Senior Category Manager, R&D Procurement

Senior Category Manager, R&D Procurement

12-month Contract

Hybrid – Waltham, MA (3 Days Onsite per Week)

Must be able to work on a W2

Overview

Our client, a leading biopharmaceutical company, is seeking an experienced Senior Category Manager, R&D Procurement to lead strategic sourcing initiatives supporting global Research & Development operations. In this role, you will develop and execute category sourcing strategies, manage supplier relationships, and partner with cross-functional stakeholders to support clinical development programs, clinical trial procurement, and commercial launch readiness. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in R&D procurement within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry and a strong background in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and vendor management in a GxP-regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies across assigned R&D procurement categories.
• Support procurement activities for Phase I–IV clinical trials, new product development, and commercial launch readiness.
• Partner with Clinical Operations, Research, Quality, Legal, Finance, and other cross-functional stakeholders to understand procurement needs and deliver strategic sourcing solutions.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and supplier selection.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, including pricing, preferred partnerships, volume discounts, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and other supplier contracts.
• Manage supplier onboarding, qualification, performance monitoring, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with CROs, contract manufacturers, laboratory suppliers, and other R&D service providers.
• Develop category strategies that improve cost, quality, service, and supply continuity across global R&D operations.
• Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and drive cost savings while ensuring compliance with procurement policies and corporate contracts.
• Collaborate with Legal and Finance to ensure procurement activities align with corporate governance and business objectives.
• Educate internal stakeholders on procurement processes, sourcing strategies, and best practices.
• Support procurement process improvements and implementation of sourcing tools and systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• 5–8 years of procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Extensive experience supporting R&D procurement, including clinical trial sourcing and supplier management.
• Experience supporting Phase I–IV clinical development programs.
• Proven experience sourcing materials and services for clinical trials and supporting commercial launch readiness.
• Demonstrated experience managing CROs, contract manufacturers, laboratory suppliers, and other R&D vendors.
• Proven success leading RFI, RFP, and RFQ processes from strategy through supplier selection.
• Strong contract negotiation experience, including preferred supplier agreements, volume discounts, pricing strategies, and Master Service Agreements (MSAs).
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical research and development processes.
• Knowledge of GMP, GCP, and GxP requirements.
• Experience with supplier qualification, supplier performance management, and vendor risk management.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, organizational, and project management skills.
• Experience with Oracle, SAP, or other ERP systems.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project.
• CPM or other procurement certification is a plus.