Senior Manager - Category Management (all genders) (full-time, regular)

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn,Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Welcome to AbbVie! As part of an international company with 57,000 employees worldwide and around 3,500 employees in Germany, you will have the opportunity of addressing some of tomorrows unmet medical needs in close collaboration with your colleagues. Are you passionate about improving global health care? Do you want to contribute to improving patients' quality of life through your expertise? In a challenging work environment that offers opportunities of developing and increasing your own skills? Youve come to the right place!

Together, we break through – as Senior Manager - Category Management (all genders)

The Senior Manager - Category Management serves as a strategic business partner to VP-level stakeholders, leading the development and execution of global category strategies within R&D Procurement. This role is accountable for translating business priorities into category strategies grounded in deep market intelligence, scientific understanding, and enterprise value creation.

The position requires demonstrated expertise in strategy development (or equivalent strategic sourcing experience), with the ability to lead cross-functional teams, shape supplier ecosystems, and deliver measurable outcomes aligned to R&D objectives, including innovation, speed, quality, and cost.

Make your mark

• Lead the development of comprehensive, multi-year category strategies informed by market intelligence, supplier capabilities, scientific trends, and business needs.
• Drive structured strategic sourcing, demand management, and value creation initiatives.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier ecosystems across R&D categories, enabling innovation and long-term partnerships.
• Define and deliver value drivers beyond cost (e.g., speed to clinic, quality, innovation, risk mitigation), aligned with R&D priorities.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) strategies, including executive engagement, performance governance, and joint innovation initiatives.
• Integrate ESG and sustainability considerations into category strategies and supplier selection processes.
• Proactively identify and mitigate supply, operational, and regulatory risks across the category landscape.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing execution, including strategy development, competitive events, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Drive cross-functional project leadership, ensuring disciplined execution, stakeholder alignment, and measurable outcomes.

This is how you make a difference

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Scientific background (e.g., life sciences, biology, chemistry, biomedical, or related field) strongly preferred, particularly for R&D-aligned categories.
• 7-10 years of experience in procurement, category management, or related scientific roles.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing category strategies (or equivalent experience in strategic sourcing, consulting, or business strategy roles).
• Experience supporting R&D, scientific, or technical organizations within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels across complex, global categories.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, including cost modeling, market analysis, and value quantification.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across a matrixed organization.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and managing strategic supplier relationships at scale.
• Strong leadership capabilities, including team development, change management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous and fast-paced environments.

What we offer you

with a diverse work environment where you can have a real impact

with an open corporate culture

with an attractive salary

with an intensive onboarding process with a mentor at your side

with flexible work models for a healthy work-life balance

with a corporate health management that offers comprehensive health and exercise programs

with company social benefits

with a wide range of career opportunities in an international organization

with top-tier, attractive development opportunities

with a strong international network

At multiple times, we have been globally recognized as a "Great Place to Work" and we are proud to provide our employees with the flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance. We take our impact on the environment and our communities seriously and therefore focus on giving something back on a regular basis. We are committed to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion (EED&I) – a commitment that is fundamental to us. This includes appreciating different perspectives, creating an inclusive culture and treating all employees with dignity and respect.

At AbbVie, your individual contributions count – help us move mountains together. Be a part of our success, grow with us and accomplish more than you could have imagined. Sounds like the perfect career opportunity for you? We look forward to receiving your application! All you need is a complete CV – we will discuss everything else with you in person.

Any questions? Feel free to email us at [email protected]– We are looking forward to hearing from you!

AbbVie setzt sich für Chancengleichheit ein und verpflichtet sich, mit Integrität zu arbeiten, Innovationen voranzutreiben, Leben zu verändern und unserer Gemeinschaft zu dienen. Chancengleichheit bei Arbeitgeber/Veteranen/Behinderten.