Company: AbbVie Location: North Chicago, IL Employment Type: Full Time Date Posted: 07/10/2026 Job Categories:
Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical, Engineering, Finance/Economics, Information Technology, Sales, Science, Purchasing, Executive Management, Logistics, Quality Control
Job Description
Procurement Director Category Management Lead, IT
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us atwww.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie onLinkedIn,Facebook,Instagram,XandYouTube.
Job Description
Purpose
The Director, Category Management Lead plays a pivotal role in shaping long-term strategies for multiple procurement categories, ensuring strategies align with overarching business objectives. This role focuses on strategic advising and requires broad oversight of category procurement execution including supplier management, risk mitigation, and operations excellence. The Director, Category Management Lead will lead strategy through execution ensuring alignment across Category Managers, collaborating with Business Partners, cross functional partners, and capability owners to ensure efficient procurement of business needs. Specific IT categories under leadership include: Software, Hardware, Telecom, Cloud amongst other technology and services as required.
Responsibilities
Create overarching Category Strategy through execution inclusive of supplier strategies, governance mode, Supplier Relationship Management. Implement innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement activities, contributing to the organization competitive edge and financial health.
Employ data analytics at a strategic level to transform procurement operations and decision-making
Drive Innovation/Thought Leadership and lead complex programs, initiatives from strategy through implementation. Orchestrate procurement projects with a strategic lens, ensuring they are not only aligned with overarching business objectives but also contribute to the long-term strategic vision.
Lead Stakeholder and functional engagement and management across Enterprise, Operations, R&D, and Operations within the IT categories of leadership
Create Category playbooks, negotiations Strategy and Term Sheet
Manage Category Council that ensure category strategy pull through and regional, local requirements
Create project/supplier strategy team for strategy through execution based on complexities and aligned approach with established roles, escalations, and timelines
Oversee and guide the development and execution of long-term category strategy across multiple procurement categories, optimizing cost, efficiency, and quality.
Act as the critical link between the procurement and business units, ensuring that procurement strategies are aligned and actively contribute to achieving business objectives. In the absence of a designated business partner role, step into this capacity, serving as a strategic advisor and partner to senior business leadership.
Oversee market trend analysis and supplier landscape assessments to inform strategic decisions.
Champion sustainability and ESG initiatives, ensuring procurement practices align with organizational and global standards.
Cultivate high-level strategic partnerships with strategic category suppliers, spearheading joint initiatives that advance innovation and continuous improvement by challenging the status quo.
Lead a comprehensive approach to identifying and mitigating supplier risks at a category level.
Strategically ensure robust compliance with global standards, incorporating a holistic view that encompasses entire value chain processes.
Provide visionary leadership to and directly manage a team of category managers, focusing on strategic mentoring and development. Cultivate a culture that prioritizes excellence, continuous improvement, and team cohesion.
Implement comprehensive workforce plans that ensure the category teams capabilities are not only aligned with current organizational needs but are also scalable and adaptable for future challenges.
Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt., or related field. Masters degree is preferred.
Minimum of 12 years of experience in procurement, supply chain or related business or operations function.
Previous experience leading category management teams and reporting to senior procurement leadership.
Strong executive presence and ability to influence across the organization, supplemented by robust soft skills.
Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry is required.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal law:
The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at the timeof this posting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
This job is eligible toparticipatein our long-term incentiveprograms.
Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.The amount and availability of any bonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company's sole andabsolutediscretion unless and until paid andmay bemodifiedat the Companys sole and absolute discretion, consistent withapplicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.