Regional Category Manager-Indirect APAC

Novartis Farmacéutica; Selangor; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Malaysia is seeking a Regional Category Manager for Indirect procurement. This role involves planning and managing strategic procurement initiatives across divisions, developing proposals for business decisions, and collaborating with stakeholders to drive cost savings and efficiency. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in procurement, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, and possesses strong project management skills.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative environment

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant business experience.
• 10+ years in procurement, particularly focused on category management.
• Strong leadership and project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement category strategic goals from the overall Procurement strategy.
• Map and analyse the value chain and apply total cost of ownership.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and optimize specifications.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Procurement strategies

Data analysis

Education

University/Advanced degree

Master’s degree in supply chain management or business administration

Job description

Summary

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.

About The Role

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.

Why Novartis

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