Senior Sourcing Specialist

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The Senior Sourcing Specialist leads and oversees complex, global sourcing initiatives, supporting the implementation of category strategies from supplier identification through contract finalization.
As part of Takeda Business Solutions, the Senior Sourcing Specialist acts as a strategic partner to Procurement Category Management and key Takeda stakeholders. The role leads competitive tenders and e-auctions in Takeda’s eSourcing systems, manages strategic supplier engagement, provides market and category insights, and drives compliant, standardized, and value-focused sourcing execution across regions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Serve as a strategic partner to Procurement Category Management and key Takeda stakeholders, ensuring alignment throughout the sourcing lifecycle
• Lead complex, global, and multi-region sourcing initiatives from intake through award and transition
• Define sourcing strategy, project scope, success metrics, timelines, governance, and delivery plans
• Ensure sourcing activities align with category strategies, Takeda policies, operating procedures, preferred supplier agreements, and compliance requirements
• Lead and oversee competitive tenders, including RFx events and e-auctions, using eSourcing systems such as SAP Ariba Sourcing and Archlet
• Define event design, award scenarios, supplier enablement activities, and delivery plans, ensuring execution within agreed timelines and service levels
• Provide senior oversight of sourcing execution and negotiation support, acting as the escalation point for commercial, contractual, and process-related issues
• Analyze supplier offers, market benchmarks, commercial data, risks, and performance factors to develop executive-ready recommendations and decision scenarios
• Manage strategic supplier relationships throughout the sourcing process, including senior-level engagement, escalations, and contract alignment
• Own benefits tracking for assigned initiatives, contributing to savings pipeline development, validation, delivery, and sustained value realization
• Identify and manage sourcing risks and constraints, developing mitigation and contingency plans to optimize cost, risk, quality, compliance, and continuity of supply
• Standardize sourcing ways of working, including templates, playbooks, governance, reporting, and training across Takeda Business Solutions hubs
• Mentor and coach colleagues, review sourcing outputs, and drive consistent, high-quality, and compliant execution
• Lead digital, process improvement, and innovation initiatives to improve cycle time, service quality, transparency, and stakeholder experience

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of progressive experience in procurement or strategic sourcing within a global organization
• Demonstrated experience leading complex global or regional sourcing initiatives, including contracting, eSourcing, tactical sourcing, and strategic sourcing
• Hands-on experience with eSourcing and e-auction platforms, preferably SAP Ariba Sourcing and Archlet
• Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing, contracting, commercial governance, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and risk management
• Advanced analytical capabilities, including spend analytics, should-cost analysis, total cost of ownership, competitive benchmarking, scenario modeling, and bid comparison
• Strong knowledge of Takeda Source-to-Pay policies, procurement controls, compliance requirements, contract lifecycle management, and digital procurement tools
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading contract negotiation and contract development processes
• Advanced proficiency in analytics, dashboards, eSourcing tools, and contract management systems
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, presentation, consulting, influencing, and executive-level business partnering skills
• Proven ability to translate business requirements into effective sourcing strategies, sourcing events, and executive-ready recommendations
• Experience operating within offshore, shared services, matrix, and multi-time-zone environments
• Experience partnering with Legal, Finance, Risk and Compliance, Global Procurement, and other cross-functional stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach colleagues and lead initiatives through influence
• English language on business level of fluency, additional language is an asset
• Demonstrated problem-solving, entrepreneurial, innovation, and continuous-improvement mindset

Preferred: 

• Postgraduate qualification, such as an MBA or MSc, and/or professional procurement certification, such as CIPS, CPSM, or ISM
• Experience in regulated or R&D-focused industries, particularly pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences
• Experience leading procurement transformation, standardization, playbook development, digital enablement, or process improvement initiatives
• Experience managing complex executive-level supplier relationships and negotiations
  Some limited travel may be required

Diversity & Inclusion

At Takeda, we are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.

Base Salary Range:

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.

For information about our benefits, please click here.