Senior Category Manager

Overview

As Senior Category Manager, you shape global sourcing strategies for clinical development services, promoting sustainable supply and high service quality. You will manage a worldwide category with centralised governance and engage with external partners to enhance collaboration and performance. The role emphasizes risk management, supplier leadership, and cross‑functional collaboration to drive speed, cost efficiency and value creation. You will contribute to upskilling the sourcing team and lead strategic supplier relationships in a regulated environment.

Pay / Benefits

• fully remote position
• open to candidates based in UK or Ireland
• occasional business travel to Germany
• recognition as Top Employer in the UK

Responsibilities

• Own global sourcing activities for clinical services and manage a centralised category.
• Develop and implement governance for supplier management and compliance with industry standards.
• Build and strengthen relationships with strategic partners and monitor market fit.
• Identify market opportunities, assess suppliers, and mitigate category risks.
• Lead high-volume sourcing requests and negotiate contracts aligned with business partners.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to improve speed, cost efficiency, and adoption of new technologies.
• Support mentoring and upskilling of sourcing colleagues.

Key requirements

• Experience in procuring services or goods in a pharmaceutical or regulated global sourcing context.
• Knowledge of market intelligence and sourcing practices in Clinical Development services (advantage).
• Experience with early-stage clinical development or outsourced trials (advantage).
• Solid understanding of sourcing methodologies: demand management, market/supplier analysis, due diligence, risk management, supplier management, contract management and negotiation.
• Extensive international project experience and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Master’s degree in business administration or equivalent qualification; Bachelor with relevant experience considered.

• open-mindedness
• persuasiveness
• stakeholder management
• global sourcing
• supplier management
• contract negotiation

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