Senior Category Manager - R & D in South East

Senior Category Manager - Procurement Lead R &D - Medical Sciences - Leading Healthcare Organisation

South East London - Hybrid

Client Details

A leading healthcare pharmaceutical organisation which is fast growing

Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Category Manager - Medical Sciences to join a leading healthcare organisation. This role will partner with senior stakeholders across to deliver a strategic procurement vision centred around innovation, scientific excellence, and consumer needs.

This position sits within a highly visible R&D procurement team and will play a critical role in shaping category strategy across Medical Sciences, driving value creation, supplier innovation, operational excellence and risk management in a dynamic global environment.

As Senior Category Manager, you will lead the development and execution of procurement strategies across Medical Sciences, covering areas such as:

• Consumer Safety Services
• Pharmacovigilance
• Regulatory Services
• Evidence Generation
• Scientific and R&D Support Services

You will work closely with business leaders and technical stakeholders to ensure procurement strategies support innovation, regulatory compliance and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of category strategies for Medical Sciences, ensuring alignment to business objectives and stakeholder requirements.
• Analyse market trends, supply base opportunities and category risks to inform strategic decision making.
• Establish a centre of excellence for the category by leveraging market intelligence, external industry trends, strategic insights and technological advancements.
• Manage key supplier relationships, driving innovation, performance improvement and long-term value creation.
• Oversee the end-to-end sourcing lifecycle, including supplier selection, contract management and strategic procurement initiatives.
• Lead complex RFPs and negotiations to secure optimal commercial outcomes whilst maintaining quality and compliance standards.
• Drive productivity and cost optimisation initiatives without compromising service, quality or regulatory requirements.
• Act as a trusted business partner to Consumer Safety leadership teams, providing procurement expertise and market insight.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with all relevant regulatory standards, governance frameworks and internal policies.
• Identify and mitigate risks relating to supplier performance, regulatory compliance and supply continuity.
• Support the delivery of the R&D digitalisation and technology roadmap.
• Develop a strong understanding of market drivers and broader consumer healthcare landscape.
• Collaborate extensively across Finance, Legal, Risk & Compliance, R&D, Operations and regional procurement teams to deliver business objectives.

Profile

An experienced Senior Procurement Leader in Consumer Healthcare, Pharma, Medical Sciences, Clinical, Regulatory and R&D Procurement.

• Proven experience managing procurement categories within an R&D environment.
• Strong category management, strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management expertise.
• Demonstrable experience leading strategic procurement programmes and complex sourcing projects.
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation skills.
• Ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across multiple functions, regions and business units.
• Experience implementing cross-functional and regional strategies that support consumer and business needs.
• Understanding of scientific disciplines, medical sciences or R&D environments.
• Familiarity with the Consumer Health industry.
• Ideally a bachelor's or master's degree in science, Business or a related discipline and ideally CIPS qualification.
• Experience operating across multiple geographies within complex global organisations.
• Knowledge of Consumer Safety, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance and Evidence Generation categories.

Job Offer

Competitive Salary + Car Allowance + Performance Bonus + Share Awards / Stock Programme + additional excellent benefits

Why Apply?

This is a rare opportunity to join a world-class R&D procurement team operating at the forefront of consumer healthcare innovation. You will have the opportunity to influence global category strategies, partner with senior scientific stakeholders, and shape the future of Medical Sciences procurement within a highly respected organisation.

If you have a strong background in R&D Procurement, Medical Sciences, Consumer Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Services, Clinical Services, Regulatory Affairs or Scientific Procurement, we would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with you.