Senior Purchasing Manager

TalentBridge; Englewood (CO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Strategic Purchasing Manager to lead procurement in a dynamic GMP manufacturing environment. This role involves developing strategic sourcing initiatives, managing supplier performance, and ensuring cost efficiencies while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Join a forward-thinking company where your expertise will drive operational excellence and foster supplier collaboration, making a significant impact on the organization’s success.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of progressive procurement experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Deep knowledge of GMP, FDA, and regulatory purchasing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of buyers to meet performance and compliance targets.
• Develop and implement long-term procurement strategies for direct materials.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Management

Negotiation Skills

Analytical Skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain

Master’s degree or MBA

Tools

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite)

Procurement Analytics Tools

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a Strategic Purchasing Manager to lead our procurement function and team in a regulated, fast-paced GMPmanufacturing environment. This position is responsible for developing and executing strategic sourcing initiatives, managing supplier performance, and driving cost efficiencies while ensuring uninterrupted supply of critical materials. The role requires strong leadership capabilities, deep understanding of GMP-compliant purchasing, and a proactive approach to risk mitigation and supplier collaboration.

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor a team of buyers and sourcing professionals to meet performance, compliance, and cost targets.

• Establish clear goals and KPIs; foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Develop team capabilities in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and regulatory compliance.

Strategic Procurement

• Develop and implement long-term procurement strategies for direct materials (APIs, excipients, packaging), indirect spend, and services aligned with business goals.

• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and R&D to ensure procurement supports compliance, innovation, and operational efficiency.

• Own category management, vendor segmentation, and sourcing strategies for key spend categories.

Supplier Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, and quality performance.

• Lead supplier selection, qualification, audits, and performance evaluations.

• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and service agreements, ensuring alignment with budget and compliance requirements.

Operational Excellence

• Monitor market trends and material cost drivers to anticipate supply risks and capitalize on opportunities.

• Implement and enhance ERP/MRP-based procurement processes and tools to optimize procurement operations.

• Lead cost-reduction, value-engineering, and working capital initiatives across the procurement function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field (Master’s degree or MBA preferred).

• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive procurement experience in pharmaceutical or life sciences manufacturing, with 3+ years in a leadership role.

• Deep knowledge of GMP, FDA, and regulatory purchasing requirements.

• Demonstrated success in building and executing sourcing strategies, supplier management, and team development.

• Strong negotiation and analytical skills with a proven track record in cost containment and supplier performance improvement.

• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite) and procurement analytics tools.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Attributes

• APICS, CPM, CSCP, or similar supply chain certification.

• Experience managing supply continuity during product scale-up, tech transfer, or market expansion.

• Proven ability to manage procurement in both commercial production and development environments.