Manager, Category Management
AbbVie
August 09, 2026
Remote friendly (North Chicago, IL)
United States
$109,500 - $208,500 USD yearly
Corporate Functions
Purpose
Manager, Category Management serves as a strategic partner to R&D stakeholders, supporting the development and leading execution of category strategies within R&D Procurement, translating business priorities into sourcing strategies grounded in market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation.
Responsibilities
- Partner with R&D and scientific stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies aligned to research priorities.
- Develop multi-year category strategies using market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
- Drive structured sourcing, demand management, and value creation.
- Build and manage supplier relationships across R&D categories.
- Define and deliver value drivers beyond cost (e.g., speed to clinic, quality, innovation, risk mitigation).
- Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): performance governance, supplier reviews, continuous improvement.
- Integrate ESG/sustainability into sourcing and supplier selection.
- Identify and mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing execution (competitive events, negotiation, contract execution).
- Drive cross-functional project execution with measurable outcomes.
- Mentor and develop analysts and junior team members.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.
- Scientific background (life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related) preferred.
- 7+ years in procurement, category management, or related strategic roles.
- Experience executing sourcing strategies/category initiatives.
- Experience supporting R&D/scientific/technical organizations in pharma/biotech/life sciences preferred.
- Ability to operate strategically and in execution across complex categories.
- Strong financial/analytical skills (cost modeling, market analysis, value quantification).
- Stakeholder influence in a matrix organization; supplier negotiation and relationship management experience.
- Strong collaboration, change management, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Benefits (if applicable)
- Paid time off; medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k); eligible for long-term incentive programs.
Manager, Category Management serves as a strategic partner to R&D stakeholders, supporting the development and leading execution of category strategies within R&D Procurement, translating business priorities into sourcing strategies grounded in market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation.
Responsibilities
- Partner with R&D and scientific stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies aligned to research priorities.
- Develop multi-year category strategies using market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
- Drive structured sourcing, demand management, and value creation.
- Build and manage supplier relationships across R&D categories.
- Define and deliver value drivers beyond cost (e.g., speed to clinic, quality, innovation, risk mitigation).
- Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): performance governance, supplier reviews, continuous improvement.
- Integrate ESG/sustainability into sourcing and supplier selection.
- Identify and mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing execution (competitive events, negotiation, contract execution).
- Drive cross-functional project execution with measurable outcomes.
- Mentor and develop analysts and junior team members.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.
- Scientific background (life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related) preferred.
- 7+ years in procurement, category management, or related strategic roles.
- Experience executing sourcing strategies/category initiatives.
- Experience supporting R&D/scientific/technical organizations in pharma/biotech/life sciences preferred.
- Ability to operate strategically and in execution across complex categories.
- Strong financial/analytical skills (cost modeling, market analysis, value quantification).
- Stakeholder influence in a matrix organization; supplier negotiation and relationship management experience.
- Strong collaboration, change management, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Benefits (if applicable)
- Paid time off; medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k); eligible for long-term incentive programs.