Senior Procurement Specialist, Direct Materials and Consumables

Overview: 

This role leads the strategic sourcing and procurement of direct materials and consumables for production, ensuring alignment with cost, quality, and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include developing alternative vendors to ensure supply continuity, conducting category management for cost savings, and leveraging negotiation and analytical skills for cost reduction. The role involves executing vendor management, including performance reviews, contract negotiations, and master supply agreements. Close collaboration with production teams and cross-functional departments is essential to address procurement needs, while maintaining communication with vendors to manage risks and opportunities. The role also includes managing compliance, audits, and providing necessary documentation.

Job Responsibilities: 

• Lead the strategic sourcing and manage procurement process for direct materials and consumables used in production, ensuring alignment with cost objectives, quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Responsible for developing alternative vendors for critical materials and components to ensure uninterrupted supply continuity and mitigate supply risks.
• Conduct category management to identify opportunities for cost savings by consolidating vendors and exploring the use of alternative materials and components.
• Leverage negotiation, analytical, and market research skills to drive value through cost reduction. Track and report on KPIs related to cost savings, cost avoidance, OTD (on time delivery) and efficiency improvements.
• Execute vendor management by building supplier profiles, conducting regular vendor business reviews to monitor performance, and accomplish short- and long-term pricing contracts and MSAs (master supply agreements)
• Serve as primary contact for negotiating and executing contracts or agreement in consultation with legal support team.
• Work closely with the production team and planning to provide efficient and effective procurement support by gaining a deep understanding of production processes, changes in material consumption, and maintaining a sense of urgency to proactively address critical issues
• Maintain active communication with vendors for critical materials to stay informed about supplier market conditions, ensure timely delivery, and identify potential opportunities and risks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including quality and finance to ensure the compliance procurement processes.
• Take responsibility for addressing challenges from internal and external audits by providing the required procurement documentation and justifications.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Supply Chain Management, Biology and Chemistry, or other related fields.
• 3-5 years of experience in procurement and strategic sourcing responsibilities, preferably in the biotech or pharmaceutical industries
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skill.
• Good knowledge of materials used in biotech/pharma production, including raw materials, consumables and packing materials.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex situations and demonstrate agility in identifying opportunities for cost reduction and problem-solving.
• Proficiency in ERP systems of SAP and S2P is a plus.