Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

Associate Category Manager, Packaging

Otsuka Pharmaceuticals$88K — $146K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree preferred
  • 2-3+ years in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, or related fields
  • Experience in CPG, food, pharmaceutical, or nutraceutical environments preferred
  • Ability to analyze spend, pricing, and market trends
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with ERP systems preferred
  • Capability to manage multiple projects while maintaining accuracy.

Responsibilities

  • Support category strategy for corrugate and label packaging
  • Lead sourcing events including RFx development and supplier evaluations
  • Manage supplier performance and relationships
  • Partner cross-functionally to meet packaging material needs
  • Support pricing analysis and cost avoidance tracking
  • Maintain commercial controls and compliance documentation
  • Identify opportunities for efficiency and value in sourcing practices.

Benefits

  • Annual performance bonus
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • 401(k) match
  • Wellness benefits
Full Job Description
This role is not available for any form of immigration sponsorship or support, including completion of the Form I-983 training plan required for STEM OPT.

Position Summary:

The Associate Category Manager, Packaging is responsible for supporting the development and execution of sourcing strategies for corrugate and label packaging categories across Pharmavite' s manufacturing network. This role manages day-to-day sourcing activities, supplier relationships, pricing analysis, contract support, and cross-functional business needs to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, quality compliance, and service performance. This role partners closely with Operations, Planning, Quality, R&D/Packaging Engineering, Finance, Legal, and suppliers to support both current business needs and future packaging initiatives. The Associate Category Manager reports to the Manager, Strategic Sourcing - Direct and does not have direct people management responsibility.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Support category strategy development and execution for corrugate and labels, including supplier landscape analysis, pricing trends, risk assessment, capacity considerations, and category roadmap inputs.
  • Lead and support sourcing events including RFx development, bid analysis, supplier evaluation, pricing negotiations, commercial term alignment, and award recommendations for corrugate and label packaging materials.
  • Manage supplier performance and relationships by supporting business reviews, KPI tracking, service issue resolution, quality escalation support, and continuous improvement opportunities.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Planning, Operations, Quality, R&D/Packaging Engineering, Legal, Finance, and suppliers to ensure packaging materials meet supply, cost, quality, compliance, and innovation requirements.
  • Support pricing, savings, and cost avoidance tracking through market analysis, competitive benchmarking, material cost reviews, inflation/deflation analysis, and supplier negotiations.
  • Maintain and improve commercial controls including pricing files, supplier documentation, contracts, specifications alignment, sourcing records, and compliance with procurement policies.
  • Support packaging change initiatives including new item launches, alternate supplier qualifications, material substitutions, artwork/label changes, sustainability-related packaging needs, and risk mitigation actions.
  • Identify opportunities to reduce complexity, improve service, and drive value through supplier consolidation, specification optimization, standardization, lead time improvements, and total cost of ownership analysis.

Critical Success Factors:
  • Strong ownership and follow-through - able to manage details, timelines, supplier requests, and internal commitments with limited reminders.
  • Learning Agility and Growth Mindset - Demonstrates curiosity and a strong aptitude for learning new categories, business processes, supplier markets, and technical packaging concepts. Seeks feedback, applies coaching, and proactively develops expertise over time
  • Analytical rigor - comfortable working with pricing, spend, supplier bids, forecasts, inventory/service impacts, and total cost of ownership considerations.
  • Supplier management discipline - able to support negotiations, address performance gaps, prepare business reviews, and maintain productive supplier relationships.
  • Cross-functional influence - able to work effectively with Planning, Operations, Quality, R&D/Packaging Engineering, Regulatory, Finance, and other stakeholders without direct authority.
  • Business curiosity and strategic thinking - able to connect tactical sourcing activities to broader category goals, risk mitigation, cost objectives, sustainability, and operational needs.
  • Comfort with ambiguity - able to navigate changing business priorities, urgent supply needs, supplier constraints, and packaging project timelines while staying organized and solution-oriented.

Capabilities & Skills
  • Bachelor's degree preferred
  • 2-3+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Packaging, Operations, or related business roles
  • Experience supporting manufacturing, CPG, food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or other regulated environments preferred.
  • Ability to analyze spend, pricing, supplier bids, usage forecasts, market trends, and cost drivers to support sourcing recommendations.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize issues, present recommendations, and communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
  • Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills; experience with ERP, sourcing tools, supplier portals, or procurement systems preferred.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities while maintaining accuracy, urgency, and follow-through.
  • Ability to travel to supplier sites or Pharmavite locations as business needs require.


National Target Base Pay Range: $80,000.00 - $133,000.00.

The salary range for this position is based on national standards. For candidates in California and the New York metro, the Target Base Pay Range is $88,000.00 - $146,000.00, to reflect the cost of living and market conditions in those areas.

Actual compensation will take into account a wide range of factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic location, education, experience, qualifications, and job-related skills. It is not typical for an individual to be hired above the midpoint of the range for their role, and compensation decisions depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with state and local laws.

Base pay is only one component of our total rewards offerings, and we will take the full offering into consideration when presenting an offer of employment. Our total rewards package for this position may also include an annual performance bonus, Medical, dental, and vision benefits, 401(k) match, and other wellness benefits.

Visit Pharmavite.com/careers to learn more about our mission and discover an opportunity that's right for you. Health and wellness begins with us.

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.

About Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

Otsuka Pharmaceutical is a Japanese pharmaceutical company that develops and markets a range of products including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and nutritional supplements. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Otsuka Pharmaceutical has a strong research and development program and has developed several innovative drugs for the treatment of various diseases. The company is committed to sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. Otsuka Pharmaceutical has a global presence and operates in several countries around the world.
Learn more about Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
Size
9,171 employees
Industry
Founded
1989
NASDAQ

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