Regional Category Manager-Indirect APAC

Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association; Selangor; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Malaysia is seeking a Regional Category Manager for indirect procurement. The role requires over 10 years of experience, predominantly in the pharmaceutical sector, focusing on strategic category management and project leadership. The ideal candidate will possess strong negotiation skills and an advanced degree in a relevant field. Join us to drive significant cost savings and enhance procurement solutions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant business experience (industry-specific).
• Preferably 10+ years in procurement or related roles within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong project management or leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement category strategic goals from overall Procurement strategy.
• Plan, organise, and manage projects considering priorities and resources.
• Map and analyse the value chain with total cost of ownership modeling.
• Participate in financial discussions, including budgeting.
• Support compliance and risk management.

Skills

Effective Communication

Finance Management

Internal And External Customer Needs Analysis & Satisfaction Studies

Managing Resources

Negotiating

Education

University/Advanced degree required

Master's degree in supply chain management or related field preferred

Job description

Overview

The Regional Category Manager – Indirect APAC plans and leads all strategic aspects within the Indirect category across divisions at a regional level. This role develops proposals for strategic business decisions, delivers high-value procurement solutions, and supports category strategies, third-party vendor selection, vendor development, technology management, and performance measurement. The role ensures best-in-class delivery of external services and products in the agreed Indirect categories, supporting projects and driving year-on-year productivity, cost savings, and process improvements in close collaboration with business stakeholders.

Major accountabilities

• Implement category strategic goals from overall Procurement strategy and ecosystem management.
• Plan, organise, and manage projects, considering priorities, resources, budgets, and constraints.
• Map and analyse the value chain, applying total cost of ownership and should-cost modelling.
• Participate in and/or lead financial discussions, including budgeting and structuring complex deals.
• Support compliance and risk management, monitoring end-to-end compliance and executing risk mitigation plans.
• Generate internal and external insights to inform category strategies.
• Maintain and update procurement applications and content, driving continuous improvement and automation.
• Support the definition and implementation of procurement tools and processes.
• Manage data analysis and reporting (spend, demand, supply markets, competitors).
• Ensure demand management aligns business needs with Novartis strategy.
• Execute Source-to-Contract processes, including negotiations and supplier onboarding.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, optimising specifications and delivering customer value.
• Build long-term, sustainable, and effective relationships across business structures and networks.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant business experience (industry-specific).
• Preferably 10+ years in procurement or related roles within the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on category management, supplier management, or related areas in Indirect categories (External Workforce, HR services, IT services).
• Strong project management or leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• University/Advanced degree required.
• Master’s degree or similar in supply chain management, business administration, or related field preferred.
• Strong preference for CIPS, CCW, or similar professional qualification.

Languages

• English.

Skills Desired

• Effective Communication
• Finance Management
• Internal And External Customer Needs Analysis & Satisfaction Studies
• Managing Resources
• Negotiating