Category Manager - Raw Materials

Novartis

5 - 10 years

Hyderabad

Posted: 08/07/2025

Job Description

Summary

As a Category Manager – Raw Materials, you will lead the strategic sourcing and category management activities for raw materials used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. You will be responsible for developing category strategies, managing supplier relationships, and driving value through innovation, risk mitigation, and cost optimization. This role requires strong collaboration with global and regional stakeholders to ensure alignment with business objectives and compliance requirements.

About the Role

Major accountabilities:

Develop and implement global and regional category strategies for raw materials.
Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives and manage end-to-end procurement processes.
Accountable for the spend approx. $120 Million
Detailed analysis of the spend and align with the stakeholders
Handle the escalations with suppliers and ensure business continuity.
Identify and qualify suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier performance.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders including Quality, Regulatory, Technical Operations, and Finance.
Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability initiatives within the category.
Monitor market trends, supply risks, and develop mitigation strategies.
Ensure compliance with internal policies, external regulations, and ethical standards.
Utilize digital tools and analytics to support data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
8+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, preferably in the pharmaceutical or chemical industry.
Strong leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Proficiency in sourcing tools (e.g., SAP Ariba) and data analytics.
Experience working in a global matrix organization.
Knowledge of regulatory and quality requirements in pharmaceutical sourcing is a plus.

Why Novartis?

Join a purpose-driven organization where your work directly impacts global health. At Novartis, we empower our people to reimagine medicine and shape the future of healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and integrity.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

About Company

Novartis is a leading global healthcare company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. It specializes in the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of innovative pharmaceuticals. Formed in 1996 through the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, Novartis focuses on areas such as oncology, neuroscience, immunology, cardiovascular diseases, and gene therapies.With a strong commitment to scientific innovation, Novartis invests heavily in R&D and collaborates with biotech companies and academic institutions worldwide. The company operates in over 140 countries and serves millions of patients globally. Novartis is also known for its efforts in access to medicine, using programs like Novartis Access and Novartis Foundation to support underserved populations.