Category Associate – Market Research

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The Future Begins Here
At Takeda, we are leading digital evolution and global transformation. By building innovative solutions and future-ready capabilities, we are meeting the need of patients, our people, and the planet.

Bengaluru, the city, which is India’s epicenter of Innovation, has been selected to be home to Takeda’s recently launched Innovation Capability Center. We invite you to join our digital transformation journey. In this role, you will have the opportunity to boost your skills and become the heart of an innovative engine that is contributing to global impact and improvement.  

At Takeda’s GCC we Unite in Diversity

Takeda is committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative workplace, where individuals are recognized for their backgrounds and abilities they bring to our company. We are continuously improving our collaborators journey in Takeda, and we welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as an important contributor to our diverse team.

About the Role:

This role is a member of Takeda’s Indirect Procurement team, supporting category strategy and execution through market and supplier insights, data-driven analysis, and effective delivery of procurement initiatives. Working with category managers, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams, the role helps create enterprise value while advancing cost, innovation, sustainability, risk, and operational priorities.

How you will contribute:

• Support the development and execution of category strategies by delivering category initiatives, market insights, and supplier analysis that contribute to enterprise value creation
• Execute category activities and procurement projects in alignment with category objectives, governance standards, and business priorities
• Identify opportunities across multiple value levers such as cost, innovation, risk, sustainability, and operational performance through data analysis, market intelligence, and supplier engagement
• Collaborate with Category Managers, Value Delivery Team, Takeda Business Solutions, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to ensure effective execution of category plans and realization of procurement value

Accountabilities:

• Contribute and/or lead the development and execution of category strategies by conducting market research, spend analysis, supplier assessments, and category intelligence activities
• Coordinate and execute category initiatives and procurement projects aligned with category objectives, business priorities, and governance requirements
• Prepare category documentation, supplier evaluations, business cases, and recommendations to support category decision-making
• Analyze spend data, supplier performance metrics, market trends, and commercial information to identify value creation opportunities and support category planning
• Contribute and/or lead supplier selection, onboarding, segmentation, and performance management activities in alignment with category strategies and procurement standards
• Maintain knowledge of supplier markets, emerging technologies, industry trends, and competitive dynamics to provide actionable insights to category teams
• Collaborate with Value Delivery Team, Takeda Business Solutions and business stakeholders to support execution of category initiatives and ensure stakeholder alignment
• Contribute to value delivery through identification of cost optimization, innovation, sustainability, responsible sourcing, risk reduction, and process improvement opportunities
• Contribute and/or lead supplier governance, contract administration, compliance activities, and risk management processes to ensure effective supplier oversight
• Utilize procurement technologies, analytics tools, and digital solutions to improve efficiency, maintain data quality, and support continuous improvement of category management practices

Education, Behaviors, Competencies, Skills:

Education:

• Bachelor degree
• Relevant academic background preferred

Behavioral:

As members of Global Procurement, you are expected to demonstrate ways of working that support our strategic ambition and shape how we create value for Takeda. You will contribute to a procurement function that:

• Shapes strategy upstream through close business partnership
• Deliver total enterprise value beyond savings
• Takes ownership of spend and outcomes end to end
• Uses curiosity, insights, and data to drive better decisions

These principles define how we partner with the business, our suppliers, and each other. Role-specific examples of these behaviors are embedded throughout the objectives, accountability, and skills outlined in this job description.

• undefined

Competencies and skills:

• 10-12+ years of experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or a related business function
• Understanding of category management, sourcing, supplier management, and procurement processes, with the ability to support category strategy execution
• Experience supporting category activities, supplier evaluations, contract administration, and procurement project delivery
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret spend data, market intelligence, supplier information, and performance metrics to support business decisions
• Solid commercial and financial acumen and understanding of procurement principles, including supplier negotiations, cost drivers, and value creation opportunities
• Subject-matter expertise in Market Research related spend categories, or similar categories, in healthcare, biotech or pharmaceutical industry.  
• Ability to conduct market research and develop insights on supplier markets, industry trends, and competitive dynamics
• Strong stakeholder collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across procurement, business, finance, legal, and operational teams
• Demonstrated learning agility and continuous improvement mindset, with an interest in developing category expertise and leveraging digital, automation, and AI-enabled solutions
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Proven project management skills, including planning, execution, stakeholder alignment, risk management, and delivery of strategic sourcing projects across multiple business functions
• Experience working with ERP systems and procurement platforms such as SAP Ariba, Wave, or equivalent solutions to support sourcing, pipeline management, and supplier engagement
• Fluent written and spoken English

BENEFITS:

It is our priority to provide competitive compensation and a benefit package that bridges your personal life with your professional career. Amongst our benefits are:

• Competitive Salary + Performance Annual Bonus
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid working
• Comprehensive Healthcare Insurance Plans for self, spouse, and children
• Group Term Life Insurance and Group Accident Insurance programs
• Employee Assistance Program
• Broad Variety of learning platforms
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs
• Reimbursements – Home Internet & Mobile Phone
• Employee Referral Program
• Leaves – Paternity Leave (4 Weeks) , Maternity Leave (up to 26 weeks), Bereavement Leave (5 calendar days)
   

ABOUT GCC IN TAKEDA:

• Takeda is leading a digital revolution. We’re not just transforming our company; we’re improving the lives of millions of patients who rely on our medicines every day.
• As an organization, we are committed to our cloud-driven business transformation and believe the GCCs are the catalysts of change for our global organization.

#Li-Hybrid