Introduction to role
Reporting to the Procurement Senior Director for External Manufacturing, this role leads the External Manufacturing procurement strategy for an assigned category within the API team. The position holds accountability for a significant spend category across a region or the whole of AstraZeneca, often spanning multiple business areas. It drives both demand and supply side activities, shaping long-term strategic plans for the entire spend area and ensuring that supplier capabilities match current and future business needs. Using data and advanced analytics, this role turns insight into action, overseeing implementation of category plans so that process improvements and procurement activities deliver tangible business value. Ready to influence how life‑changing medicines reach patients?
Accountabilities
* Lead the implementation of category and sub-category plans, ensuring process improvements and procurement initiatives deliver expected value in line with strategic objectives.
* Support the Global Category Lead in developing long-term strategic plans for the agreed scope of spend, aligning with evolving business priorities and market dynamics.
* Contribute to strategic relationship management with key internal stakeholders and external suppliers, ensuring category strategies reflect current and future needs and that the supply base can support them.
* Collaborate with relevant Global Category Leads to build an integrated, customer-aligned category plan across AstraZeneca.
* Develop senior-level relationships across the organisation and with suppliers to resolve issues, optimise performance and identify future improvement opportunities.
* Address supplier issues promptly to secure high levels of service delivery, maintaining contractual and business relationships to rigorous standards.
* Foster trusted vendor relationships that drive better pricing, quality and reliability of services.
* Conduct annual peer reviews of category, regional or market strategies to benchmark performance and identify enhancements.
* Leverage data analytics and AI to inform key decisions and shape robust category strategies.
* Identify and pursue opportunities to use data, analytics and AI to improve external manufacturing procurement processes and outcomes.
* Lead close cross‑functional collaboration (for example with GSC&S, ESM, PT&D) on category strategy, improvement opportunities and alignment on critical decisions.
* Advise on and drive procurement strategies that support organisational objectives in purchasing products and services.
* Drive the preparation of competitive bids, quotations and proposals with clear specifications, terms and conditions.
* Coordinate the introduction of new and modified products and services with relevant departments to ensure smooth implementation.
* Analyse and resolve issues raised in procurement audit reports, embedding findings into future practice.
* Advise on contracts and agreements for the supply of complex products and services with both new and existing suppliers.
* Develop, evaluate and manage internal and external relationships with suppliers, Category Teams and cross-functional partners.
* Lead the identification and realisation of value opportunities across the category, challenging existing approaches and unlocking new potential.
Essential Skills/Experience
* Degree or equivalent professional qualification
* Relevant work experience, including Procurement experience
* Proven capabilities in data analytics and AI
* Oral and written fluency in Business English
* Supplier Management experience
* Ability to leverage a range of influencing techniques in a global, cross functional setting
* Proven ability to manage change and uncertainty
* Strong analytical and financial skills
Desirable Skills/Experience
* Professional Procurement Qualification
AstraZeneca offers the chance to shape an evolving end-to-end supply chain at a time of constant new products and launches, working with cutting‑edge science, digital tools and lean ways of working to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Here, diverse teams collaborate in a positive environment where ideas are welcomed, smart risks are encouraged and continuous learning is part of everyday work. It is a place for determined people who thrive at pace, embrace change, focus on solutions and want to leave a lasting legacy through sustainable lifecycle management and manufacturing excellence.
Ready to break new ground in external manufacturing procurement and help reshape how medicines reach patients? Apply now.
Date Posted
20-May-2026
Closing Date
31-May-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
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