The Opportunity

Avantor is recruiting for a commercially astute Director, EU Portfolio - Equipment & Instruments. As Director of Portfolio Management, you are responsible for developing, leading, and executing tactical and operational plans that drive portfolio performance over a short to midterm horizon (1–3 years). This role shapes the direction and results of complex distribution product portfolios by ensuring alignment with business objectives, market dynamics, and evolving customer needs.

You lead a large team or multiple teams through subordinate managers, translating the SVP and Regional VP vision and high-level strategy into their defined commodity strategy and working with their portfolio manager teams to develop their focus areas, aligned with the vision and high-level strategy, lifecycle planning, prioritization, and innovation at scale.

Through deep market insight and close cross-functional collaboration with commercial, marketing, operations, e-commerce, and regulatory leaders, you drive differentiated portfolio outcomes and sustainable growth. The successful candidate leads segment-wide category strategy, supplier partnerships, and cost-optimization initiatives across key spend areas.

This role is responsible for shaping long-term roadmaps, driving supplier performance, and partnering with business leaders to deliver measurable value. The Director oversees a team of Portfolio Managers and works cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, Legal, and Executive Leadership.

As a key partner to senior stakeholders and executive leadership, you influence portfolio direction, identify new growth opportunities, and contribute to broader enterprise portfolio strategy—strengthening VWR’s competitive position in a dynamic, innovation-driven market.

MAJOR JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and execute portfolio strategies to drive sustainable growth, market share expansion, and competitive differentiation.
• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, and risk.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Portfolio Managers and Analysts.
• Build and manage preferred supplier programs, including negotiation of pricing, service levels, and contract terms.
• Provide strategic direction for portfolio expansion through new supplier and product introductions, supplier partnerships, line extensions, and entry into new and adjacent markets.
• Lead end-to-end portfolio lifecycle governance, including supplier onboarding, product rationalization, lifecycle optimization, pricing strategy, mix management, and portfolio health management.
• Establish and oversee financial and operational performance metrics, proactively identifying risks and opportunities to improve revenue, margin, inventory efficiency, and return on invested capital.
• Translate market intelligence, customer insights, and emerging technology trends into clear portfolio priorities and actionable investment decisions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Commercial, Marketing, Operations, Regulatory, E-commerce, and Supply Chain leaders to align portfolio strategy with enterprise objectives and execution plans.
• Build and strengthen strategic supplier relationships to enhance innovation, cost competitiveness, supply continuity, and long-term value creation.
• Lead portfolio profitability strategy across product groups, including margin improvement initiatives, cost structure optimization, and value-based pricing approaches.
• Support client-facing activities such as business reviews, proposals, and solution design.
• Collaborate and partner with VWR Brand portfolio team to ensure completeness and competitiveness of the line.
• Assess competitive and supplier innovation pipelines to anticipate customer needs and inform future portfolio direction.
• Direct supplier consolidation and portfolio optimization initiatives, ensuring disciplined change management and clear internal and external communication, and desired financial outcomes.
• Represent the portfolio with senior leadership through executive-level presentations on market dynamics, competitive positioning, customer segmentation, and strategic recommendations.
• Maintain external market perspective through industry engagement, including participation in relevant trade shows and forums.