This role focuses on the development and deployment of global category strategies and initiatives, leading our major supplier relationships, developing deeper relationships with the various stakeholder groups through effective business partnering, and ensuring that the underpinning process improvement and procurement activities deliver the expected business value.

In this role, you will develop long-term strategic plans for an entire spend category within AstraZeneca. You will manage stakeholder and supplier relationships to ensure that category strategies are highly aligned to current and future business needs and that the supply base can support these strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Lead implementation of category plans to ensure that the underpinning process improvement and procurement activities deliver business value in accordance with the strategic plan and help towards our Sustainability targets.

• Develop long term strategic plans for agreed scope of spend area, with a focus on delivering broader value, innovation, and savings.

• Support the team in strategic relationship management (customer and supplier) - ensuring Category Strategies are fully aligned to current and future Business need, and we maintain a supply base capable of supporting these strategies.

• Work alongside key stakeholders advising on and driving procurement strategies to make decisions necessary to make purchases in congruence with organizational objectives.

• Advise on contracts and agreements for the supply of sophisticated products and services with new and existing suppliers - Cross functional support of global procurement colleagues and collaborate on setting and completing the strategy.

• Develop and execute alliance management strategies for key CDMO partnerships - Lead sourcing and negotiation for Auto TCR-T, Allo CAR-T, and In-vivo manufacturing - Drive COGM reduction initiatives for LVV, Plasmids, Gene Editing, and Drug Product - Build resilient, multi-source supplier base for critical materials in collaboration with technical, quality, and external manufacturing teams

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

• 7+ years of experience in a procurement environment

• Significant experience of Category Management (preferably in Cell Therapy)

• Strong project management, change management and people leadership skills

• Strong understanding of the pharmaceutical industry

• Strong communication skills and ability to influence others

• Comfort with risk and ambiguous situations

Preferred Skills:

• Proven track record negotiating and managing complex CDMO contracts

• Technical background (ideally MS&T, CMC, or manufacturing engineering)

• Strong alliance management skills balancing cost, quality, and relationship dynamics

• Experience with novel modalities (CAR-T, TCR-T, in-vivo gene editing)

• Track record managing tech transfers to CDMOs

• Familiarity with Lean/Six Sigma methodologies

• China market experience: Deep understanding of China's biotech ecosystem, regulatory environment, and supplier landscape. Mandarin language proficiency (for China-focused role)

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