[Hiring] Senior Category Manager @Boehringer Ingelheim

Role Description

The Senior Category Manager plays a key role in shaping sourcing strategies that ensure sustainable, competitive supply and high service quality for our interventional clinical trials. The role combines strategic responsibility for a global category with active supplier management, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement of sourcing approaches.

• Make a significant impact on the success of the Global Sourcing Clinical Development team by applying strategic strength, persuasiveness, and assertiveness.
• Responsible for sourcing activities within global Human Pharma’s clinical services categories.
• Assume responsibility for a worldwide category, managed in a highly centralised manner, by consistently challenging the existing status quo.
• Act as global supplier manager for core service providers, establishing and enforcing a robust governance system to ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Further develop and strengthen relationships with external strategic partners while monitoring the market for suppliers that best fit business needs.
• Continuously observe supply markets, search for new partners, service providers, and solutions, while analysing and mitigating risks within the category.
• Manage a high volume of sourcing requests independently and ensure successful negotiation outcomes.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams to implement cutting-edge methods of working and contribute to improvements in speed, cost efficiency, value generation, use of new technologies, and optimisation of buying channels.
• Support the development and upskilling of sourcing colleagues through training and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in global sourcing/procurement operations within a Pharma, Contract Research Organization (CRO), or Biotech environment.
• Experience running early clinical trials with Clinical Pharmacology Units.
• Knowledge of market intelligence and sourcing practices related to Clinical Development services; experience with fully outsourced clinical trials is considered an additional asset.
• A solid understanding of established sourcing methodologies, including demand management, market and supplier analysis, compliance management, due diligence, risk management, supplier relationship management, contract management, and negotiation techniques.
• Extensive experience working on international projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams comprising both internal and external stakeholders.
• A master's degree in Business Administration or a related field, or an equivalent professional qualification; candidates with a bachelor's degree combined with relevant professional experience will also be considered.
• Open-minded, motivated, and persuasive approach, combined with strong internal and external relationship management skills and willingness to take on responsibility.
• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to work collaboratively in diverse, cross‑functional and international teams.
• Strong communication skills in English; proficiency in German would be an advantage.

Requirements

• This is a fully remote position, open to candidates based anywhere in the UK or Ireland.
• Occasional business travel to Germany is required several times per year to support key stakeholder interactions and strategic sourcing activities.

Benefits

• Boehringer Ingelheim has been recognised as a Top Employer in the UK, demonstrating our commitment to building an exceptional workplace through strong people practices and supportive HR policies.