Category Manager - Capital Equipment

UCB; Eigenbrakel; Sur place; EUR 90 000 - 130 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

UCB is seeking a Category Manager - Capital Equipment to lead end‑to‑end management of a defined equipment portfolio and drive category strategies across global sites. You will partner with Engineering, Manufacturing and Capital Projects to optimize total cost of ownership and supply resilience, supporting current operations and future investments.

The role requires a strong background in strategic sourcing within the pharmaceutical sector, with excellence in negotiation, stakeholder management,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, or related field.
• Experience in category management, strategic sourcing, or procurement within pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with experience managing complex supplier relationships and contracts.
• Knowledge of capital equipment, automation technologies, manufacturing operations, or related industrial systems.
• Strong stakeholder-management, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to influence across a global matrix organization.

Responsabilités

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with manufacturing roadmaps and capital investment plans.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation, and long‑term value creation.
• Identify opportunities for standardization, modularization, and global leverage across sites and projects.
• Lead total cost of ownership optimization across the equipment lifecycle, from acquisition through end‑of‑life management.
• Provide strategic direction for sourcing initiatives and support supplier selection and award decisions.
• Partner with Engineering and Capital Project teams to align procurement strategies with future technology and investment needs.
• Monitor market developments, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies to inform category decisions.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies related to supply, technology, capacity, and market dynamics.
• Support business case development and investment decisions through commercial and market expertise.
• Champion sustainable and compliant procurement practices in line with UCB’s values and objectives.

Connaissances

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Formation

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business

Description du poste

Category Manager - Capital Equipment

We are looking for a Category Manager - Capital Equipment who is strategic, commercially minded, and relationship‑focused to join our Engineering & Investment Procurement team, supporting UCB’s global manufacturing and investment priorities, based in Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium.

About The Role

You will be accountable for the end‑to‑end management of a defined capital equipment portfolio, driving category strategies, supplier performance, risk management, and long‑term value creation.

You will act as a key business partner to Engineering, Manufacturing, and Capital Project teams, ensuring procurement strategies support both current operations and future investment plans. Working across a global supplier landscape, you will identify opportunities to optimize total cost of ownership, enhance supply resilience, and leverage innovation to support UCB’s manufacturing transformation.

Who You’ll Work With

You will report to the Global Category Lead Equipment Technologies and collaborate closely with stakeholders across Engineering, Manufacturing, Technical Operations, Capital Projects, Quality, Finance, Legal, and Sustainability. You will also work closely with Sourcing & Contracting Managers and strategic suppliers to ensure consistent delivery of category objectives.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with manufacturing roadmaps and capital investment plans.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation, and long‑term value creation.
• Identify opportunities for standardization, modularization, and global leverage across sites and projects.
• Lead total cost of ownership optimization across the equipment lifecycle, from acquisition through end‑of‑life management.
• Provide strategic direction for sourcing initiatives and support supplier selection and award decisions.
• Partner with Engineering and Capital Project teams to align procurement strategies with future technology and investment needs.
• Monitor market developments, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies to inform category decisions.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies related to supply, technology, capacity, and market dynamics.
• Support business case development and investment decisions through commercial and market expertise.
• Champion sustainable and compliant procurement practices in line with UCB’s values and objectives.

Interested? For this role we’re looking for

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, or a related field.
• Experience in category management, strategic sourcing, or procurement within pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with experience managing complex supplier relationships and contracts.
• Knowledge of capital equipment, automation technologies, manufacturing operations, or related industrial systems.
• Strong stakeholder‑management, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to influence across a global matrix organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.