Senior Category Manager, Biotech/Pharma - Early Research & Development, Sourcing

Intermedia Group•San Rafael, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Sourcing and Procurement (GSP) organization leads transformation change and implementing industry leading category strategies that directly support business needs. The GSP organization leverages market intelligence, subject matter expertise and business insights in the procurement of good and services and management of the company's growing third party spend of $1B+. Through collaboration with our external suppliers and internal business partners, GSP helps bring innovative new medicines to patients. The Early Research & Development Senior Category Manager is an individual contributor role. This role reports to the Associate Director of R&D Services, in Global Sourcing and Procurement. The R&D Services team is part of the broader Indirect Procurement function, in which the functions Senior Director, who reports to the Chief Procurement Officer. The primary customer group is the Worldwide Research & Development organization which Translates Genetic Discoveries into Transformative Medicines, with specific focus on the Research and Early Development (RED) organization. This function covers a broad range of Preclinical sciences and includes external support needs in both GLP and non-GLP environments. The role is primarily focused on developing and executing category strategies in the Early Research and Development area, including but not limited to the following: Preclinical Research Services, Bioanalytical and Translational Sciences, In-Vivo Animal Research and Toxicology, Academic Research and Independently Sponsored Research. The role will work with other category managers to ensure alignment on related services or overlapping suppliers supporting other categories. Focusing on aligning early development outsourcing strategies to any impacted downstream activities within Clinical R&D or GMP environments. This role will collaborate closely with category leaders from across the Global Sourcing & Procurement organization to ensure that all Worldwide Research and Development, as well as laboratories in the Technical Operations Organization are fully supported and optimized. The Senior Category Manager must support development and implementation of industry leading procurement practices, develop deep relationships with stakeholders, drive innovation and continuous improvement in the ways of working. Provide mentoring and management to ensure colleague engagement and professional development. Cultivate long term strategic goals that align with business requirements and drive financial rigor and cost savings throughout.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management or related field.
Extensive experience in procurement and R&D management in a global capacity, preferably within the pharmaceutical sector.
8+ years of experience in Procurement/ Sourcing/ Supply Chain.
Demonstrated experience with sourcing and procurement in the pharmaceutical industry, including the regulations associated with the pharmaceutical industry.
Specific knowledge and expertise in sourcing pre-clinical services and research services; solid understanding of the drug development process and early research requirements for pre-IND candidates
Experience and knowledge related to drug life cycle, supporting the business in critical downstream elements that should be considered during external R&D for clinical or GMP use
Strong people management and team leadership experience.
Experience in supplier management and complex contract negotiations
Results-driven mindset and capabilities
Excellent communicator and interpersonal skills with comfort working cross-functionally to gather information and resolve conflicts
Motivated, high-energy, curious, self-starter and strong business mindset
Knowledge of Procurement tools such as sourcing, request for proposal management, quotation analysis, contract negotiation, supplier review, supplier development and others; specific expertise with Ariba and SAP preferred
Demonstrated expertise in managing in scope categories, particularly category strategy development and implementation, stakeholder management and supplier relationship management
In-depth understanding of external environment and supplier relationship models
Strong knowledge of finance (cost benchmark, financial audit with key suppliers) and legal matters (contracting)

Nice To Haves

The person is from biotech/pharma procuring for Research needs in: early discovery, translational biology and bioanalytical sciences.
Hiring Manager is open to review folks in the clinical space especially if early clinical phase 1 having worked with clinical pharmacology.
The hiring manager DOES NOT want to see profiles with the majority of experience in technical operations/manufacturing s/he will decline them.

Responsibilities

Design, develop and shepherd sourcing and category strategies that support business strategy and enable world class procurement execution.
Align early to understand stakeholder needs, build credibility through strong relationships and solid track record of results, via a collaborative approach ability to manage senior stakeholders across various functions and foster cross-functional alignment; become the point of procurement accountability for the RED team; develop productive relationships with key suppliers.
Leading through influence and provide excellent procurement thought leadership, a have a strong understanding of all GSP capabilities and strategies, be a strong advocate for the GSP organization across the company.
Closely partnership with Finance organization in support of the functional stakeholders.
Maintain an active understanding of industry trends and functional practices through participation in industry organizations, bringing knowledge to the team and stakeholders.
Be the subject matter expect on evolving procurement practices and standards that may be rapidly changing internally and externally.
Spearhead creation and implementation of sourcing strategies to drive savings and risk mitigation, drive process improvement through transformational projects; support the team in the implementation of such strategies.
Create and implement collaborative business plans with strategic suppliers; optimizes supplier performance with a company view, seek opportunities to right size the supply base.
Lead complex negotiations that require a detailed strategic plan and have a direct correlation with the company's operational and business goals.
Provide strategy and operational input into transformation efforts, process and technology solutions; collaborate across the value stream to optimize outputs.
Provide mentoring and management to ensure colleague engagement and professional development.