Global Category Associate Director

We are seeking an individual who thrives in ambiguity, capable of driving category management initiatives with strategic vision and precision.

You will serve as the Global Category Management for Software. You will report to the Director, GPO Technologies. You will lead the global category strategy for Software. This includes developing multi-year category strategies that address business needs while achieving best practice outcomes, building enterprise-wide business partnerships, and activating Procurement resources to drive strategic sourcing results to reduce costs and enable top-line performance.

Your responsibilities will include analyzing internal demand (using Business Partner Management processes), external market data, spend & specifications to produce a category plan aligned with Business objectives and cost reduction / sourcing initiates. As a Category Manager, you will play a pivotal role in managing the innovation agenda of Procurement. This role will drive supplier performance, manage risk, and deliver sustained value across a complex global professional services landscape.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Strategic Contribution

• Own and evolve the global category strategy for Software aligned with the overall business goals with a focus on unlocking value, optimizing supplier relationships, and mitigating risk
• Work with Technology Business Partners to improve software support across R&D, Commercial and Operations . Understand and influence business needs to drive procurement strategies that support enterprise priorities in a proactive manner. Act as a trusted advisor and thought leader across the organization, delivering insights on market trends, supplier capabilities, and go to market best practices tailored to the Software space
• Lead the creation of robust, financially grounded business cases (e.g., build vs. buy, total cost of ownership, should cost modeling, supplier consolidation) that support procurement decisions and drive measurable impact including operational efficiencies, and risk management
• Stay ahead of market shifts in the Software Industry innovations, product information, - selling techniques, delivery models and risk trendsand translate insights into actionable strategies for Amgen.
• Design and drive a multi-year sourcing roadmap for Software in alignment with stakeholder strategies, annual plans, to facilitate Technology's support of Amgens broader vision.
• Coordinate across regions to deliver cohesive procurement plans and project pipelines, aligning category execution with business priorities across globally.
• Build relationships with external experts, peer companies, and industry bodies to bring leading practices and innovation back into Amgens Technology sourcing strategy

Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight as the global lead for Software category and sourcing, ensuring alignment between category strategies and Amgens evolving business needs. Act as a trusted advisor to ensure that procurement initiatives are aligned with broader organizational objectives.
• Guide and facilitate collaboration across cross-functional teams and regional stakeholders, ensuring that procurement strategies meet the diverse needs of the organization and are implemented effectively.
• Ensure that all Software procurement activities are managed in compliance with regulatory, contractual, and operational risk requirements. Partner with Legal, Compliance, Data Privacy, and Cybersecurity teams to maintain oversight of risk mitigation strategies and ensure alignment with best practices.
• Collaborate with Strategic Sourcing peers to oversee the strategic approach to complex negotiations for Software contracts, providing guidance and ensuring that the right processes and frameworks are in place for RFPs, supplier evaluations, and contract development.
• Maturity to activate procurement resources towards category priorities while managing expectations with stakeholders.

Functional Skills:

Must-Have Skills:

• Familiarity with procurement platforms such as Ariba, as well as ERP systems and advanced analytics tools to support decision-making and process automation.
• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to analyze large datasets, identify trends, and derive actionable insights
• Experience leading large, cross-functional teams and managing complex global projects in a matrixed environment.

Good-to-Have Skills:

• Software Global Category Mgmt. with proven record of executive business partnering leading change and enterprise activation of sourcing initiatives driven from expert knowledge of marketplace capabilities
• Deep understanding of category management principles, supplier relationship management, and contract lifecycle management.
• Strong financial, legal, and contractual fluency to navigate sales services agreements and deliver business-aligned outcomes.
• A track record of driving innovation in category strategy development, supplier engagement models, and internal stakeholder partnerships.
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex category strategies, influence senior stakeholders, and manage change across functions and regions.
• Ability to proactively identify underlying business needs and craft strategic solutions across Software landscape.
• Capable of leveraging spend analytics and benchmarking to inform category strategies and uncover new value opportunities.
• Understanding of regulatory landscapes with the ability to navigate and manage compliance requirements.
• Ability to articulate a forward-looking category vision for Software and rally stakeholders around a shared, value-driven agenda.

Soft Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work effectively with global, virtual teams
• Ability to navigate ambiguity
• High degree of initiative and self-motivation
• Ability to manage multiple priorities successfully
• Team-oriented, with a focus on achieving team goals
• Influencing and Change Management skills

Basic Qualifications:

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The Category Management professional we seek is a Senior Manager with these qualifications:

Doctorate degree and 5 years of Global Strategic Sourcing, Procurement or Commercial (Sales) experience

Or

Masters degree and 8 years of Global Strategic Sourcing, Procurement or Commercial (Sales) experience

Or

Bachelors degree and 12 years of Global Strategic Sourcing, Procurement or Commercial (Sales) experience

Associates degree and 15 years of Global Strategic Sourcing, Procurement or Commercial (Sales) experience

2 years of managerial experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs or directing the allocation of resources