Procurement Category Manager

Position Objective

• Responsible for procurement leadership, sourcing and procuring GMP materials for Client Core Biologics, including defining category strategy, buying channels, and supplier relationship management program, to support our clients programs effectively. This person will need to engage technically, operationally, and commercially to understand and enable speed, high quality performance, supply assurance, and risk mitigation for the pipeline and clinical supply. Work closely with the Site Procurement Director, the Global Procurement Organization (GPO), Site Operations, Business Unit Leadership, and critical stakeholders at the site and across the company. Leads site-level initiatives for supplier management, supplier quality & supplier performance improvement as well as supports global procurement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leadership, engagement and development of cross functional teams to drive projects to completion.

Site Responsibilities

• Minimize impact of supplier shortages by proactively identifying and resolving potential material supply issues, timely communication, collaborating with Supply Chain developing inventory management strategies in conjunction with our vendors.
• Increase spend under contract. Negotiates supply agreements with vendors improving commercial conditions and service levels.
• Responsible for ensuring suppliers adhere to the Terms & Conditions specified on the purchase order and contracts and resolves challenges.
• Complies with and follows all procedures within the company Security, EHS and Global Trade policies.
• Conduct business in an ethical and professional manner to ensure avoidance of all actual and potential conflicts of interest.

GPO Responsibilities

• Integrate with GPO, including Category Management, Supplier Relationship Management, ensure alignment with GPO initiatives.
• Partner with Category leadership to develop and execute strategies for the categories that he/she participates in or leads, globally or regionally that creates value to Client and meets customers’ expectations and the local deployment of such strategies.

Stakeholder Management

• Ensure site procurement is engaged and aligned with internal customers/stakeholders, gaining stakeholder and leadership support at the site.
• Partner with Finance and commercial ops to define and implement a PPV process. Communicate price changes and / or discrepancies and determine financial impact.
• Partner with MS&T and PD to drive dual sourcing and cost reduction initiatives across the categories for the start of clinical programs reducing risk for clients in the future.

Procurement Value Creation

• Develop pipeline of opportunities (savings, cash flow, growth, other value) for the site, representing local, regional, and global initiatives.
• Leverage and negotiate pricing on combined volumes of purchases at various locations with industry leading suppliers to reduce the cost of goods and overheads.
• Prioritize savings opportunities and takes a unified approach with our various purchasing locations globally or regionally to meet with the potential suppliers and get the lowest possible total cost to deliver cost savings.
• Perform full risk assessment of the supply base and develops mitigation and management plan.
• Optimize cash by extending supplier payment terms and/or negotiating term discounts.
• Optimize the supply base through consolidation, where appropriate.

Communication

• Provide regular value contribution reporting to the Site Leadership Team with regards to savings, supply disruptions and critical vendors updates.
• Provide spend, savings & value contribution reporting, actual vs target on a monthly basis.

Budget

• Contribute to the site annual sourcing plans linked to annual profit plans in order to maximize value contribution, drive improvements and minimize risks.
• Ensure annual procurement budget (savings, cost avoidance, inflation) is met.

Procurement Process

• Utilize sourcing and category management processes to understand the business requirements, build the portfolio of purchasing projects and develop sourcing strategies aligned to stakeholder needs.
• Utilize tools for net cost monitoring, reporting, and communicating procurement progress.
• Facilitate supplier business reviews with stakeholders to align performance metrics, KPIs, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Engage and implement Category Management tools and methodologies to optimize procurement activities associated with effective and timely implementation

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain or comparable disciplines. Masters preferred; Industry certifications a plus
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive in biopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and/or medical device industry preferred, experience and career advancement in procurement.
• Global Operations, finance and matrix management experience preferred but not essential

Qualifications And Competencies

• Working knowledge and experience of procurement and best-in-class practices, principles, process, tools and methodologies
• Clear knowledge and understanding of supply market, industry and category dynamics
• A successful track record leading and managing complex negotiations
• Demonstrates strong business judgment and critical thinking to create and evaluate innovative options and uses a fact based decision making process to develop and implement strategies that will drive positive results and deliver value
• Possesses a strong working knowledge and experience in key procurement areas including:
• Chemicals
• Bioprocessing
• GMP procurement practices
• Cost Modeling/TCO
• Legal and Contract law
• New product development and sourcing
• Effectively assesses risk and implements mitigation plans to either prevent or minimize impact to ensure business continuity
• Capable of technical and commercial assessments and appraisals of potential and existing sources of supplies
• Expertise in successfully executing Supplier Management programs

Business Skills

• Strong analytical skills including financial management and metrics
• Should be comfortable working in a matrix environment which, at times, has elements of ambiguity
• Understands the key business drivers and requirements to build and sustain sourcing strategies and best in class procurement processes and practices
• Has a proven track record of engaging and working with stakeholders to understand business requirements and gain support for the development, approval and implementation of procurement and sourcing strategies
• Demonstrates strong analytical skills including and understanding and application of financial analysis tools
• Keeps abreast of key market information, trends, and innovations needed to continue to drive excellence
• Must have proven track record of successfully managing projects, resources and people in relation to initiatives that have a significant impact upon site business by achieving project milestones and objectives

Leadership Skills

• Demonstrated leadership expertise and the ability to interact with all levels of management and Associates.
• Ability to build and lead functional/cross-functional teams
• Understands and has experience in successfully managing change initiatives

Interpersonal Skills

• Encourages collaboration at all levels across functional boundaries, between procurement and the business
• Collaborative, strong relationship builder, with a proven track record of establishing and maintaining effective internal and external customer/supplier relationships
• Strong interpersonal and effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to effectively deal with conflict and defuse and resolve difficult situations
• Ability to influence and persuade others
• Sensitivity and understanding of Cultural differences and the ability to effectively engage on a global basis

Individual Attributes

• Strong values, personal integrity and ethics
• Strong problem solving skills and the ability to react, adapt and drive positive change
• Results and service oriented, can operate with a sense of urgency, self-started attitude to the role
• High energy, self-starter able to multi-task and work on a cross functional basis
• Strong time management and planning skills
• Values others’ perspectives and inputs and possesses an appetite and desire for continuous learning
• Demonstrates passion and commitment to achieving and delivering results against established goals and objectives
• Demonstrates a willingness to constructively challenge the status quo
• Use of facts, data and insights to help support an effective and timely decision making process.