Global Category Manager, R&D
Global Category Manager - R&D
Industry: Pharmaceutical
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Function: Global Indirect Procurement
Level: Manager
The Opportunity
A company in the pharmaceutical sector is strengthening its global indirect procurement organisation and is seeking a Global Category Manager - R&D to manage a critical, high‑value and highly complex services portfolio.
This role sits at the intersection of strategy, commercial execution, and stakeholder partnership, supporting research, clinical development, and innovation agendas across a global business. You will play a central role in shaping how external R&D partners are sourced, governed, and leveraged to deliver value well beyond cost.
Reporting into senior global category director, this position offers strong visibility, influence, and scope within a matrixed international organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Execution
- Execute global category strategies for R&D, aligned with wider business and innovation objectives
- Translate global strategy into annual sourcing plans, pipeline management, and tangible, measurable outcomes
- Provide market intelligence and commercial insights to shape category direction and supplier strategies
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Management
- Lead and co‑lead complex, high‑value sourcing initiatives, covering end‑to‑end processes from demand intake and market analysis through to contract award and implementation
- Run RFPs and tenders, evaluate supplier proposals, and support informed supplier selection decisions
- Negotiate commercial, contractual, and service‑level agreements focused on cost, quality, speed, innovation, and flexibility
- Drive sustainable cost‑saving and value‑creation initiatives across the portfolio
- Own contract lifecycle management, including renewals, amendments, work orders, and compliance
Supplier & Contract Management
- Manage supplier performance and operational relationships across global and regional stakeholders
- Support deployment of a consistent, globally defined supplier ecosystem across business units
- Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, innovation partnerships, and risk mitigation
- Surface regional insights to inform global sourcing and supplier portfolio decisions
Stakeholder Partnership
- Act as a trusted procurement partner to R&D, Research, Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, and regional business teams
- Influence stakeholders through data‑driven insight, market expertise, and commercial recommendations
- Work cross‑functionally with Quality, Legal, Regulatory, Finance, and Supply Chain
- Serve as a change agent driving adoption of global procurement governance and best practices
Value Creation & Continuous Improvement
- Deliver measurable and sustainable value across cost effectiveness, risk reduction, and value realization
- Improve transparency in complex service spend through standardized rate cards, engagement models, and analytics
- Drive value beyond cost, including faster time‑to‑market, access to specialist expertise, and scalable external capacity
What We're Looking For
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, or a related field
- Master's degree or advanced procurement certifications advantageous
Experience
- Strong background in strategic sourcing and category management, with hands‑on execution experience
- Demonstrated exposure to R&D and professional services procurement
- Experience operating within global governance frameworks and regional execution models
Skills & Capabilities
- Advanced negotiation and contract management skills (MSA, SOW, SLA, WO)
- Strong commercial and execution focus
- Confident stakeholder influencer with excellent communication skills
- Analytical, data‑driven decision‑maker
- Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with operational delivery
- Able to operate effectively in a global, matrixed environment
Why This Role?
- Strategic ownership of a mission‑critical, innovation‑enabling spend category
- Global exposure and senior stakeholder engagement
- Opportunity to shape how R&D services are sourced in a regulated, high‑impact environment
- Career development within a stable, international pharmaceutical organisation
FAQs
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