Senior Category Manager, Generic Injectable & Biosimilar Sourcing

Cencora • Conshohocken, PA

13d

About The Position

The Senior Category Manager develops and manages strategic relationships with external generic injectable and biosimilar manufacturers, creating mutual value for Cencora and its manufacturing partners. The role leads supplier contract negotiations and formulary sourcing strategies, and serves as a key liaison between external manufacturers and internal teams including Sales & Marketing, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain. It identifies value-creation opportunities aligned with Cencora’s commercialization and sourcing partners, and requires deep knowledge of generic sourcing and/or manufacturing, financial acumen, and strong negotiation skills. The role leads manufacturer business reviews, resolves commercial challenges with limited management support, and represents Cencora in executive-level engagements.

The Senior Category Manager negotiates distribution service contracts on behalf of Cencora Global Procurement. The role includes redlining contracts, consolidating stakeholder feedback, managing contracting rigor, and understanding wholesale and distribution contract terminology and implications.

The position establishes relationships with new and emerging manufacturers and develops existing strategic sourcing relationships with mature generic injectable and biosimilar manufacturers. It manages trade affairs, supports commercialization of new launches, addresses supply disruptions, maintains appropriate inventory across full-line and specialty distribution networks, and assists with supplier disputes and other enterprise issues. The role works across commercial sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Replenishment Operations, and other Supply Chain Management groups; represents Cencora’s interests with suppliers; and generates profit-enhancing opportunities such as deals, rebates, and promotions. Over time, the position learns and promotes sourcing programs that increase value for Cencora and its customers, and performs related duties as assigned.

Candidates generally have a four-year bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with at least seven years of directly related, progressively responsible experience. The position calls for knowledge of pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution, generic injectables and biosimilars, supplier relationships, purchasing models and financials, and strong analytical, negotiation, relationship-management, contract-management, communication, organizational, and computer skills.

Requirements

• A four-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least seven years of directly related and progressively responsible experience.
• Broad experience in business administration, accountancy or finance, sales, marketing, or similar fields.
• Outstanding knowledge of the pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution segment.
• Knowledge of generic injectable and biosimilar products, supplier relationships, and purchasing models and financials.
• Financial and analytical skills to evaluate deals and support contract negotiations, including cost-benefit analysis and risk-reward assessment.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including deep knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of sales, purchasing, supply chain management, and/or inventory management principles and methodologies.
• Strong relationship-management and contract-management capabilities, including adherence to departmental processes and procedures.
• Ability to handle confrontational issues positively.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to implement processes that support satisfactory audit practices.
• Resourcefulness, a positive can-do attitude, and desire to learn.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of regulatory filing pathways for approval and familiarity with FDA audits.
• Knowledge of Cencora’s full-line and specialty distribution network and its Specialty GPOs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with generic injectable and biosimilar manufacturers, creating mutual value for Cencora and its partners.
• Lead supplier contract negotiations and formulate sourcing strategies.
• Negotiate distribution service contracts on behalf of Cencora Global Procurement, including redlining contracts, consolidating stakeholder feedback, and managing the contracting process.
• Lead manufacturer business reviews, resolve commercial challenges with limited management support, and represent Cencora in executive-level engagements.
• Establish relationships with new and emerging manufacturers and strengthen existing relationships with established manufacturers.
• Manage trade affairs, including supporting commercialization of new generic and biosimilar launches.
• Resolve supply disruptions, preserve outbound service levels, and ensure appropriate inventory across full-line and specialty distribution networks.
• Assist with disputes and issues between suppliers and the Cencora enterprise.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Replenishment Operations, and other Supply Chain Management teams.
• Represent Cencora favorably with suppliers and advocate for company interests regarding supplier actions and policies.
• Generate profit-enhancing opportunities, including deals, rebates, and promotional activities for assigned suppliers.
• Learn and promote sourcing programs that create value for Cencora and its customers.
• Implement processes that result in satisfactory audit practices.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision care.
• Support for working families, which may include backup dependent care, adoption assistance, infertility coverage, family-building support, behavioral health solutions, paid parental leave, and paid caregiver leave.
• Training programs, professional development resources, and mentorship opportunities.
• Employee resource groups and volunteer activities.
• Additional resources supporting physical, emotional, financial, and social wellness.

What This Job Offers

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