Associate Director, Category Management (R&D Services)

Role Summary

The Associate Director, Category Management partners with VP-level business or functional stakeholders to develop global procurement strategies, contributing to a cross-functional team that informs strategy through analysis, market expertise, and understanding of broader business objectives. This role will primarily be responsible for developing and executing category strategies for R&D related services across Discovery Research, Pre-Clinical Sciences and Development. This job will be onsite in North Chicago (hybrid work model - 3 days onsite/2 days remote).

Responsibilities

• Partner with VP-level business or functional stakeholders to develop global procurement strategies for an individual procurement category, acting as a Business Partner where necessary.
• Build a comprehensive annual strategic plan for the relevant category, incorporating category strategies that align with overall business goals.
• Contribute to a cross-functional team that informs strategic decision-making by leveraging market intelligence, staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics.
• Define and develop strategic value drivers with key category suppliers to secure collaborative partnerships that challenge the status quo to achieve cost savings, optimize processes, and enhance overall procurement value.
• Integrate sustainability and ESG measures into category strategies, collaborating with suppliers to enhance sustainable and responsible sourcing practices.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies, driving innovation with key category suppliers and collaborating to enact creative and cutting-edge solutions that deliver on long-term business needs.
• Develop and activate mitigation strategies to proactively define and manage procurement risk across the relevant category, ensuring compliance.
• Ensure effective project management from initiation to completion, directing and guiding cross-functional teams to deliver strategic category-related projects. Identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency gains, leveraging data analytics to develop long-term continuous improvement programs that achieve strategic objectives.
• Drive the end-to-end procurement process from sourcing strategy to contract negotiation and execution, leading negotiations with key category suppliers and strengthening decisions with strong analytical insight and strategic perspective.
• Develop ambitious performance targets, providing tailored coaching, and evaluating team performance. Assist in planning to address skillsets, workforce requirements, capability needs, and long-term organizational staffing goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt or related field. Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or related business or operations function.
• Previous experience leading category teams, developing category strategies, partnering with major suppliers, and reporting to senior leaders.
• Strong proficiency in developing high-impact executive-level deliverables.
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry is strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive expertise in category management, including market analysis, cost and financial assessment, ensuring strategic and informed procurement decisions. Fluency in negotiation and bidding, adept in overseeing complex projects with a focus on effective change management.
• Strong capabilities in internal stakeholder management and influence, aligning procurement strategies with business needs and fostering collaborative supplier relationships.
• Strategic thinking and accountability, anticipating future trends, and taking responsibility for impactful procurement outcomes that challenge the status quo.
• Innovative problem-solving skills combined with a significant executive presence, enabling creative solutions and influential communication at all organizational levels. High cross-functional leadership abilities, conflict resolution skills, effectively navigating and harmonizing diverse team dynamics.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, facilitating empathetic interactions, effective communication, and robust relationship-building across a matrixed organization. High resilience under pressure and autonomous work ethic, maintaining performance in challenging situations and making independent decisions.

Skills

• Procurement strategy development
• Category management
• Supplier relationship management
• Contract negotiation
• Market analysis and strategic sourcing
• Risk management and compliance
• Cross-functional team leadership
• Data analytics and continuous improvement

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or related field
• Master’s degree preferred

Additional Requirements

• Onsite in North Chicago with a hybrid work model (3 days onsite/2 days remote)