Senior Category Manager (Automation & Industrial Technology) 100% (m/f/d)

MEOGROUP Switzerland SA; Oberwallis; Vor Ort; CHF 140.000 - 210.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

MEOGROUP Switzerland SA in Switzerland seeks an experienced Senior Procurement Professional for Automation & Industrial Technology in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment to lead procurement activities for automation-related products, systems, equipment, and services.

You will own the Automation Procurement category, develop strategies, negotiate with major OEMs and system integrators, and collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, IT/OT, Quality, Validation, and Supply Chain to optimize

Qualifikationen

• 10+ years of procurement experience in multinational pharma/manufacturing.
• Proven category management and supplier negotiation skills.
• Experience with automation technologies and CAPEX projects.
• Fluent English; German is a plus.

Aufgaben

• Own the Automation Procurement category strategy and spend analysis.
• Lead supplier negotiations and framework agreements with OEMs, integrators, and tech vendors.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation, IT/OT, Quality, Validation, and Supply Chain.
• Develop long-term automation supplier strategies and manage supplier performance.

Kenntnisse

Procurement

Negotiation

Category management

Stakeholder management

Supplier relationships

English fluency

German (nice to have)

Ausbildung

Engineering background

Tools

Ariba

SAP

Jobbeschreibung

For more than 20 years, MEOGROUP has supported companies by combining consulting, operational support and skills development.

Our teams work with large corporations, mid-sized companies, SMEs, startups and public sector organizations to drive transformations, strengthen performance and secure project execution in complex and constantly evolving environments.

Our expertise covers the fields of Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, Project Management, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and CSR.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Procurement Professional – Automation & Industrial Technology to join our client's team (pharmaceutical manufacturing environment) as a consultant to lead procurement activities for automation-related products, systems, equipment, and services.

Your Responsabilities

You will own the Automation Procurement category, developing and executing category strategies, managing key technology and equipment suppliers, leading complex sourcing and commercial negotiations, and partnering closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Automation, IT/OT, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, and Project teams.

You will combine strong procurement and negotiation expertise with a solid understanding of industrial automation technologies and the pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. You will be expected to understand the technical and commercial implications of automation investments and be able to effectively challenge and negotiate with major automation OEMs, system integrators, and specialist technology suppliers.

Automation Category Management

• Own and develop the Automation Procurement category strategy, aligned with site, manufacturing, engineering, and global procurement objectives.
• Develop category plans covering automation equipment, systems, software, services, spare parts, upgrades, maintenance, and lifecycle support.
• Analyze category spend, supplier markets, technology trends, and business requirements to identify sourcing and value-creation opportunities.
• Establish appropriate sourcing models, preferred suppliers, framework agreements, and commercial standards.
• Develop long-term strategies for automation technology suppliers, including standardization and supplier consolidation where appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to optimize total cost of ownership (TCO) across the automation lifecycle rather than focusing solely on initial purchase price.

Demonstrate a strong working understanding of automation technologies and products commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, including where applicable:

• PLC/DCS/SCADA systems
• Distributed control systems and process control platforms
• PLC hardware, I/O systems, controllers, HMIs, and industrial networks
• MES and manufacturing automation interfaces
• Building management and facility automation systems
• Industrial PCs and automation infrastructure
• Robotics and automated material handling systems
• Process instrumentation and control systems
• Drives, motors, control panels, and electrical automation equipment
• Industrial communication protocols and network infrastructure
• Automation software, licenses, upgrades, and cybersecurity-related services
• Data historians and production data systems
• Automation engineering, system integration, commissioning, and support services
• Spare parts, obsolescence management, lifecycle support, and modernization programs

You should be able to engage credibly with technical stakeholders and suppliers regarding product specifications, technology choices, system architecture, lifecycle considerations, service models, and commercial implications.

• Manage strategic relationships with major automation OEMs, technology vendors, distributors, system integrators, engineering contractors, and specialist service providers.
• Develop a strong understanding of the relevant automation supplier landscape and technology ecosystem.
• Lead supplier selection and qualification processes for automation projects and ongoing operational requirements.
• Negotiate pricing, framework agreements, service contracts, software licensing, maintenance agreements, warranties, lead times, payment terms, and other commercial conditions.
• Establish and manage preferred supplier agreements and strategic partnerships.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews covering cost, quality, delivery, technical support, responsiveness, and lifecycle support.
• Develop strategies to reduce dependency and manage commercial and supply risks associated with single-source OEMs.
• Negotiate with suppliers on legacy-system support, technology obsolescence, upgrades, migrations, and end-of-life situations.

Pharmaceutical Project Procurement

• Lead procurement for automation components and systems supporting CAPEX, facility, manufacturing, process, and technology projects.
• Work with Engineering and Automation teams from the early project-design phase through supplier selection, contracting, delivery, commissioning, and handover.
• Participate in technical-commercial evaluations of automation solutions.
• Ensure procurement strategies account for project timelines, technical requirements, validation requirements, and total lifecycle costs.

About You

10+ years of experience within roles in Procurement

Stakeholder (internal/external) management in multinational environment

Ariba and SAP work experience

Languages: English - fluent, German - Nice to have

Educational background: preference for Engineering, Procurement, Supply chain

GMP environment - strong advantage

You are available to take up the position at short notice.

We will be transparent and provide support throughout the recruitment process. We look forward to learning more about you! #Wearemeogroup #Meogroupswitzerland