Sr. Strategic Buyer

Lonza•Vacaville, CA

6d•$93,000 - $155,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Strategic Buyer (Indirect) drives value for site stakeholders by working closely with the Central Procurement team to support business continuity and align procurement with site-specific objectives. The role builds stakeholder partnerships across sites to manage supplier relationships and performance, and leads strategic sourcing initiatives using expertise in tendering, negotiation, contracting, and procurement systems. It also oversees delegated spend to help ensure efficient and impactful procurement at the site level. This is an office-first role based in Vacaville, California. The employee works primarily in the office and may work remotely for 20% of their time, described as one day per week. The full-time base annual salary is expected to range from $93,000 to $155,000. Compensation depends on the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge. Lonza describes its people as its greatest strength and says its globally connected teams work across more than 30 sites on five continents to manufacture medicines. Its stated values are Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion, and Integrity. The company offers equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants regardless of legally protected characteristics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, MBA, or advanced degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Procurement, or Supply Chain.
Solid understanding of general business practices and procurement fundamentals.
5–10 years of experience in both Operational Procurement and Strategic Buying/Category Management, with strong Strategic Buying experience.
Expertise in tendering, negotiation tactics, planning, and contracting.
Proven track record in third-party spend management and supplier relationship management.
Ability to influence and persuade suppliers to secure favorable outcomes for Lonza.
Hands-on experience with SAP ERP and SAP Ariba for Strategic Buyer, Indirect Procurement.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other essential tools for procurement operations.
Strong customer service mindset and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Positive attitude and proactive approach to learning new skills.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Central Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies aligned with current and future site-level business needs.
Lead sourcing initiatives for delegated spend across assigned sites, driving efficiency and cost savings.
Provide support in tendering, negotiations, contracting, and procurement planning while ensuring compliance and best practices.
Support global and regional sourcing efforts and the rollout of procurement policies, procedures, and tools across sites.
Optimize procurement activities by identifying cost efficiencies, driving automation, and using tools such as e-auctions and online catalogs.
Manage supplier relationships, including transitions, performance monitoring, and assessment of supply, quality, and financial risks.
Partner with site stakeholders and controllers to forecast spend, track savings, and ensure business continuity for indirect materials, while identifying risks and opportunities for improvement.