Senior Specialist, Category Management (R&D Services)

The Senior Specialist, Category Management executes sub-category procurement strategy in support of R&D portfolio priorities, as part of the larger category management team, reporting to Category Managers and Directors. This role supports end-to-end execution of the procurement process — including sourcing, contracting, and supplier relationship management — with a bias for action, speed of execution, and quality, ensuring activities comply with defined processes and align with broader category strategy. The Senior Specialist also contributes to procurement projects and continuous improvement initiatives, building category expertise and enabling procurement to operate as a trusted partner to R&D stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with Category Directors and Associate Directors to execute subcategory-specific procurement strategies aligned to R&D portfolio priorities and timelines.
• Implement and monitor effectiveness of strategies for the relevant category, ensuring alignment with R&D and overall business goals and enabling timely delivery of programs across discovery, pre-clinical, and development stages.
• Report on supplier performance and operational health, informing Category Leaders to enable strategic decision-making, incorporating industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics; translate analysis into clear insights and recommendations for category leadership.
• Monitor initiatives to drive value with category suppliers, tracking cost savings and measurable value delivery against Category Management Plans.
• Enable sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) measures, working alongside suppliers to advance sustainable and responsible sourcing practices.
• Execute Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies, managing relationships with category suppliers and collaborating to deliver solutions that address long-term business needs and anticipate scientific requirements.
• Implement mitigation strategies to proactively manage procurement risk across the relevant category, maintaining process, governance, and policy compliance.
• Ensure effective project management from initiation to completion, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver strategic category-related projects. Assist category leaders with opportunities for process optimization and efficiency gains, executing continuous improvement programs across people, process, governance, systems, and reporting that achieve strategic objectives.
• Assist with the end-to-end procurement process from sourcing strategy to contract negotiation and execution, supporting negotiations with category suppliers and facilitating decisions by developing the required analysis and gathering relevant data.
• Develop own capabilities and build category expertise in accordance with individual learning path. Actively support team goals, ensuring performance targets and objectives are delivered successfully.
• Support stakeholder engagement by building working relationships with R&D customers and cross-functional partners; surface feedback on service, execution, or alignment gaps to category leaders.
• Operate effectively in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment, demonstrating accountability, adaptability, and open dialogue consistent with AbbVie's Ways We Work.

 

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Science, Finance, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or related business or operations function; pharmaceutical, life sciences, or R&D category experience preferred.
• Previous experience in category management, contract negotiation, and supplier relationship management.
• Familiarity with procurement systems such as SAP and Ariba preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Power Platform).
• Fast learner comfortable navigating across a range of industries and sectors, with the ability to operate through ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• High cross-functional collaboration abilities and teamwork skills, effectively navigating and coordinating diverse team dynamics.
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, facilitating empathetic interactions, effective communication, and robust relationship-building across a matrixed organization.
• Impactful executive functioning abilities and autonomous work ethic, maintaining efficient performance in challenging situations and building consensus in decision-making.
• Solid analytical and financial acumen with the ability to quantify value, track savings, and communicate impact clearly.

Key Stakeholders:

Business Leads, Business Partners, Category Leads, Procurement Leads/Managers, Procurement Strategy & Capabilities Office, R&D Stakeholders (Discovery, Pre-Clinical, Development Sciences)

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

• The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this roleat  the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on manyfactors  including  geographic location, and we may ultimately  pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be  modified in the future. ​

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

• This job is eligible to  participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​

Note: No amount of pay is  considered to be wages or compensation until such amount isearned,  vested,  and determinable. The amount and availability of  any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that areallocable to a   particular employee  remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be  modified at the Company’s sole and absolutediscretion,  consistent with applicable law. 

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

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