Strategic Healthcare Category Manager

Alkermes; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkermes is seeking a Category Manager, Commercial Procurement to lead strategy and sourcing across Market Research, Sales Ops and Market Access. You will drive end-to-end sourcing, supplier partnerships, and value creation in a hybrid Boston-based role.

This role requires 5+ years in strategic sourcing, robust contract management, and the ability to influence across a matrixed commercial organization. You will deliver cost optimization and innovative supplier solutions while ensuring compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related field.
• 5+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or related experience.
• Experience supporting commercial services categories such as Market Research, Sales Operations, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Analytics, Data Providers, Consulting, or Marketing-related spend.
• Demonstrated experience leading sourcing events, supplier negotiations, and contract management activities.
• Proven track record delivering measurable business value through procurement initiatives.
• Experience working in a cross-functional, matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies for Market Research, Sales Operations, Market Access, Commercial Analytics, and related commercial services categories.
• Partner with Commercial leadership to understand business priorities, upcoming initiatives, and procurement requirements.
• Translate business objectives into sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, innovation, and supplier performance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders regarding market intelligence, supplier capabilities, contracting approaches, and procurement best practices.
• Build strong partnerships with Legal, Finance, Compliance, Medical, and Commercial stakeholders to support strategic business initiatives.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events, including spend analysis, market assessments, RFI/RFP development, supplier evaluation, negotiations, supplier selection, and contract execution.
• Conduct commercial market analysis to identify emerging suppliers, industry trends, innovative solutions, and competitive benchmarking opportunities.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, service levels, data rights, performance metrics, and contractual protections that align with organizational objectives.
• Drive supplier consolidation and rationalization initiatives where appropriate to improve efficiency and leverage enterprise spend.
• Ensure sourcing activities comply with company policies, regulatory requirements, and procurement governance standards.
• Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships across key commercial service providers.
• Conduct business reviews with critical suppliers and monitor performance against contractual obligations and service-level agreements.
• Drive supplier accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation opportunities.
• Identify and mitigate supplier-related risks, including operational, compliance, financial, and business continuity risks.
• Partner with suppliers to identify new capabilities, technologies, and service solutions that enhance commercial effectiveness.
• Analyze spend, utilization, and supplier performance data to identify opportunities for cost optimization and process improvement.
• Track and report sourcing benefits, including cost savings, cost avoidance, value creation, and operational efficiencies.
• Support budget planning activities by providing market intelligence and pricing insights.
• Develop fact-based recommendations to maximize ROI from commercial service investments.
• Drive compliance with negotiated contracts and preferred supplier programs.
• Support the procure-to-pay process and assist stakeholders with procurement systems, purchasing procedures, and supplier onboarding activities.
• Ensure contracts and sourcing events are appropriately documented and compliant with procurement policies.
• Maintain category dashboards, sourcing pipelines, supplier performance metrics, and executive reporting.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives that improve procurement processes, stakeholder experience, and operational effectiveness.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related field

MBA preferred

CPSM/CPM/CIPS certification preferred

Tools

Contract lifecycle management systems

Job description

Alkermes is seeking a Category Manager, Commercial Procurement to lead strategy and sourcing across Market Research, Sales Ops and Market Access. You will drive end-to-end sourcing, supplier partnerships, and value creation in a hybrid Boston-based role.

This role requires 5+ years in strategic sourcing, robust contract management, and the ability to influence across a matrixed commercial organization. You will deliver cost optimization and innovative supplier solutions while ensuring compliance.