Manager, Procurement

Position Summary

The Manager, Procurement  is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that support the company's research and development activities and capital investment projects. This role partners closely with R&D, Finance, TechOps  and other cross-functional stakeholders to drive value through strategic supplier relationships, cost optimization, innovation, risk mitigation, and contractual excellence.

The Senior Category Manager will lead complex sourcing initiatives, negotiate commercial agreements, and manage supplier performance across a diverse portfolio of R&D projects. The role requires strong business acumen, project management capabilities, and the ability to operate effectively in a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary procurement business partner for assigned R&D and Capital stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with scientific, technical, engineering, facilities, and finance teams to understand business needs and provide strategic sourcing support.
• Influence stakeholders through data-driven recommendations and procurement best practices.
• Support long-range planning and investment decisions through market intelligence and sourcing expertise.

Category Management and Strategic Sourcing

• Develop and execute category strategies for assigned R&D spend categories aligned with organizational objectives.
• Negotiating preferred partnership commercial terms such as rates, vol discounts, etc.
• Extensive R&D and clinical support experience, including sourcing materials for clinical trials and managing supply readiness for new product development and commercial launches.
• Brings hands-on R&D procurement experience including supporting Phase 1–3/4 clinical trials, and built GxP-aligned supplier strategies. Understands how to work with researchers, CROs, and technical stakeholders in a fast-moving biotech environment.
• Deep experience with vendor management, contract manufacturer onboarding, supplier qualification, and strengthening long-term partnerships across domestic and global suppliers.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including supplier identification, RFx development, bid evaluation, supplier selection, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Conduct market and supplier analyses to identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, innovation, and risk reduction.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop sourcing plans that ensure continuity of supply and support business priorities.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships that deliver quality, service, innovation, and cost competitiveness.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and implement corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
• Partner with Quality, Compliance, and Technical teams to support supplier qualification, audits, and ongoing performance management.
• Monitor supplier market trends, capabilities, and risks to proactively address potential disruptions.

Financial and Operational Performance

• Identify and execute cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation initiatives across assigned categories.
• Support budget planning, forecasting, and tracking of procurement-related savings and project expenditures.
• Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles to sourcing decisions and supplier evaluations.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, financial controls, and approval processes.

Contracting and Risk Management

• Lead commercial negotiations for supplier agreements, statements of work, and master service agreements.
• Partner with Legal, Quality, and Compliance teams to ensure contracts appropriately address business requirements and regulatory obligations.
• Assess and mitigate supplier risks related to financial stability, operational capability, quality systems, and supply continuity.
• Ensure sourcing activities adhere to applicable GMP, GCP, and other regulatory requirements.

Cross-Functional Project Leadership

• Manage multiple complex sourcing projects simultaneously while meeting timelines and stakeholder expectations.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives supporting R&D programs, facility expansions, laboratory investments, and capital projects.
• Provide procurement leadership throughout project lifecycles from planning and vendor selection through implementation.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field required.
• Master's degree and/or professional certification (CPSM, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent) preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive strategic sourcing and procurement experience, preferably supporting R&D, laboratory operations, engineering, capital projects, or technical categories within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or related industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations.
• Strong understanding of supplier relationship management, category management, and contract development.
• Experience working within regulated environments and knowledge of GMP/GCP requirements preferred.
• Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems (Oracle, SAP, Ariba, Jaggaer, or equivalent).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and data analytics skills.

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking

Ability to translate business objectives into sourcing strategies that deliver measurable value and support organizational priorities.

Stakeholder Management and Influence

Ability to build credibility, establish trust, and influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.

Negotiation and Commercial Acumen

Strong commercial negotiation skills with the ability to balance risk, value, quality, and service considerations.

Project Management

Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives, prioritize effectively, and deliver results within established timelines.

Analytical and Financial Acumen

Strong analytical skills with experience evaluating supplier proposals, total cost of ownership models, and business cases.

Collaboration and Teamwork

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across functions and with global stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement

Committed to identifying opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, and overall business value.

Success Measures

The successful candidate will be evaluated on:

• Achievement of annual savings and value creation targets
• Stakeholder satisfaction and business partnership effectiveness
• Supplier performance and risk management outcomes
• Timely execution of sourcing and contracting activities
• Support of R&D and Capital project objectives
• Compliance with procurement policies and regulatory requirements
• Contribution to procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $113,000 to $131,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus.  Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package.  Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here  

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