Manager, Category Management

AbbVie; Illinois; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie in Illinois seeks a Manager, Category Management to partner with R&D stakeholders and lead category strategies that align with research priorities. You will drive structured sourcing, manage supplier relationships, and deliver measurable value beyond cost, including speed, quality, and risk mitigation.

You will mentor junior analysts, collaborate across functions, and ensure ESG considerations are embedded in sourcing decisions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of procurement or category management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Experience supporting R&D, scientific, or technical teams in pharma or life sciences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead multi-year category strategies aligned with R&D priorities.
• Execute sourcing programs, supplier negotiations, and contract execution.
• Build and manage supplier relationships to enable innovation and value.
• Integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into supplier selection.
• Mentor analysts and develop category capability across the team.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder influence

Financial analysis

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

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

Purpose

The Manager, Category Management serves as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders within R&D, supporting the development and leading the execution of category strategies within R&D Procurement. This role translates business priorities into actionable sourcing strategies grounded in market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation.

The position requires solid expertise in category management and strategic sourcing, with the ability to lead cross‑functional sourcing initiatives, manage supplier relationships, and deliver measurable outcomes aligned to R&D objectives, including innovation, speed, quality, and cost.

Responsibilities

• Partner with R&D, scientific, and functional stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies, ensuring alignment with research and development priorities.
• Contribute to the development of multi‑year category strategies informed by market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
• Apply category management and strategic sourcing expertise to drive structured sourcing, demand management, and value creation initiatives.
• Build and manage supplier relationships across R&D categories, enabling innovation and long‑term partnerships.
• Define and deliver value drivers beyond cost (e.g., speed to clinic, quality, innovation, risk mitigation), aligned with R&D priorities.
• Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities, including performance governance, supplier reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into sourcing and supplier selection processes.
• Identify and help mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks across the category landscape.
• Lead end‑to‑end sourcing execution, including competitive events, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Drive cross‑functional project execution, ensuring stakeholder alignment, disciplined delivery, and measurable outcomes.
• Mentor and develop analysts and junior team members, building category capability and analytical rigor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Scientific background (e.g., life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related field) preferred, particularly for R&D‑aligned categories.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement, category management, or related strategic roles.
• Demonstrated experience executing sourcing strategies and category initiatives (or equivalent experience in strategic sourcing, consulting, or business strategy roles).
• Experience supporting R&D, scientific, or technical organizations within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry preferred.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels across complex categories.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, including cost modeling, market analysis, and value quantification.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and build alignment across a matrixed organization.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and managing supplier relationships.
• Strong collaboration, change management, and cross‑functional teamwork capabilities.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and fast‑paced environments.

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

• 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 employee 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.

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