Position Summary
The Manager, Procurement is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that support the company's research and development activities and capital investment projects. This role partners closely with R&D, Finance, TechOps and other cross-functional stakeholders to drive value through strategic supplier relationships, cost optimization, innovation, risk mitigation, and contractual excellence.
The Senior Category Manager will lead complex sourcing initiatives, negotiate commercial agreements, and manage supplier performance across a diverse portfolio of R&D projects. The role requires strong business acumen, project management capabilities, and the ability to operate effectively in a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnership
- Serve as the primary procurement business partner for assigned R&D and Capital stakeholders.
- Build strong relationships with scientific, technical, engineering, facilities, and finance teams to understand business needs and provide strategic sourcing support.
- Influence stakeholders through data-driven recommendations and procurement best practices.
- Support long-range planning and investment decisions through market intelligence and sourcing expertise.
Category Management and Strategic Sourcing
- Develop and execute category strategies for assigned R&D spend categories aligned with organizational objectives.
- Negotiating preferred partnership commercial terms such as rates, vol discounts, etc.
- Extensive R&D and clinical support experience, including sourcing materials for clinical trials and managing supply readiness for new product development and commercial launches.
- Brings hands-on R&D procurement experience including supporting Phase 1–3/4 clinical trials, and built GxP-aligned supplier strategies. Understands how to work with researchers, CROs, and technical stakeholders in a fast-moving biotech environment.
- Deep experience with vendor management, contract manufacturer onboarding, supplier qualification, and strengthening long-term partnerships across domestic and global suppliers.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including supplier identification, RFx development, bid evaluation, supplier selection, negotiation, and contract execution.
- Conduct market and supplier analyses to identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, innovation, and risk reduction.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop sourcing plans that ensure continuity of supply and support business priorities.
Supplier Relationship Management
- Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships that deliver quality, service, innovation, and cost competitiveness.
- Conduct supplier performance reviews and implement corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
- Partner with Quality, Compliance, and Technical teams to support supplier qualification, audits, and ongoing performance management.
- Monitor supplier market trends, capabilities, and risks to proactively address potential disruptions.
Financial and Operational Performance
- Identify and execute cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation initiatives across assigned categories.
- Support budget planning, forecasting, and tracking of procurement-related savings and project expenditures.
- Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles to sourcing decisions and supplier evaluations.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies, financial controls, and approval processes.
Contracting and Risk Management
- Lead commercial negotiations for supplier agreements, statements of work, and master service agreements.
- Partner with Legal, Quality, and Compliance teams to ensure contracts appropriately address business requirements and regulatory obligations.
- Assess and mitigate supplier risks related to financial stability, operational capability, quality systems, and supply continuity.
- Ensure sourcing activities adhere to applicable GMP, GCP, and other regulatory requirements.
Cross-Functional Project Leadership
- Manage multiple complex sourcing projects simultaneously while meeting timelines and stakeholder expectations.
- Participate in cross-functional initiatives supporting R&D programs, facility expansions, laboratory investments, and capital projects.
- Provide procurement leadership throughout project lifecycles from planning and vendor selection through implementation.
Minimum Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field required.
- Master's degree and/or professional certification (CPSM, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent) preferred.
- 7+ years of progressive strategic sourcing and procurement experience, preferably supporting R&D, laboratory operations, engineering, capital projects, or technical categories within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or related industry.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations.
- Strong understanding of supplier relationship management, category management, and contract development.
- Experience working within regulated environments and knowledge of GMP/GCP requirements preferred.
- Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems (Oracle, SAP, Ariba, Jaggaer, or equivalent).
- Advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and data analytics skills.
Core Competencies
Strategic Thinking
Ability to translate business objectives into sourcing strategies that deliver measurable value and support organizational priorities.
Stakeholder Management and Influence
Ability to build credibility, establish trust, and influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
Negotiation and Commercial Acumen
Strong commercial negotiation skills with the ability to balance risk, value, quality, and service considerations.
Project Management
Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives, prioritize effectively, and deliver results within established timelines.
Analytical and Financial Acumen
Strong analytical skills with experience evaluating supplier proposals, total cost of ownership models, and business cases.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across functions and with global stakeholders.
Continuous Improvement
Committed to identifying opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, and overall business value.
Success Measures
The successful candidate will be evaluated on:
- Achievement of annual savings and value creation targets
- Stakeholder satisfaction and business partnership effectiveness
- Supplier performance and risk management outcomes
- Timely execution of sourcing and contracting activities
- Support of R&D and Capital project objectives
- Compliance with procurement policies and regulatory requirements
- Contribution to procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives
The annual base salary for this position ranges from $113,000 to $131,000. 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
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About UsWhy 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, Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field
- 7+ years of progressive strategic sourcing and procurement experience
- Demonstrated experience leading complex sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations
- Strong understanding of supplier relationship management, category management, and contract development
- Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems (Oracle, SAP, Ariba, Jaggaer, or equivalent)
- Advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and data analytics skills
- Experience working within regulated environments and knowledge of GMP/GCP requirements
- Master's degree and/or professional certification (CPSM, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent)
- Experience supporting R&D, laboratory operations, clinical trials, or technical categories in pharma/biotech/medical device
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
