Strategic Sourcing Category Manager

The Strategic Sourcing Category Manager, Direct Categories is an individual with passion and a deep understanding of the Raw Materials in Dietary Supplements, Direct Materials with an emphasis on Ingredients including Amino Acids, Excipients, Flavors, Sterols, and Minerals such as Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium, Potassium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Selenium, and Trace Minerals. Category Managers are responsible for strategic sourcing while ensuring business continuity and supply assurance. 

This individual will deliver on key category initiatives by: 

• Developing category strategies and managing end-to-end strategic sourcing 
• Leading spend management via cost savings/avoidance 
• Supplier relationship management and risk mitigation 
• Creating market data & analytical reports to support cross-functional departments (e.g., Finance, Marketing, Sales, and other internal teams) 

The Strategic Sourcing Category Manager, Direct Materials reports to the Manager, Strategic Sourcing, Direct Ingredients and Raw Materials Strategy. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop robust sourcing category strategies via a thorough understanding of demand and supply dynamics, conducting supply risk assessments, identifying and using the best sourcing levers, developing an SRM strategy, building an implementation roadmap, and aligning the category strategy with sourcing leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. 
• Responsible for leveraging and being educated on category market intelligence, executing strategic sourcing events, price modelling, tracking supplier performance scorecards, and contract management. 
• Build/leverage RFx templates, supplier outreach, supplier selection, commercial terms, and contract T&C negotiations. Maximize value for money via the right balance between Price, Quality, and Service for all purchased ingredients. 
• Serve as a liaison between other departments and suppliers to ensure adequate supplies of materials are available on hand when needed. 
• Work with internal stakeholders and suppliers to optimize spend and identify and deliver cost savings/cost avoidance opportunities, as well as develop a pipeline for future savings. 
• Manage supplier qualifications for new suppliers, supplier quality issues, and Supplier Relationship Management programs with strategic suppliers. 
• Develop and implement supply risk mitigation strategies. 
• Collaborate with Planning, Marketing, Innovation Team, R&D, Regulatory, Quality Control Department, Technical Operations, and suppliers to resolve quality and rejected materials problems to ensure manufacturing has the highest quality materials required. 
• Actively support the New Product Development process by bringing new items and technologies from external sources. 

You'll Be Most Successful in This Role If You Have 

• Strong presentation and communication skills, and experience presenting to C-Suite executive leadership 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously 
• Functional knowledge of the Direct Material Categories, with an emphasis on Ingredients including Amino Acids, Excipients, Flavors, Sterols, and Mineral categories (Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium, Potassium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Selenium, and Trace Minerals) 
• End-to-end strategic sourcing knowledge and experience for executing sourcing events 
• Commercial and contractual negotiation experience with suppliers 
• Demonstrated financial, quantitative, and analytical skills and their application to project evaluation 
• The ability to incorporate market intelligence and data analytics into category strategies and leverage the information during contract negotiations 

To Take On These Challenges, You'll Need To Have 

• 5+ years of Sourcing experience 
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college 

Experience 

• Supply Chain and Business Intelligence experience 
• Ingredient sourcing experience within Amino Acids, Excipients, Flavors, Sterols, and Mineral categories preferred 
• Experience building operational reports and KPI dashboards 
• Program management experience is desirable, and project management experience is required 
• Working knowledge of Sourcing Contracting, ERP, and eRFX systems preferred (e.g., Ariba, Workday, or similar systems) 
• Ability to leverage standard business applications for communicating, presenting, and analyzing (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) 
• Advanced proficiency in negotiation and contracting skills 
• Financial acumen, including financial statement impact of raw material categories (P&L and Balance Sheet) and cost modeling 
• “What-if” financial modeling assessing business options 
• Experience with commodity forecasting and financial modeling is a plus 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities 

Ability to: 

• Navigate complex challenges with a sense of urgency 
• Influence without authority 
• Deal with ambiguity 
• Cultivate peer relationships 
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to speak to different audiences 
• Travel out of state or internationally up to 20% of the time 
• Think through complex problems and drive resolution using analysis from multiple sources, and compile information into a clear framework using diverse sources of market intelligence and resources

Physical Requirements 

• General office environment, ability to sit for long periods of time. Ability to move about an office and supplier or Pharmavite manufacturing plants. 

Competencies
Accountability for Results - Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change.
Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving - Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business.
Patient & Customer Centricity - Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.
Impactful Communication - Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.
Respectful Collaboration - Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.
Empowered Development - Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.

Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. 

Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic.   

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation, if you are unable or limited in your ability to apply to this job opening as a result of your disability.  You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Accommodation Request. 

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