Category Manager, TPM

Allergan; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) program

Paid time off

Job summary

Allergan is seeking a Procurement Lead to oversee the large molecule drug substance sub-category. This role demands strong procurement strategy development and execution, focusing on large pharmaceuticals. The ideal candidate will leverage over 7 years of experience in procurement and project management.

Key responsibilities include managing supplier relationships, leading cross-divisional procurement projects, and ensuring operational excellence through effective negotiation and supplier selection.

Successful candidates will demonstrate analytical skills and possess a bachelor's degree, preferably in a technical field.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience required.
• Experience in procurement for third-party manufacturing of pharmaceutical drug substance preferred.
• Strong communication, presentation, interpersonal, and persuasion skills are necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead the procurement strategy for large molecule drug substance.
• Define and execute sub-category strategy aligned with broader goals.
• Monitor contract execution and support ongoing process improvements.

Skills

Procurement/category management

Project management

Supplier management

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Advanced scientific or technical training

Tools

Procurement systems

Job description

Company Description

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. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

Purpose

Leads the Third-Party Manufacturing (TPM) large molecule drug substance sub-category and category procurement initiative teams that encompass international Procurement organizations. This position is responsible for establishing, articulating, and implementing procurement strategies for third-party manufacturing of AbbVie pharma products, with a primary focus on large molecule drug substance external manufacturing and supplier networks.

This role is responsible for overseeing and developing end-to-end procurement processes, leading strategic sourcing through contracting activities, and ensuring alignment with category strategy. The incumbent partners cross-functionally with key stakeholders to drive supplier selection, supplier management, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role may be responsible for obtaining program buy-in from various stakeholder organizations.

The incumbent shall create and manage project plans, identify the resources to support projects, drive projects through the procurement process, and ensure end results meet the requirements of all organizations impacted. This position requires a proactive approach that is relationship-oriented, customer-focused, team-oriented, analytical, creative, dynamic, and demonstrative of continuous improvement. The incumbent will be accountable for representing AbbVie to external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conceive, initiate, develop, communicate, and manage the execution of procurement strategies representing a minimum of $25 million of annual expenditures in the Third-Party Manufacturing category, with primary responsibility for the large molecule drug substance sub‑category. Maintain strong knowledge of the spend area with the ability to develop and manage long‑range plans for the sub‑category.
• Define and execute sub‑category strategy and vision aligned with broader category strategy and business goals. Ensure strategic sourcing decisions support value delivery, supply assurance, compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Lead end-to-end procurement processes from strategy development through sourcing, negotiation, contracting, implementation, and supplier management. Monitor contract execution and support ongoing process improvements to ensure operational excellence.
• Set direction on standards, identify points of supply, support supplier selection decisions, and develop, execute, and manage procurement strategies and strategic initiatives for stakeholders to improve overall value to AbbVie.
• Deliver successful cross‑divisional procurement projects that yield benefits to the corporation including savings, re‑engineered business processes, sustainable long‑term agreements, assurance of supply, and risk‑mitigating supply strategies.
• Lead supplier selection, cultivate supplier relationships, and drive supplier innovation consistent with category strategy. Proactively identify, assess, and manage procurement‑related risks across the supplier network.
• Apply a skilled approach to negotiations, including use of market intelligence, fact‑based analysis, and best practices to achieve strong outcomes. Convert negotiated outcomes into performance‑based, legally sound contracts that support ongoing supplier management and program sustainability.
• Communicate effectively with management and stakeholder groups affected by procurement decisions. Foster the exchange of ideas and information and establish productive working relationships across cross‑functional teams.
• Build strong business partnerships by understanding stakeholder needs, integrating those needs into procurement strategies, and ensuring delivery of value to the organization across commercial, compliance, sustainability, and supply dimensions.
• Initiate and cultivate open, honest, and beneficial relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and stakeholders by establishing rapport, developing understanding of needs, promoting common goals, and following through on commitments.
• Resolve conflicts constructively by identifying root causes, collaborating on mutually beneficial solutions, and supporting implementation of agreed actions. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and influence positive long‑term change with sustainable benefits for the corporation.
• Use analytical abilities to establish spend baselines, evaluate supplier proposals, analyze market conditions, and support fact‑based sourcing and supplier management decisions.
• Identify and scope new sourcing opportunities. Prepare project scoping documents including project scope, scale, timelines, and key stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance procurement effectiveness, efficiency, compliance, and business value.
• Responsible for compliance with applicable external standards and AbbVie policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline preferred. Advanced scientific or technical training is valued.
• Minimum 7 years of combined relevant experience required.
• Required experience in procurement/category management, project management, supplier management, conflict resolution, negotiation, supply chain management, cost analysis, financial analysis, quality systems and documentation, regulatory issues, compliance, contracting experience, and technical/business partnering.
• Relevant technical expertise in large molecule drug substance manufacturing is required, including understanding of biologics drug substance manufacturing processes, external manufacturing models, key process steps, associated quality and supply risks, and the technical considerations that influence supplier selection and procurement strategy.
• Experience supporting procurement for third‑party manufacturing of pharmaceutical drug substance and/or drug product strongly preferred; experience in large molecule drug substance external manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through the procurement process and keep members focused on a fact‑based conclusion without defaulting to a compromise position.
• Demonstrates ability to plan, execute, and measure successful project implementations. Capable of formulating complex project objectives, breaking them into actionable tasks, and managing to key milestones.
• Strong communication, presentation, interpersonal, and persuasion skills, with the ability to tailor communications to a range of stakeholder levels.
• Demonstrated business partnership, strategic thinking, and operations excellence mindset.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities, including the ability to translate business needs into sourcing strategies and procurement actions.
• Proficiency with relevant computer applications and procurement systems.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our long‑term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employer remains in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable 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.

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