Procurement Director - Category Management Lead, IT

Director, Category Management Lead

The Director, Category Management Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping long-term strategies for multiple procurement categories, ensuring strategies align with overarching business objectives. This role focuses on strategic advising and requires broad oversight of category procurement execution including supplier management, risk mitigation, and operations excellence. The Director, Category Management Lead will lead strategy through execution ensuring alignment across Category Managers, collaborating with Business Partners, cross functional partners, and capability owners to ensure efficient procurement of business needs. Specific IT categories under leadership include: IT Professional Services and Outsourced Services amongst other technology and services as required

Responsibilities include:

• Create overarching Category Strategy through execution inclusive of supplier strategies, governance mode, Supplier Relationship Management. Implement innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement activities, contributing to the organization competitive edge and financial health.
• Employ data analytics at a strategic level to transform procurement operations and decision-making
• Drive Innovation/Thought Leadership and lead complex programs, initiatives from strategy through implementation. Orchestrate procurement projects with a strategic lens, ensuring they are not only aligned with overarching business objectives but also contribute to the long-term strategic vision.
• Lead Stakeholder and functional engagement and management across Enterprise, Operations, R&D, and Operations within the IT categories of leadership
• Create Category playbooks, negotiations Strategy and Term Sheet
• Manage Category Council that ensure category strategy pull through and regional, local requirements
• Create project/supplier strategy team for strategy through execution based on complexities and aligned approach with established roles, escalations, and timelines
• Oversee and guide the development and execution of long-term category strategy across multiple procurement categories, optimizing cost, efficiency, and quality.
• Act as the critical link between the procurement and business units, ensuring that procurement strategies are aligned and actively contribute to achieving business objectives. In the absence of a designated business partner role, step into this capacity, serving as a strategic advisor and partner to senior business leadership.
• Oversee market trend analysis and supplier landscape assessments to inform strategic decisions.
• Champion sustainability and ESG initiatives, ensuring procurement practices align with organizational and global standards.
• Cultivate high-level strategic partnerships with strategic category suppliers, spearheading joint initiatives that advance innovation and continuous improvement by challenging the status quo.
• Lead a comprehensive approach to identifying and mitigating supplier risks at a category level.
• Strategically ensure robust compliance with global standards, incorporating a holistic view that encompasses entire value chain processes.
• Provide visionary leadership to and directly manage a team of category managers, focusing on strategic mentoring and development. Cultivate a culture that prioritizes excellence, continuous improvement, and team cohesion.
• Implement comprehensive workforce plans that ensure the category team's capabilities are not only aligned with current organizational needs but are also scalable and adaptable for future challenges.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt., Finance, or related field. Master's degree or equivalent experience is preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in procurement, supply chain or related business or operations function. Previous experience leading category management teams and reporting to senior procurement leadership.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence across the organization, supplemented by robust soft skills.
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry is required.

Additional Information:

• 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 role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors 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 long-term incentive programs.

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.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

Recruitment Fraud Alert

• AbbVie will never request sensitive personal information (such as bank account details, social security numbers, or payment of any kind) during the recruitment process.
• If you suspect you have received a fraudulent offer or communication claiming to be from AbbVie, please do not respond, open any attachments, or click on any hyperlinks.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of AbbVie, please contact us immediately.

Protect yourself by verifying job offers and communications. Your safety is important to us.

1. Yes, 5% of the Time

Pay Range: $160500 - 305000 USD

Where We Work

Role is primarily site- or office-based but can occasionally be performed remotely. Employees who are site/office-based and can occasionally perform their role virtually work both in the office and remotely*, following the policies and regulations in place at their location. US Employees must be in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with flexibility to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Three days in the office is the minimum; some individuals or teams may require more in-office days due to meetings, business/project needs or their role.