Senior Category Manager - Specialty Labs

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.
 

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Job Description
 

Gilead Sciences is currently seeking an experienced and strategic leader for the role of Senior Category Manager, supporting our portfolio of specialty laboratories across Clinical Development. The Senior Category Manager will lead the global category strategy and execution for biomarkers, bioanalytical and companion diagnostic services that enable clinical development, ensuring quality, compliance, continuity of service, cost effectiveness, and fit-for-purpose scientific solutions across a diverse portfolio of trials and geographies.

The Senior Category Manager will partner with key stakeholders to ensure appropriate sourcing strategies with primary suppliers across the full vendor lifecycle, including vendor identification, RFI/RFP management, bid defense, vendor selection, contract negotiation, performance oversight, and closeout. This role requires deep industry experience, broad knowledge of industry practices, and strong expertise in contracting, budgeting, and negotiation processes. The position will have the opportunity to work in a matrix environment and regularly collaborate with senior management and cross-functional teams. The role operates with minimal direction, determines objectives for assignments, anticipates business, vendor, and regulatory changes, and solves unusual or highly complex problems that may lack precedent or structure.

Job Responsibilities

1.     Category Strategy & Leadership (Top Priority)

• Develop and refresh global category strategies and sourcing plans aligned to clinical development objectives.

• Drive global vendor strategy and provide input into program and study level vendor strategies. 

• Accountable for category performance, results, and value delivery.

2. Sourcing & Contracting Execution (Core Accountability)

• Lead end-to-end sourcing and contracting lifecycle, including RFI/RFP, bid evaluation, vendor selection, negotiation, change orders, and closeout. 

• Lead negotiations for complex/high-value agreements, translating business, scientific, and legal requirements into contract terms and budgets.

• Lead bid defenses, vendor capability assessments, and category refresh activities. 

• Ensure efficient and optimized contracting processes to support timely execution. 

• Translate business requirements into vendor capabilities and recommend fit-for-purpose vendor solutions.

3. Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure compliant vendor selection and sourcing practices through risk management, benchmarking, and alignment with Legal, Quality, and Vendor Qualification. 

• Ensure sourcing decisions and vendor deliverables comply with global regulatory and internal standards (e.g., clinical trial and diagnostic regulations). 

• Support inspection readiness, quality control, and proper contract closeout/archiving. 

• Interpret and recommend updates to policies and procedures as needed. 

4. Stakeholder Partnership & Influence

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to develop study requirements, sourcing strategies, and vendor selection decisions. 

• Influence adoption of category strategies, preferred vendors, and standard scopes/rate cards. 

• Establish and maintain effective relationships across Clinic