**Job Description** The Associate Director, Strategic Sourcing, Research Category Lead, will lead strategic sourcing efforts for key R&D categories including discovery research, preclinical studies, laboratory supplies and services, and scientific support services. This role plays a critical part in enabling innovation by securing high-performing suppliers and ensuring alignment between scientific objectives and sourcing strategies. The ideal candidate will bring strong sourcing expertise, deep category knowledge, and a collaborative approach to business partnering. The ideal candidate will be able to translate the goals of their business partners to Sourcing objectives to provide a value-added service to the organization. **Job Description** The Associate Director, Strategic Sourcing, Research Category Lead, will execute on Sourcing strategies defined by R&D Sourcing leadership. Responsibilities include the following areas: **Overall Responsibility** + At the direction of R&D Sourcing leadership: + Build relationships with R&D business partners to develop and enable sourcing strategies that align with the needs of the business while meeting financial, operational, risk, quality, regulatory, and assurance of supply/services control objectives. + Manage and identify key supplier relationships by enabling operational delivery, continuous improvement, and innovation through performance and relationship measurement, overall governance, supplier relationship development and alignment to business and corporate goals and objectives. + Be a champion for Sourcing by ensuring and monitoring compliance with sourcing policies and processes through stakeholder communication, training, and the identification and reporting of exceptions and deviations. + Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities within the process area. + Drive 10-15% annual savings within in-scope spend areas. + Lead and execute significant, high value and high impact sourcing activities with cross-functional teams by assessing the category market, collecting business requirements, soliciting RFx’s, leading contractual and rate card negotiations and ensuring the strategic contractual infrastructure is in place to support business priorities + Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards. Assess and mitigate supplier risks, driving quality and adhering to regulatory guidelines. + Create excellence through consistent, high-quality outcomes. **Strategic Sourcing Vision, Strategy, and Objectives** + Execute against a common vision and strategy for Strategic Sourcing at Otsuka. Partners with Business leaders and other key stakeholders to gain their perspectives and endorsement of the vision and strategy. + Produce measurements of success (KPIs) and appropriate processes to capture, consolidate and report on sourcing performance and outcome versus objectives to business partners. + Provide regular reporting and tracking of overall sourcing initiatives and their progress, including issues, risks, and other important observations to ELT, Business Leaders, and Stakeholders. + Provide category expertise to business partners regarding changes in the category supplier landscape including new and existing suppliers. **Strategic Sourcing Process and Policy** + Provides appropriate training across the organization on the importance of following Sourcing policies and processes. + Ensures the appropriate controls are in place to meet regulatory requirements (i.e. J-sox, Third Party Risk Management, etc.). + Ensures best practices in Sourcing including accurate spend analysis, usage of RFx tools and templates, contract management, establishment of Preferred Supplier Programs, and ensuring all sourcing savings are realized into the financials. + Oversee key service provider relationships by participating in governance and business review meetings. + Lead negotiations for Master Services Agreements and Amendments. + Task Orders and change orders to ensure timely execution of contracts and budget alignment, where applicable. + Enable the success of the MSP model by establishing R&D ways of working, category specific contract templates, and escalation pathways. **Strategic Sourcing Execution** + Perform daily activities related to sourcing projects including the development of RFx strategy and on-going contract negotiations. + Develop operational metrics to ensure continuous monitoring and process improvement across all sourcing projects and report them to Sourcing leadership. + Ensure all assigned sourcing projects have clear objectives including financial and operational benefits, aligned with business stakeholders. + Partner with Business Owners and Financial Operations, and other key process owners to ensure project timelines are met. **Organizational Design and Development** + Actively seeks development of sourcing and financial capabilities. **Other** + Other activities or projects as assigned. **Qualifications/ Required** Knowledge/ Experience and Skills: **Qualifications** Knowledge + Experience within the Pharmaceutical or Biotech R&D category; demonstrated expertise in the discipline. + Experience in executing R&D sourcing projects yielding preferred or strategic partnerships. + Experience in interacting with senior level stakeholders and suppliers. + Proficient in evaluating and developing procurement strategies in alignment with R&D stakeholders to maximize efficiency and minimize cost with minimal oversight. + Proficient in negotiating supplier contracts and rate cards that lead to the greatest value for money and quality for the organization. + Demonstrated proficiency in launching and managing financial KPI's for Sourcing. + Demonstrated proficiency in building successful stakeholder relationships + Expertise in data analysis and extracting key actionable observations. + Basic understanding of ICH E6 guidelines and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) Skills and Experience Minimum of 7 - 10 years of experience in R&D Strategic Sourcing roles including the ability to work through transformational efforts within the team + Executive presence and influence with demonstrated ability to tell a story and influence the direction of the organization including at the most senior levels of the organization + Anticipate trends, understand implications and create actionable plans to prepare for future needs. + Familiar with emerging Procurement technologies. + Outstanding communication skills, ability to speak to the business and simplify complex technical sourcing aspects into concepts the business can understand, assess, and ultimately use to make decisions. + Strong customer service focus. + Experience listening to client needs and partnering to deliver results that are mutually beneficial for the client and the organization. + Specific experience in leading large, complex sourcing events in the R&D category. + Effective influencing and negotiating skills, both external and internal, and ability to flex influence with various levels of the organization. + High degree of analytical skills, able to rapidly understand and synthesize disparate data into meaningful information to support critical business decisions. + Strong understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and development of new drugs. **Education** Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Sciences or relevant technical expertise. Advanced degree (MBA/MS) preferred. **Competencies** **Accountability for Results -** Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change. **Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving -** Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business. **Patient & Customer Centricity -** Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders. **Impactful Communication -** Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka. **Respectful Collaboration -** Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals. **Empowered Development -** Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative. Minimum $146,955.00 - Maximum $219,650.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting salary for candidates hired to perform the work. Other elements may be used to determine actual salary such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws. **Company benefits** : Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, a generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits. Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka . **Disclaimer:** This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic. 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