Job Description

Summary The Regional Category Manager - Indirect APAC plans and leads all strategic aspects within the Indirect category across divisions at a regional level. This role develops proposals for strategic business decisions, delivers high-value procurement solutions, and supports category strategies, third-party vendor selection, vendor development, technology management, and performance measurement. The role ensures best-in-class delivery of external services and products in the agreed Indirect categories, supporting projects and driving year-on-year productivity, cost savings, and process improvements in close collaboration with business stakeholders.

Major accountabilities:

• Implement category strategic goals from overall Procurement strategy and ecosystem management.
• Plan, organise, and manage projects, considering priorities, resources, budgets, and constraints.
• Map and analyse the value chain, applying total cost of ownership and should-cost modelling.
• Participate in and/or lead financial discussions, including budgeting and structuring complex deals.
• Support compliance and risk management, monitoring end-to-end compliance and executing risk mitigation plans.
• Generate internal and external insights to inform category strategies.
• Maintain and update procurement applications and content, driving continuous improvement and automation.
• Support the definition and implementation of procurement tools and processes.
• Manage data analysis and reporting (spend, demand, supply markets, competitors).
• Ensure demand management aligns business needs with Novartis strategy.
• Execute Source-to-Contract processes, including negotiations and supplier onboarding.
• Manage stakeholder relationships, optimising specifications and delivering customer value.
• Build long-term, sustainable, and effective relationships across business structures and networks.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 8+ years of relevant business experience (industry-specific).
• Preferably 10+ years in procurement or related roles within the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on category management, supplier management, or related areas in Indirect categories (External Workforce, HR services, IT services).
• Strong project management or leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• University/Advanced degree required.
• Master's degree or similar in supply chain management, business administration, or related field preferred.
• Strong preference for CIPS, CCW, or similar professional qualification.

Languages :

• English.

Skills Desired Effective Communication, Finance Management, Internal And External Customer Needs Analysis & Satisfaction Studies, Managing Resources, Negotiating

Skills Required