The Associate Director, Category Lead - Marketing & Sales Procurement is responsible for leading strategic sourcing, category management, supplier relationship management, and procurement initiatives across Alkermes' commercial organization. This role serves as the primary procurement business partner to Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Commercial Operations, Patient Services, and related functions, ensuring procurement strategies align with organizational priorities and commercial objectives.
The position is responsible for the development and execution of global category strategies across a broad portfolio of commercial spend, including advertising and creative agencies, media planning and buying, digital marketing, market research, data and analytics, conferences and events, promotional materials, patient support services, commercial outsourcing, sales enablement solutions, and related commercial services.
This role requires close collaboration with senior business stakeholders, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and external suppliers to identify opportunities, optimize investments, drive innovation, mitigate risk, and deliver measurable business value. The successful candidate will leverage deep category expertise, commercial acumen, and strategic sourcing capabilities to support Alkermes' commercialization goals and growth strategy.
ResponsibilitiesLead the creation, execution, and management of comprehensive sourcing strategies for Marketing & Sales categories
- Develop and execute category strategies across Commercial Procurement spend areas, including:
- Advertising and creative agencies
- Media planning and buying
- Digital marketing and omnichannel services
- Market research and business insights
- Commercial data and analytics
- Promotional materials and print management
- Conferences, meetings, and events
- Sales force effectiveness and enablement tools
- Commercial technology and CRM solutions
- Patient support and engagement services
- Commercial outsourcing and consulting services
- Serve as the strategic procurement advisor to Commercial business leaders and stakeholders.
- Build strong partnerships with Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Operations, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to understand business priorities and develop sourcing strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
- Lead strategic sourcing events, including supplier selection, RFx management, negotiations, contract development, implementation planning, and supplier performance management.
- Leverage deep category knowledge and market intelligence to identify opportunities for value creation, supplier innovation, risk management, and cost optimization.
- Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies and supplier roadmaps that support Alkermes' commercial objectives and future growth.
- Identify and deliver business benefits related to quality, service, supplier performance, innovation, risk mitigation, and financial performance.
- Ensure financial value delivered through sourcing initiatives is appropriately validated, communicated, and recognized by Finance and business stakeholders.
- Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships, governance frameworks, and performance metrics for critical commercial suppliers.
- Lead supplier business reviews and drive continuous improvement initiatives that advance business objectives.
- Negotiate and manage complex commercial agreements, statements of work, master service agreements, and other procurement-related contracts.
- Ensure sourcing and supplier management activities comply with Alkermes procurement policies, applicable regulations, and industry compliance requirements.
- Develop annual category plans and budgets in partnership with stakeholders and Finance.
- Provide reporting and insights related to spend management, supplier performance, sourcing pipeline activities, savings, and value realization.
Leadership and Cross-Functional Influence
- Lead cross-functional sourcing teams and initiatives within the Commercial organization.
- Influence stakeholders and drive adoption of strategic sourcing and category management best practices.
- Foster collaborative relationships across the enterprise to maximize procurement's contribution to business performance.
- Mentor and support procurement team members and contribute to the development of commercial procurement capabilities and processes.
- Support procurement transformation initiatives, continuous improvement efforts, and implementation of procurement best practices.
Required Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field required.
- MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or related experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting Marketing, Sales, Commercial Operations, or similar indirect procurement categories.
- Demonstrated expertise in strategic sourcing and supplier management within commercial or marketing-focused spend categories.
- Proven experience negotiating complex commercial services and consulting agreements.
- Demonstrated success partnering with senior business leaders in a matrixed environment.
- Track record of delivering measurable financial and operational value through sourcing initiatives.
- Experience managing multiple initiatives, stakeholders, and priorities simultaneously.
- Strong project management and change management capabilities.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or medical device industry experience preferred.
- Experience supporting commercial launch activities and brand marketing organizations.
- Professional procurement certification (CPSM, CPM, CPSD, or equivalent) preferred.
- Experience implementing category management and supplier relationship management programs.
- Experience working in global procurement organizations.
Competencies
The successful candidate will be a strategic leader with deep expertise in commercial procurement, supplier management, and stakeholder engagement.
- High degree of business partnership, collaboration, and customer focus.
- Deep knowledge of Marketing & Sales procurement categories and supplier markets.
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of business drivers within a pharmaceutical or healthcare environment.
- Strategic mindset with demonstrated ability to translate business objectives into sourcing strategies.
- Advanced negotiation and contract management skills.
- Strong supplier relationship management capabilities.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Ability to build credibility and partner effectively with senior business leaders.
- Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and capture value beyond traditional cost savings.
- Ability to manage complexity and navigate competing business priorities.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence across a matrixed global organization.
- Proficiency in ERP and procurement systems (SAP, Oracle, Ariba, Coupa, Jaggaer, or similar) and Microsoft Office applications.
Work Environment, Physical Demands & Travel
- Domestic and international travel up to 20%.
- Hybrid role based in a U.S. Alkermes Waltham, MA location.
- Position requires the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and highly collaborative environment.
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The annual base salary for this position ranges from $160,000 to $170,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here
About Us
Why join Team Alkermes?
Alkermes applies its decades of deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult-to-treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we seek to make a meaningful difference in the way people manage their diseases. We have a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and narcolepsy, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders.
We are proud to have been recognized as an employer of choice by many national organizations. In 2024 and 2025, we were certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. and named one of Massachusetts’ Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe, a Best Place to Work in Greater Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Business Courier and recognized as a Best Place to Work in BioPharma by Fortune Magazine.
Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E-Verify employer.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Life Sciences, or a related field
- 8-10 years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or related experience
- At least 5 years of experience supporting Marketing, Sales, Commercial Operations, or similar indirect procurement categories
- Expertise in strategic sourcing and supplier management within commercial or marketing-focused spend categories
- Experience negotiating complex commercial services and consulting agreements
- Experience partnering with senior business leaders in a matrixed environment
- Track record of delivering measurable financial and operational value through sourcing initiatives
- Experience managing multiple initiatives, stakeholders, and priorities simultaneously
- Strong project management and change management capabilities
- MBA or other advanced degree
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or medical device industry experience
- Experience supporting commercial launch activities and brand marketing organizations
- Professional procurement certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPSD, or equivalent
- Experience implementing category management and supplier relationship management programs
- Experience working in global procurement organizations
- Proficiency in ERP and procurement systems such as SAP, Oracle, Ariba, Coupa, or Jaggaer
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
What We Do
Alkermes focuses on the development of innovative medicines that seek to address unmet needs of people living with serious mental illness, addiction, and cancer. As a fully-integrated, global biopharmaceutical company, we apply our scientific expertise and proprietary technologies to develop products that are designed to make a meaningful difference in the way patients manage their disease. We are inspired by some of the most pressing public health challenges of our time to help advance innovation with the potential to improve treatment options and outcomes for patients. Beyond our important mission of developing medicines, we believe it is our responsibility to take a holistic approach as we seek to support patients, caregivers, and broader impacted communities. In this context we also work to help support and enhance the systems through which these complex diseases are treated. We are committed to patient engagement, disease education and awareness, and advocacy for important policies that support equitable access to quality treatment. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, we have an R&D center in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. See our Community Guidelines: https://www.alkermes.com/social-community-guidelines
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