Boehringer Ingelheim
Senior Category Manager
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Senior Category Manager
Senior Category Manager – Global Clinical Development Sourcing
The Position
Acting globally and working cross-functionally, the Senior Category Manager plays a key role in shaping sourcing strategies to ensure sustainable, competitive supply and high service quality for our interventional clinical trials. The role combines:
- Strategic responsibility for a global category
- Active supplier management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Continuous improvement of sourcing approaches
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Make a significant impact on the success of the Global Sourcing Clinical Development team by leveraging:
- Strategic strength
- Persuasiveness
- Assertiveness
- Responsible for sourcing activities within Human Pharma’s clinical services categories globally.
- Assume centralised leadership of a worldwide category by:
- Consistently challenging the existing status quo
- Identifying enhancements
- Convincing upper management to adopt new ways of working
- Act as the global supplier manager for core service providers, establishing and enforcing:
- A robust governance system
- Ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices
- Key objectives:
- Develop and strengthen relationships with strategic partners
- Closely monitor the market and identify suppliers/solutions aligned with business needs
- Continuously:
- Observe supply markets
- Identify new partners, service providers, and solutions
- Analyse and mitigate risks within the category
- Manage a high volume of sourcing requests independently, ensuring:
- Successful negotiation outcomes
- Contracts managed in close alignment with internal business partners
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to:
- Implement cutting-edge methods of working
- Drive improvements in:
- Speed
- Cost efficiency
- Value generation
- Technology adoption
- Buying channel optimisation
- Support the development and upskilling of sourcing colleagues through:
- Training
- Mentorship
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Requirements
| Category | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Experience | - Procurment of services within a pharmaceutical or CRO in a global sourcing context |
| - Strong experience in sourcing and operations for early clinical trials | |
| Specialised Knowledge | - Knowledge of market intelligence and sourcing for Clinical Development services (advantageous) |
| - Experience with fully outsourced trials (preferred) | |
| Methodologies | - Sound understanding of: |
| - Demand management | |
| - Market and supplier analysis | |
| - Compliance management | |
| - Due diligence | |
| - Risk management | |
| - Supplier and contract management | |
| - Bargaining techniques | |
| - Experience in international projects | |
| - Collaboration with cross-functional teams including internal/external partners | |
| Education | - Master’s degree in business administration, or equivalent qualification |
| - (Acceptable alternative: Bachelor’s degree + relevant professional experience) | |
| Soft Skills | - Open-minded, motivated, and persuasive |
| - Strong relational skills (internal/external) | |
| - Responsibility-taking mindset | |
| - Team-oriented collaboration skills |
- Leadership in diverse, cross-functional, and international teams
- Proficiency in English (mandatory); German (advantageous)
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Remote Work & Travel
- Position Type: Fully remote (candidates based in the UK or Ireland only)
- Travel Requirement: Occasional business trips to Germany per year to support:
- Key stakeholder interactions
- Strategic sourcing activities
Why This Is a Great Place to Work
Boehringer Ingelheim has been named a Top Employer in the UK, reflecting our dedication to:
- Building an exceptional workplace
- Implementing strong people practices
- Supporting workplace growth through comprehensive HR policies
Learn more about our work environment: 🔗 https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk/careers/uk-careers/why-great-place-work
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