Key Suppliers Sourcing Manager / Direct Materials / EMEA

Merck Life Science; Mollet del Vallès; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Life Science is seeking a Sourcing Manager to lead end-to-end strategic sourcing for key suppliers across the EMEA region. You will translate category strategies into actionable plans, identify opportunities, and build long-term supplier partnerships to support business objectives.

The role requires managing supplier performance, risk, and diversification while integrating quality and cost considerations.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a relevant field; engineering or technical background is a plus.
• Minimum 5 years in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, or Procurement in Life Sciences, or 5+ years in Supply Chain with supplier governance.
• Experience in multinational Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, or Medical Devices companies preferred.
• Proven end-to-end sourcing process management: supplier id, negotiations, qualification, performance management.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing for key suppliers and translate category strategies into actionable plans.
• Identify opportunities, negotiate favorable terms, qualify suppliers and build long-term partnerships.
• Manage supplier performance, risk, and diversification to ensure supply security and quality.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven decision-making

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

Master's degree in Business Administration, Supply Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, or Life Sciences

Tools

SAP

Oracle

ERP systems

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Your Role: At the heart of our global supply chain strategy, this role offers you the opportunity to shape how we source, qualify, and partner with key suppliers — driving measurable impact on supply security, financial performance, and sustainability across our operations within the region of EMEA. As Sourcing Manager, you will lead the end-to-end strategic sourcing process for key suppliers, translating category strategies into actionable plans that directly support our business objectives. Working closely with Category Managers, you will identify opportunities, negotiate favorable terms, qualify suppliers, and build long-term partnerships that fuel growth and innovation. You will be accountable for supplier identification, performance management, and issue resolution, ensuring compliant, reliable, and high-quality outcomes at every stage.

You will develop, implement, and champion sourcing strategies aligned with industrial and commercial objectives, integrating quality and risk management considerations throughout. Balancing agility with discipline, you will deliver results at pace without compromising on standards. Drawing on your understanding of manufacturing processes and Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, you will continuously seek opportunities to reduce total cost of ownership while maintaining high levels of supplier performance.

You will build trusted relationships with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders, analyze market trends, evaluate alternatives, and actively contribute to supplier diversification and supply chain resilience. This position is based in Mollet del Vallès, Spain, and requires up to 15% business travel.

Who You Are

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Supply Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, or Life Sciences, or equivalent experience, engineering or technical background is of great advantage
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, or Procurement within the Life Sciences industry, with strong expertise in strategic supplier management, sourcing strategy development, and supplier relationship management; or a minimum of 5 years of experience in Supply Chain, Supplier Performance Management, or Operations, with proven expertise in supplier governance, performance reviews, continuous improvement, and supply assurance.
• Experience within a multinational company in the Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, or Medical Devices sectors, ideally in a matrixed and international environment.
• Proven ability to manage the full sourcing process end-to-end, including supplier identification, negotiations, qualification, and performance management.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, enabling data-driven decision-making in complex situations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent; project management knowledge is an advantage.
• Fluent in French and English, both written and spoken; Spanish is considered an asset.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!