Category Manager – General & Administrative

Zentiva; Milano; On-site; EUR 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Zentiva in Milano, Italy, seeks a Global Category Manager for General & Administratives to design and implement global sourcing strategies across HR services, travel, events and car fleet. You will lead SRM, drive value beyond savings, and influence stakeholders in a global matrix.

Key focus areas include category strategy, supplier governance, ESG integration, and risk management. The role requires 8–12 years in strategic sourcing and fluent English; Italian language is a plus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Procurement, Business, HR, or related field.
• 8-12 years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, with exposure to G&A in pharma or FMCG.
• Proven track record in managing global suppliers and delivering complex procurement projects.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.
• Advanced negotiation, stakeholder management, and project leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global sourcing strategy for People & Organization, Travel, Events, Car Fleet aligned with objectives, ESG and regulatory requirements.
• Lead supplier consolidation and modal shifts to improve cost efficiency and service reliability.
• Drive value creation beyond savings, including demand management and policy optimization.
• Monitor market dynamics and translate insights into actionable sourcing decisions.
• Design and deploy SRM framework with governance models and KPIs.
• Collaborate with CoE, P&O, Facilities, Finance, Legal, and Compliance on transformation initiatives.
• Support budget and LRP exercises and ensure governance across G&A categories.
• Embed ESG criteria into supplier selection and performance management.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Project leadership

English fluent

Education

Master’s degree in Procurement

Job description

Position Overview

As Global Category Manager - General & Administratives, you are responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously evolving the global sourcing strategies covering People & Organization services, Consulting, Travel, Events, and Car Fleet across the organization. Operating in a highly competitive, cost-driven and regulated generics pharmaceutical environment, you ensure cost efficiency, service excellence, compliance, sustainability, and business continuity for key corporate support services. This role requires strong cross-functional leadership, deep market expertise, and the ability to influence stakeholders in a global matrix organization. You drive category strategies, supplier relationship management (SRM), value creation, and play an active role in budget and Long-Range Planning (LRP) exercises.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Value Creation

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global sourcing strategy for People & Organization (HR services, recruitment, RPO, learning & development, consulting, temporary workforce), Travel (air, hotel, ground transportation, TMCs), Events (corporate events, sales meetings, congresses, internal conventions), Car Fleet (leasing, mobility solutions, fleet management services) aligned with business objectives, ESG commitments, and regulatory requirements.


• Lead initiatives for supplier consolidation and modal shifts to improve cost efficiency, service reliability, and environmental impact.


• Drive value creation beyond savings, including the demand management and policy optimization, service model standardization and simplification, alternative delivery models (digital learning, virtual/hybrid events, new mobility solutions)


• Monitor market dynamics (labor market tension, travel inflation, mobility regulations, fleet electrification) and translate insights into actionable sourcing decisions.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

• Manage strategic supplier relationships across G&A categories, including global and regional partners.


• Design and deploy a structured SRM framework, including supplier segmentation, governance models (QBRs, executive reviews), continuous improvement and innovation roadmap


• Define and monitor supplier KPIs


• Ensure robust risk management and continuity plans, especially for business-critical services.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Procurement CoE, P&O teams, Facilities stakeholders, Finance, Legal, and Compliance


• Act as procurement lead for transformation initiatives related to new ways of working, travel and mobility policy evolution, and employee experience optimization

Cost Management & Budget/LRP exercise

• Identify and deliver cost savings through competitive tendering, consolidation,
  and contract renegotiation.


• Play a key role in the annual budget cycle & LRP


• Ensure budget governance, spend visibility, and variance analysis across all G&A categories.

Sustainability & ESG Integration

• Embed ESG criteria into supplier selection and performance management on
  Sustainable travel and events, fleet electrification and CO₂ reduction, responsible workforce and diversity practices


• Track and report sustainability KPIs in line with corporate ESG objectives and external reporting requirements

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with internal procurement policies, labor, mobility, and ethical standards and pharmaceutical industry requirements


• Maintain accurate documentation, contracts, and supplier records.


• Support audit readiness and continuous improvement of procurement governance.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Master’s degree in Procurement, Business, HR, or related field.


• 8 - 12 years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, category strategy preferably in with exposure to G&A categories within the pharmaceutical or FMCG sector.


• Proven track record in managing global suppliers and delivering complex procurement projects.


• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.


• Advanced negotiation, stakeholder management, and project leadership skills.

Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is an act @Zentiva

At Zentiva, we are a team of 5000 unique talents bonded together by our purpose to provide health and well-being for all generations. We strive daily to create a work culture where everyone feels appreciated, can be their true selves, and contribute to the best of their ability. Seeking for a balanced team across the company, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates with variouseducational and industry experiences,cultural or ethnical backgrounds, and differentlife experiencesorabilities,regardless of theirreligious or philosophical beliefsorwhomever they choose to love.

Join our winning team! Be a part of our winning culture! Be Zentiva!

Minimum Gross Annual Salary in Italy: 70,000 EUR