs, business goals, supplier qualification, and product-development timelines.
Own ERP purchasing workflows, procurement records, and order execution; monitor replenishment, safety stock, inventory aging, and working capital.
Identify automation opportunities, support procurement technology implementation, and advance supplier diversity.