Category Manager, R&D Outsourcing

This position can be located in either St Louis, MO or Salt Lake City, UT

The Category Manager, R&D Outsourcing is responsible for building, leading, and deploying the global sourcing strategy for a newly created portfolio of R&D-related services. This role establishes category definitions, develops short- and long-term category strategies, aligns with scientific and technical leaders across R&D franchises, and ensures effective implementation through project buyers or direct execution depending on the scope. In addition, the role will benefit from strong and active support from Procurement leadership, ensuring guidance, sponsorship, and visibility throughout the organization.

The Category Manager will operate in a matrix R&D organization structured by technology franchises (e.g., Microbiology, Immunoassays, Sequencing, Molecular Biology), each involving cross-functional development domains (Hardware, Software, Biosciences etc). Outsourcing topics may apply simultaneously to several franchises or to transversal R&D disciplines, requiring strong coordination, influence, and category governance. The role will also be backed by explicit endorsement and continuous engagement from R&D Executive Leadership, providing strategic alignment, easier access to key decision-makers, and a highly supportive environment for driving change.

Primary Duties

1. Define and structure the Global R&D Services category, including detailed sub-categories such as hardware engineering, systems development, biosciences, clinical affairs, and project management services.
2. Deploy a category management approach covering a wide portfolio of R&D services across regions and franchises.
3. Analyze internal demand, R&D operating models, and supplier markets to identify opportunities, risks, consolidation levers, and innovation potential.
4. Design, maintain, and implement comprehensive category strategies, including segmentation, outsourcing models, preferred supplier frameworks, sourcing methodologies, and innovation roadmaps.
5. Co-define short- and long-term outsourcing strategies with internal stakeholders to support the evolution and transformation of R&D practices.
6. Ensure full alignment with R&D leadership, franchise heads, functional stakeholders, and global procurement policies while integrating new Group R&D requirements.
7. Design, standardize, and deploy outsourcing methodologies across global R&D teams (decision frameworks, operating models, processes, templates).
8. Promote consistency and harmonization of outsourcing practices across franchises, ensuring fit-for-purpose contracting models and supplier selection approaches.
9. Act as the primary procurement counterpart for global R&D leaders across all franchises.
10. Represent Procurement in cross-functional working groups, ensuring a deep understanding of stakeholder needs and translating them into actionable sourcing strategies.
11. Facilitate cross-franchise alignment on outsourcing needs, sourcing strategies, contracting models, and preferred supplier lists.
12. Lead category governance routines, including decision-making forums, alignment reviews, and leadership touchpoints.
13. Foster a collaborative, value-driven sourcing culture within global R&D.
14. Lead complex and strategic sourcing initiatives spanning multiple projects, franchises, or transversal R&D domains.
15. Support and guide Project Buyers for project-specific or franchise-specific sourcing activities.
16. Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers to enrich the R&D supply base and address emerging needs.
17. Develop, negotiate, and manage MSAs, framework agreements, and rate card structures when relevant.
18. Ensure supplier compliance with quality, regulatory, ethical, and CSR requirements.
19. Establish and lead supplier performance monitoring and governance, including KPIs, service level agreements, business reviews, risk assessments, and continuous improvement plans.
20. Oversee supplier innovation pipelines and assess emerging capabilities to support evolving R&D priorities.
21. Support corporate procurement objectives related to performance, CSR, responsible sourcing, and eco-design, ensuring their consistent deployment at supplier level.
22. Drive alignment with company sustainability strategy and contribute to Scope 3 reduction initiatives where applicable.
23. Conduct ongoing market intelligence across R&D se