Associate Category Manager

Strategic Procurement – Research and Medical Affairs categories

Do you have a passion for cutting edge research and development in brain health? Are you motivated by working with and enabling business in their efforts to research the last innovations in a pharmaceutical company? Are you independent and a natural networker and influencer? Do you thrive in a busy environment where you will impact core business success by leading competitive sourcing projects and strategy development in close collaboration with colleagues around the world?

Then we have just the position for you as Associate Category Manager.

We are looking for an associate category manager to join our global category teams responsible for managing our Research and our Medical Affairs and Regulatory categories. Based in Krakow, you will work close with category team members in Krakow, Copenhagen and Chicago.

Your job and key responsibilities

As a member of the team, you will:

• Own and develop subcategory strategies in alignment with Category Managers and Senior Management
• Execute on category strategies closely aligned to overall Lundbeck strategy and key stakeholder priorities
• Execute on category projects, including RFx projects and supplier management activities
• Act as business partner to key stakeholders across the organization
• Contribute to execution of tasks and projects in the global category team led by the category owner and the head of the corporate services cluster

Our ideal candidate has the following experience:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Project Manager (Source-to-Contract) heading strategic and/or complex projects, preferably in an international environment.
• R&D category experience derived from working as an Associate Category Manager, Senior Buyer or equivalent role within Procurement. The ideal candidate brings considerable category knowledge and has successfully driven +10 complex sourcing projects and many competitive sourcing projects across research, non-clinical research, animals, medical affairs, regulatory, patient safety or similar categories.
• Regional/global stakeholder management experience established through extensive collaboration with stakeholders across Europe/globally. The ideal candidate is able to exemplify collaboration skills and cultural aptitude through sourcing projects managed and successfully completed in close collaboration with international stakeholders.
• Experience in negotiating contracts commercially and legally. Ability to front legal discussions (with competent legal advice in the back-office). Good understanding of standard clauses, key commercial and contractual dynamics and associated risks.
• Is flexible and willing to accommodate stakeholders in multiple time zones.  Additionally, ability to travel as-needed between Procurement hubs (primarily Copenhagen) to attend in-person events.

Qualifications:

We are looking for the following qualifications in our future associate category manager:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a University or Business School relevant to the position.
• Preferably certifications demonstrating completed training within core disciplines, such as:
  • Project Management, preferably Category Management
  • Negotiation skills
  • Presentation skills/Communication
• English fluency required (min C1)
• Experience with e-sourcing and preferably Ariba is an advantage

Career options

Possible career development options within Lundbeck organization and in Krakow are:

• Category Manager
• Senior Category Manager
• Expat opportunities

Our organization

Lundbeck’s passion links to our purpose about restoring brain health so every person can be their best. We strive to make a real difference to patients. By developing innovative treatments, we improve the lives of people living with brain diseases. Your dedication is crucial. That is why you can expect us to be committed to your progress, so you can stay committed to ours. 

Lundbeck offers a great workplace that is based on a flat structure and culture, forming a collaborative working environment based on respect and equality. We employ dedicated colleagues and encourage continuous development. Together, we create the ideal conditions for you and your job, so we can improve treatments and life for people with brain diseases. 

Lundbeck Corporate Procurement consists of 35 ambitious and enthusiastic strategic procurement professionals, who together secure a professional and efficient source-to-pay process within all areas of indirect and direct spend. We work to establish ambitious category strategies, develop proactive category plans, executive We take outset in our strongly integrated Category Management processes and deliver value through our structured approach to planning, project execution and supplier relationship management.

Corporate Procurement is a global matrix organization consisting of 3 major Procurement hubs, located in Copenhagen (HQ), Krakow (GBS) and Chicago (Deerfield) all headed up by our global CPO. We have global category teams located across our 3 hubs and an efficient matrix structure ensuring optimal collaboration, outlook and customer support to our +50 affiliates globally.

Further Information

Please contact hiring manager Chris Lassen Jensen, mobile +48 572 727 762 for more insights about the job. We also recommend that you have a look at our website, LinkedIn and Instagram.