POSITION PURPOSE
The Global Category Manager – Excipients is accountable for the end-to-end management of the excipients category across all Zentiva operations. This includes the development and execution of global sourcing strategies, supplier relationship management, budget ownership, risk mitigation, innovation enablement, and sustainability integration.
This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and deep expertise in excipients technologies, supply markets, and procurement best practices.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Strategic Category Management
- Develop and execute a multi-year global category strategy for excipients, aligned with corporate objectives.
- Conduct market intelligence, supplier benchmarking, and cost structure analysis to inform sourcing decisions.
- Lead category governance: strategy reviews, stakeholder alignment, and performance tracking.
- Drive supplier base optimization, harmonization of specifications, and standardization of sourcing models.
Business Partnering & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the strategic procurement partner for internal stakeholders (Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Finance).
- Support new product introductions, technical transfers, and development initiatives.
- Influence cross-functional decisions through TCO analysis, risk assessments, and business case development.
Budget Ownership & Financial Performance
- Own the annual procurement budget for the excipients category, including planning, forecasting, and variance analysis
- Monitor spend vs. budget, track purchase price variance (PPV), and implement corrective actions.
- Deliver cost savings through sourcing levers (negotiation, value engineering, demand management).
- Ensure budget predictability and alignment with long-range planning (LRP).
Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
- Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships globally, including contract negotiation, performance management, and joint business planning.
- Implement SRM frameworks: segmentation, scorecards, QBRs, and continuous improvement programs.
- Monitor supplier performance on quality, innovation, and ESG compliance.
- Identify and qualify new suppliers to ensure supply continuity and competitiveness.
Risk Management & Compliance
- Identify and assess category-specific risks (supply, geopolitical, regulatory, financial).
- Develop and maintain risk mitigation strategies: dual sourcing, inventory buffers, alternative materials.
- Ensure compliance with GMP/GDP, internal procurement policies, and external regulatory requirements.
Digital Procurement & Analytics
- Leverage digital tools (e-sourcing, spend analytics, supplier dashboards) to enhance transparency, efficiency, and decision-making.
- Contribute to the digital transformation roadmap of procurement, including automation, predictive analytics, and data governance.
- Drive predictability in cost, supply, and performance through data modelling and scenario planning.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIRED SKILLS
- Master’s degree in Procurement, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field.
- 10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, ideally in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or FMCG sectors.
- Deep knowledge of excipients category and supplier ecosystems.
- Proven experience in budget ownership, SRM, and cross-functional leadership.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, and project management skills.
- Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.
Our Recruitment Process:
To be considered for this role, please apply in our Applicant tracking system and refrain from sending your CV via email. Upon the completion of sourcing (CV collection) period, all received application will be reviewed by our Recruitment experts and evaluated against the needs of the open role. Successful candidates will be contacted by our Recruiting experts for an initial screening interview during which further details about the selection process will be shared. Successful candidates will progress to interviews with line managers, while not selected candidates will be informed in a written form as soon as possible.
Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is an act @Zentiva
At Zentiva, we are a team of 5000 unique talents bonded together by our purpose to provide health and well-being for all generations. We strive daily to create a work culture where everyone feels appreciated, can be their true selves, and contribute to the best of their ability. Seeking for a balanced team across the company, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates with various educational and industry experiences, cultural or ethnical backgrounds, and different life experiences or abilities, regardless of their religious or philosophical beliefs or whomever they choose to love.
Join our winning team! Be a part of our winning culture! Be Zentiva!
Top Skills
What We Do
Zentiva is a Pan-European Platform developing, manufacturing and providing high-quality and affordable medicines to more than 100 million people in Europe. Zentiva has 4 wholly owned manufacturing sites and a broad network of external manufacturing partners to ensure supply security. We offer solutions in key therapeutical areas like Cardiology & Circulation, Diabetes, Oncology, Respiratory, CNS and focus on expanding our portfolio in self-care. The company is Private Equity owned, delivering sustainable double-digit growth, with an ambitious 5-year plan for further strong (organic and inorganic) growth across Europe.
We are a team of almost 5,000 unique talents bonded together by our mission to deliver high-quality and affordable medicines to people who depend on them every day. We want Zentiva to be a great place to work, where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated and can be their true selves contributing to the best of their ability.
