Manager, Category Management

About the role

The Manager, Category Management serves as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders within R&D, supporting the development and leading the execution of category strategies within R&D Procurement. This role translates business priorities into actionable sourcing strategies grounded in market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with R&D, scientific, and functional stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies, ensuring alignment with research and development priorities.
• Contribute to the development of multi-year category strategies informed by market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
• Apply category management and strategic sourcing expertise to drive structured sourcing, demand management, and value creation initiatives.
• Build and manage supplier relationships across R&D categories, enabling innovation and long-term partnerships.
• Define and deliver value drivers beyond cost (e.g., speed to clinic, quality, innovation, risk mitigation), aligned with R&D priorities.
• Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities, including performance governance, supplier reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into sourcing and supplier selection processes.
• Identify and help mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks across the category landscape.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing execution, including competitive events, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Drive cross-functional project execution, ensuring stakeholder alignment, disciplined delivery, and measurable outcomes.
• Mentor and develop analysts and junior team members, building category capability and analytical rigor.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Scientific background (e.g., life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related field) preferred, particularly for R&D-aligned categories.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement, category management, or related strategic roles.
• Demonstrated experience executing sourcing strategies and category initiatives (or equivalent experience in strategic sourcing, consulting, or business strategy roles).
• Experience supporting R&D, scientific, or technical organizations within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry preferred.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels across complex categories.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, including cost modeling, market analysis, and value quantification.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and build alignment across a matrixed organization.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and managing supplier relationships.
• Strong collaboration, change management, and cross-functional teamwork capabilities.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• No specific qualifications mentioned.

Skills

• Category management and strategic sourcing expertise.
• Supplier relationship management.
• ESG and sustainability considerations.
• Supply, operational, and regulatory risk mitigation.
• End-to-end sourcing execution.
• Cross-functional project execution.
• Mentoring and developing analysts.

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick).
• Medical/dental/vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Long-term incentive programs.

Pay

$109,500 - $208,500 USD

Schedule

Hybrid