Category Manager, Commercial Procurement
Alkermes
August 19, 2026
Remote friendly (Greater Boston)
United States
Operations
Category Strategy & Business Partnership
- Develop and execute category strategies for Market Research, Sales Operations, Market Access, Commercial Analytics, and related commercial services categories.
- Partner with Commercial leadership to understand priorities and procurement requirements.
- Translate business objectives into sourcing strategies optimizing cost, quality, service, innovation, and supplier performance.
- Serve as a trusted advisor on market intelligence, supplier capabilities, contracting approaches, and procurement best practices.
- Partner with Legal, Finance, Compliance, Medical, and Commercial stakeholders.
Strategic Sourcing & Contracting
- Lead end-to-end sourcing events (spend analysis, market assessments, RFI/RFP, supplier evaluation, negotiations, selection, and contract execution).
- Perform commercial market analysis and competitive benchmarking.
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, service levels, data rights, performance metrics, and contractual protections.
- Drive supplier consolidation/rationalization when appropriate.
- Ensure sourcing compliance with policies, regulatory requirements, and procurement governance.
Supplier Relationship Management
- Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships.
- Conduct supplier business reviews; monitor SLA/contract performance.
- Drive accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation.
- Identify/mitigate operational, compliance, financial, and business continuity risks.
Spend Management & Value Creation
- Analyze spend/utilization/performance for cost optimization and process improvement.
- Track/report value (savings, avoidance, efficiencies, cost savings).
- Support budget planning with market intelligence and pricing insights.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related field.
- 5+ years in strategic sourcing/procurement/category management.
- Experience supporting commercial services categories (e.g., Market Research, Sales Operations, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Analytics, data providers, consulting, marketing-related spend).
- Proven experience leading sourcing, negotiations, and contract management.
- Demonstrated measurable business value.
- Cross-functional, matrix environment experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Pharmaceutical/biotech/healthcare/life sciences experience.
- Experience supporting Commercial/Market Access/Sales organizations.
- MBA or CPSM/CPM/CIPS (or related) certification.
- Familiarity with procurement tech, spend analytics, and CLM systems.
Work Environment & Travel
- Hybrid; domestic travel up to 15% (plus occasional additional travel).
- Develop and execute category strategies for Market Research, Sales Operations, Market Access, Commercial Analytics, and related commercial services categories.
- Partner with Commercial leadership to understand priorities and procurement requirements.
- Translate business objectives into sourcing strategies optimizing cost, quality, service, innovation, and supplier performance.
- Serve as a trusted advisor on market intelligence, supplier capabilities, contracting approaches, and procurement best practices.
- Partner with Legal, Finance, Compliance, Medical, and Commercial stakeholders.
Strategic Sourcing & Contracting
- Lead end-to-end sourcing events (spend analysis, market assessments, RFI/RFP, supplier evaluation, negotiations, selection, and contract execution).
- Perform commercial market analysis and competitive benchmarking.
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, service levels, data rights, performance metrics, and contractual protections.
- Drive supplier consolidation/rationalization when appropriate.
- Ensure sourcing compliance with policies, regulatory requirements, and procurement governance.
Supplier Relationship Management
- Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships.
- Conduct supplier business reviews; monitor SLA/contract performance.
- Drive accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation.
- Identify/mitigate operational, compliance, financial, and business continuity risks.
Spend Management & Value Creation
- Analyze spend/utilization/performance for cost optimization and process improvement.
- Track/report value (savings, avoidance, efficiencies, cost savings).
- Support budget planning with market intelligence and pricing insights.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related field.
- 5+ years in strategic sourcing/procurement/category management.
- Experience supporting commercial services categories (e.g., Market Research, Sales Operations, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Analytics, data providers, consulting, marketing-related spend).
- Proven experience leading sourcing, negotiations, and contract management.
- Demonstrated measurable business value.
- Cross-functional, matrix environment experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Pharmaceutical/biotech/healthcare/life sciences experience.
- Experience supporting Commercial/Market Access/Sales organizations.
- MBA or CPSM/CPM/CIPS (or related) certification.
- Familiarity with procurement tech, spend analytics, and CLM systems.
Work Environment & Travel
- Hybrid; domestic travel up to 15% (plus occasional additional travel).