Associate Director, Category Management & Capability Leadership - AI/Emerging Technology (North Chicago)

Associate Director, Category Management & Capability Leadership – AI/Emerging Technology

• Full-time
• Salary Min: 141,500
• Salary Max: 268,500
• Workday Global Grade: 20
• Travel: Yes, 5% of the Time
• Compensation: USD 141,500 – USD 268,500 yearly

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.

The Associate Director, Category Management partners with VP-level business or functional stakeholder(s) to develop global procurement strategies, contributing to a cross‑functional team that informs strategy through analysis, market expertise, and understanding of broader business objectives. This role builds a capability strategic plan and playbook to enable procurement best practices in this highly complex and changing environment. Specific categories and capabilities within leadership are Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies among other technologies and services as required.

Responsibilities

• Partner with VP-level business or functional stakeholders to develop global procurement strategies for AI and Emerging Technologies in alignment with the internal governance, stage‑gate processes, approvals, and risk/regulatory requirements.
• Drive innovation/thought leadership and lead complex programs and initiatives from strategy through implementation.
• Orchestrate procurement projects with a strategic lens, ensuring alignment with overarching business objectives and contributing to the long‑term strategic vision.
• Create comprehensive capability playbook, negotiation strategy, and deployment training for the procurement team, keeping pace with trends and market analysis to ensure continuous evolution.
• Ensure education and governance of capabilities are aligned and continuously evolving.
• Contribute to a cross‑functional team that informs strategic decision‑making by leveraging market intelligence, staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics.
• Define and develop strategic value drivers with key category suppliers to secure collaborative partnerships that challenge the status quo for cost savings, process optimization, and enhanced procurement value.
• Integrate sustainability and ESG measures into category strategies, collaborating with suppliers to enhance sustainable and responsible sourcing practices.
• Lead supplier relationship management (SRM) strategies, driving innovation with key category suppliers and collaborating to enact creative solutions that deliver on long‑term business needs; develop mitigation strategies to proactively manage procurement risk and ensure compliance.
• Lead large and complex supplier roadmaps, strategies, programs and negotiations.
• Ensure effective project management from initiation to completion, directing and guiding cross‑functional teams to deliver strategic category‑related projects; identify process optimization opportunities and leverage data analytics for continuous improvement.
• Drive the end‑to‑end procurement process from sourcing strategy to contract negotiation and execution, leading negotiations with key category suppliers and strengthening decisions with analytical insight and strategic perspective.
• Drive use cases and adoption for competitive edge, speed, quality, and marketplace advantages.
• Adopt a Coach mindset and conduct activities from business partnering, consulting, project/program leadership, and training to ensure the capability strategy is executed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Technology or related field; master’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, technology, consulting or related business/operations functions, including leading category teams, IT teams, consulting, partnering with major suppliers, and reporting to senior leaders.
• Comprehensive expertise in category management, market analysis, cost and financial assessment, and strategic procurement decisions.
• Fluency in negotiation and bidding, and adept at overseeing complex projects with a focus on effective change management.
• Strong internal stakeholder management and influence skills, aligning procurement strategies with business needs and fostering collaborative supplier relationships.
• Strategic thinking and accountability, anticipating future trends, and driving impactful procurement outcomes that challenge the status quo.
• Innovative problem‑solving skills, executive presence, and ability to communicate influence at all organizational levels.
• High cross‑functional leadership, conflict resolution, and ability to navigate a matrixed organization.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, facilitating empathetic interactions and robust relationship building.
• High resilience under pressure, autonomy, and independent decision‑making.

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan for eligible employees
• Long‑term incentive programs

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

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation can learn more: [link omitted]