Category Manager, TPM

About the role

The Category Manager, TPM leads the Third-Party Manufacturing (TPM) large molecule drug substance sub-category and category procurement initiative teams that encompass international Procurement organizations. This position is responsible for establishing, articulating, and implementing procurement strategies for third-party manufacturing of AbbVie pharma products, with a primary focus on large molecule drug substance external manufacturing and supplier networks.

Responsibilities

• Conceive, initiate, develop, communicate, and manage the execution of procurement strategies representing a minimum of $25 million of annual expenditures in the Third-Party Manufacturing category, with primary responsibility for the large molecule drug substance sub-category. Maintain strong knowledge of the spend area with the ability to develop and manage long-range plans for the sub-category.
• Define and execute sub-category strategy and vision aligned with broader category strategy and business goals. Ensure strategic sourcing decisions support value delivery, supply assurance, compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Lead end-to-end procurement processes from strategy development through sourcing, negotiation, contracting, implementation, and supplier management. Monitor contract execution and support ongoing process improvements to ensure operational excellence.
• Set direction on standards, identify points of supply, support supplier selection decisions, and develop, execute, and manage procurement strategies and strategic initiatives for stakeholders to improve overall value to AbbVie.
• Deliver successful cross-divisional procurement projects that yield benefits to the corporation including savings, re-engineered business processes, sustainable long-term agreements, assurance of supply, and risk-mitigating supply strategies.
• Lead supplier selection, cultivate supplier relationships, and drive supplier innovation consistent with category strategy. Proactively identify, assess, and manage procurement-related risks across the supplier network.
• Apply a skilled approach to negotiations, including use of market intelligence, fact-based analysis, and best practices to achieve strong outcomes. Convert negotiated outcomes into performance-based, legally sound contracts that support ongoing supplier management and program sustainability.
• Communicate effectively with management and stakeholder groups affected by procurement decisions. Foster the exchange of ideas and information and establish productive working relationships across cross-functional teams.
• Build strong business partnerships by understanding stakeholder needs, integrating those needs into procurement strategies, and ensuring delivery of value to the organization across commercial, compliance, sustainability, and supply dimensions.
• Initiate and cultivate open, honest, and beneficial relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and stakeholders by establishing rapport, developing understanding of needs, promoting common goals, and following through on commitments.
• Resolve conflicts constructively by identifying root causes, collaborating on mutually beneficial solutions, and supporting implementation of agreed actions. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and influence positive long-term change with sustainable benefits for the corporation.
• Use analytical abilities to establish spend baselines, evaluate supplier proposals, analyze market conditions, and support fact-based sourcing and supplier management decisions.
• Identify and scope new sourcing opportunities. Prepare project scoping documents including project scope, scale, timelines, and key stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance procurement effectiveness, efficiency, compliance, and business value.
• Responsible for compliance with applicable external standards and AbbVie policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree required; degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline preferred. Advanced scientific or technical training is valued.
• Minimum 7 years of combined relevant experience required.
• Required experience in procurement/category management, project management, supplier management, conflict resolution, negotiation, supply chain management, cost analysis, financial analysis, quality systems and documentation, regulatory issues, compliance, contracting experience, and technical/business partnering.
• Relevant technical expertise in large molecule drug substance manufacturing is required, including understanding of biologics drug substance manufacturing processes, external manufacturing models, key process steps, associated quality and supply risks, and the technical considerations that influence supplier selection and procurement strategy.
• Experience supporting procurement for third-party manufacturing of pharmaceutical drug substance and/or drug product strongly preferred; experience in large molecule drug substance external manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through the procurement process and keep members focused on a fact-based conclusion without defaulting to a compromise position.
• Demonstrates ability to plan, execute, and measure successful project implementations. Capable of formulating complex project objectives, breaking them into actionable tasks, and managing to key milestones.
• Strong communication, presentation, interpersonal, and persuasion skills, with the ability to tailor communications to a range of stakeholder levels.
• Demonstrated business partnership, strategic thinking, and operations excellence mindset.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to translate business needs into sourcing strategies and procurement actions.
• Proficiency with relevant computer applications and procurement systems.

Qualifications

• No specific qualifications listed beyond the general education and experience requirements.

Skills

• Procurement/Category Management
• Supplier Management
• Negotiation
• Project Management
• Supplier Selection
• Conflict Resolution
• Strategic Thinking
• Operations Excellence
• Business Partnership
• Technical Expertise in Large Molecule Drug Substance Manufacturing
• Compliance and Regulatory Knowledge
• Financial Analysis
• Quality Systems and Documentation
• Supply Chain Management
• Cost Analysis
• Market Intelligence
• Fact-Based Analysis
• Contracting Experience
• Technical/Scientific Partnering

Benefits

• No specific benefits mentioned.

Pay

$109,500 - $208,500 USD

Schedule

• Hybrid