Associate Director, Category Management

AbbVie Inc.; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Long-term incentives

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an Associate Director of Category Management to lead global procurement strategies and develop a comprehensive annual plan for key categories. You will collaborate with VP-level stakeholders, drive SRM initiatives, and integrate ESG measures into sourcing strategies.

You will also guide a team of managers, negotiate contracts, and oversee end-to-end procurement processes to deliver cost savings and value across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of procurement, supply chain, or related experience.
• Experience leading category teams and reporting to senior leaders.
• Strong ability to deliver executive-level deliverables.
• Pharma industry knowledge is strongly preferred.
• Expert in category management, market analysis, and cost assessment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with VP-level stakeholders to develop global procurement strategies for a category.
• Build a comprehensive annual strategic plan for the category.
• Contribute to cross-functional decision-making with market intelligence and industry trends.
• Define strategic value drivers with key suppliers to secure cost savings and process improvements.
• Lead SRM strategies and drive innovative supplier collaboration.
• Develop and activate mitigation strategies to manage procurement risk.
• Drive end-to-end procurement processes from sourcing to contract execution and negotiation.
• Lead and coach a team of Managers to achieve ambitious targets.

Skills

Category management

Executive stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Cost optimization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Supply Chain

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. Please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Purpose

The Associate Director, Category Management partners with VP-level business or functional stakeholder(s) to develop global procurement strategies, contributing to a cross-functional team that informs strategy through analysis, market expertise, and understanding of broader business objectives. This role builds an annual strategic plan and leads a team of managers to achieve ambitious performance targets aligned with organizational goals.

Responsibilities

• Partner with VP-level business or functional stakeholders to develop global procurement strategies for an individual procurement category, acting as a Business Partner where necessary.
• Build a comprehensive annual strategic plan for the relevant category, incorporating category strategies that align with overall business goals.
• Contribute to a cross-functional team that informs strategic decision-making by leveraging market intelligence, staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics.
• Define and develop strategic value drivers with key category suppliers to secure collaborative partnerships that challenge the status quo to achieve cost savings, optimize processes, and enhance overall procurement value.
• Integrate sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) measures into category strategies, collaborating with suppliers to enhance sustainable and responsible sourcing practices.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies, driving innovation with key category suppliers and collaborating to enact creative and cutting-edge solutions that deliver on long-term business needs.
• Develop and activate mitigation strategies to proactively define and manage procurement risk across the relevant category, , ensuring compliance.
• Ensure effective project management from initiation to completion, directing and guiding cross-functional teams to deliver strategic category-related projects. Identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency gains, leveraging data analytics to develop long-term continuous improvement programs that achieve strategic objectives.
• Drive the end-to-end procurement process from sourcing strategy to contract negotiation and execution, leading negotiations with key category suppliers and strengthening decisions with strong analytical insight and strategic perspective.
• Lead & coach a team of Managers, setting ambitious performance targets, providing tailored coaching, and evaluating team performance. Assist in planning to address skillsets, workforce requirements, capability needs, and long-term organizational staffing goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt or related field. Master’s degree is preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or related business or operations function.
• Previous experience leading category teams, partnering with major suppliers, and reporting to senior leaders.
• Strong proficiency in developing high-impact executive-level deliverables.
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry is strongly preferred.
• Comprehensive expertise in category management, including market analysis, cost and financial assessment, ensuring strategic and informed procurement decisions. Fluency in negotiation and bidding, adept in overseeing complex projects with a focus on effective change management.
• Strong capabilities in internal stakeholder management and influence, aligning procurement strategies with business needs and fostering collaborative supplier relationships.
• Strategic thinking and accountability, anticipating future trends, and taking responsibility for impactful procurement outcomes that challenge the status quo.
• Innovative problem-solving skills combined with a significant executive presence, enabling creative solutions and influential communication at all organizational levels. High cross-functional leadership abilities, conflict resolution skills, effectively navigating & harmonizing diverse team dynamics.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, facilitating empathetic interactions, effective communication, and robust relationship-building across a matrixed organization. High resilience under pressure and autonomous work ethic, maintaining performance in challenging situations and making independent decisions.

Additional Information

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at the timeof thisposting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location,andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
• This job is eligible toparticipatein our long-term incentiveprograms.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.The amount and availability of any bonus,commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company's sole andabsolutediscretion unless anduntil paid andmay bemodifiedat the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent withapplicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html