Job DescriptionThe Associate Director, Category Management serves as a strategic business partner to VP-level stakeholders, leading the development and execution of global category strategies within R&D Procurement. This role is accountable for translating business priorities into category strategies grounded in deep market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation.
The position requires demonstrated expertise in category strategy development (or equivalent strategic sourcing experience), with the ability to lead cross-functional teams, shape supplier ecosystems, and deliver measurable outcomes aligned to R&D objectives, including innovation, speed, quality, and cost.
Responsibilities- Partner with VP-level R&D, scientific, and functional stakeholders to develop and execute global category strategies, ensuring alignment with pipeline, research, and development priorities.
- Lead the development of comprehensive, multi-year category strategies informed by market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
- Apply deep category strategy expertise (or equivalent experience) to drive structured strategic sourcing, demand management, and value creation initiatives.
- Build and maintain strategic supplier ecosystems 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.
- Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies, including executive engagement, performance governance, and joint innovation initiatives.
- Integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into category strategies and supplier selection processes.
- Proactively identify and mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks across the category landscape.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing execution, including strategy development, competitive events, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Drive cross-functional project leadership, ensuring disciplined execution, stakeholder alignment, and measurable outcomes.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of managers, building category capability, strategic thinking, and organizational effectiveness.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Scientific background (e.g., life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related field) strongly preferred, particularly for R&D-aligned categories.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in procurement, category management, or related strategic roles.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing category strategies (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 strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels across complex, global categories.
- Strong financial and analytical acumen, including cost modeling, market analysis, and value quantification.
- Executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across a matrixed organization.
- Experience leading supplier negotiations and managing strategic supplier relationships at scale.
- Strong leadership capabilities, including team development, change management, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.
Additional InformationApplicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of thisposting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location,and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless anduntil paid and may be modified at the Company's sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
