Category Buyer – Pharmaceutical Industry
We are seeking a proactive and strategic Category Buyer to join our procurement team within the pharmaceutical sector. In this role, you will lead sourcing and supplier management activities for capital and operational expenditure categories, ensuring alignment between business needs and market capabilities. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to drive cost optimisation, supplier performance, and risk mitigation, supporting the organisation's growth and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead end-to-end sourcing processes, including RFx management, vendor evaluation, and selection.
* Develop and implement category strategies that align with business objectives and market trends.
* Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
* Drive supplier performance through effective supplier relationship management and performance metrics.
* Negotiate commercial terms and contracts, including framework and master agreements.
* Identify and mitigate supply risks, developing robust risk management strategies.
* Support project delivery by translating category strategies into actionable procurement plans.
* Promote change management and value engineering initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
* Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field.
* Minimum of 5 years' experience in procurement, with a strong background in category management within a regulated industry (pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices, or similar).
* Proven experience in supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and project management.
* Strong business acumen and the ability to link business needs with market capabilities.
* Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
* Familiarity with regulatory requirements (e.g., GMP/GxP) is highly desirable.
* Professional certifications such as CIPS or equivalent are advantageous.
* Fluent in English; additional European languages (such as German or French) are a plus.