The EMEA Category Specialist – Market Research & Mobility role sits within AstraZeneca’s newly built regional category management team for the EMEA region. The role will report to the Director Category Management EMEA and will be engaging with the Global Procurement Category Team for the categories under its responsibility and coordinating with the countries’ Procurement Managers as well as the Business. It will be sitting within AstraZeneca’s category procurement network and will be ensuring strong and collaborative relationships are built and maintained to define the category strategies and lead the category plans’ execution. The role is focused on the categories related to Market Research and Mobility.

Key Accountabilities

• Oversees the implementation of the Market Research and Mobility category plans across the EMEA region, by collaborating closely with the Global Category Managers, Sub-regional Category Managers (for Middle-East Africa and Eurasia), Country Procurement Managers as well as stakeholders
• Ensures that the underpinning process improvement and procurement activities deliver the expected business value in accordance with the strategic plans, including the delivery of savings objectives as well as broader value objectives
• Engages proactively with and supports the Global Category Management in the development of long-term strategic plans for the agreed scope of the spend area
• Supports the Global Category Managers and  Director Category Management EMEA in strategic relationship management, particularly of internal customers and suppliers, to ensure that category strategies are highly aligned to current and future business need and that the supply base is capable of supporting these strategies
• Works alongside AstraZeneca’s OGPS organisation in Warsaw (Operational Global Procurement Services)  in advising on  and  driving procurement  strategies  to  make  decisions  necessary  to  purchase products and services in congruence with organisational objectives
• Analyses and resolves issues raised in procurement audit reports
• Advises on contracts and agreements for the supply of products and services with new and existing suppliers
• Develops, evaluates or manages internal and external relationships with suppliers and other cross-functional teams

Required Skills & Knowledge

• Degree level or equivalent
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Intercultural awareness
• Understanding of multiple aspects of the procurement process, from strategy creation to sourcing and supplier relationship management
• Strong drive and passion to deliver results in a challenging environment
• Teamwork focused and relationship builder: Works well with others, across departments, levels and cultures
• Proficiency in Procurement and other business-related systems, e.g. ERP, Ariba, Jaggaer, Coupa

Preferred Skills & Knowledge

• Experience in Indirect / Service Procurement
• Experience in either of the categories Mobility or Market Research
• Experience of work in the health care or pharmaceutical industry
• Experience in either a market-procurement role or a global or regional procurement role
• Experience of working in a complex matrix organisation

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.