Novartis

Category Manager - Special Services, Procurement

Hyderabad (Office) Full time

Job Description Summary

Plan and lead procurement initiatives for Special Services sub‑categories globally (or regionally/country as applicable), including Patient Recruitment & Retention (PR&R), Ancillary Supplies, and Central Radio Pharmacy. Develop sub‑category strategy aligned to the wider Category Strategy; drive sourcing, contracting, and supplier performance to enable compliant, timely delivery of services critical to clinical trial success and patient experience.


 

Job Description

Major accountabilities:

  • Translate global divisional category strategy into sub‑category strategy and implementation plans for PR&R, Ancillary Supplies, and Central Radio Pharmacy; or adapt regional procurement strategy into country‑specific plans.
  • Lead sourcing projects for patient recruitment vendors, retention services, ancillary supply providers, and central radio pharmacy partners; ensure specification definition, demand management, and compliance.
  • Segment suppliers and identify strategic relationships; conduct business planning and innovation forums to improve patient engagement, supply reliability, and cost efficiency.
  • Manage supplier performance with consistent measures for the sub‑category; resolve risks/issues promptly to maintain service continuity and regulatory compliance.
  • Create, negotiate, and manage major contracts for Special Services; ensure terms are communicated and applied consistently across divisions/regions.
  • Oversee budget/resource allocation for the sub‑category and ensure spend stewardship aligned to clinical and patient‑centric priorities.
  • Develop talent and performance of direct reports; contribute to broader team capability building in patient recruitment and specialised supply procurement.

Minimum Requirements:
Work Experience:

  • 15+ years’ overall experience, including significant time in category management and strategic procurement within healthcare or life sciences.
  • Expertise in Patient Recruitment & Retention, Ancillary Supplies, and Central Radio Pharmacy operations and vendor landscape.
  • Functional breadth across sourcing, contracting, supplier relationship management, and change management; proven ability to translate strategy into actionable plans.
  • Critical negotiations with high‑value suppliers; ability to balance timelines, quality, and cost in regulated environments.
  • Cross‑cultural experience and stakeholder engagement across Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, Legal, Compliance, and Finance.
  • Project/operations management for multi‑country clinical trial support services; disciplined execution and issue resolution.
  • Language: Fluency in English; additional languages a plus depending on region.


 

Skills Desired

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