Job Title: Global Category Manager – Indirect Services

Location: Ambernath, India

Job Type: Full Time

Reporting: Director Global Procurement

About PolyPeptide Group:

PolyPeptide Group AG and its consolidated subsidiaries (“PolyPeptide”) is a specialized Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for peptide- and oligonucleotide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients. By supporting its customers mainly in pharma and biotech, it contributes to the health of millions of patients across the world. PolyPeptide serves a fast-growing market, offering products and services from pre-clinical to commercial stages. Its broad portfolio reflects the opportunities in drug therapies across areas and with a large exposure to metabolic diseases, including GLP-1. Dating back to 1952, PolyPeptide today runs a global network of six GMP-certified facilities in Europe, the U.S. and India. PolyPeptide’s shares (SIX: PPGN) are listed on SIX Swiss Exchange.

Position Overview:

The Global Category Manager – Indirect Services is responsible for developing and executing global category strategies that optimize value, enhance supplier performance, and support PolyPeptide’s business objectives. This role will drive strategic sourcing excellence across indirect service categories, ensure harmonized procurement practices globally, and lead key initiatives that deliver measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities:

Global Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

• Own and execute the global category strategy for Indirect Services, from strategy definition through implementation and value realization, in alignment with business priorities and internal requirements.

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of global category and sourcing strategies, including demand management, specification standardization, and supplier footprint optimization.

• Professionalize, standardize, and harmonize indirect service categories, sourcing processes, and supplier frameworks across regions and sites, balancing global leverage with local business needs.

• Continuously monitor the supplier market and identify opportunities resulting from new product / service offerings and/or market shifts (e.g., entry or exit of suppliers', changes in pricing, etc).

• Maintain and routinely report market intelligence and cost drivers (e.g., labor indices, inflation, energy, FX), providing forward-looking insights and using data to challenge supplier pricing and contract adjustments.

Global Procurement Initiatives & Value Delivery

• Identify, prioritize, and execute global and cross-functional procurement initiatives aligned with top-down targets, performance gaps, and strategic business objectives.

• Build and actively manage a robust pipeline of initiatives, including opportunity identification, business case development, target setting, and benefit tracking.

• Lead or co-lead category-related projects end-to-end, ensuring disciplined execution, stakeholder alignment, and compliance with procurement policies, standards, and governance.

• Ensure initiatives deliver measurable and auditable results, with clear ownership, milestones, and post-implementation tracking.   

Contracting

• Draft, negotiate, close and track global and regional supplier contracts (e.g. master service agreements) within the category to provide optimal terms and conditions. Anticipate and resolve implementation barriers in a timely fashion.

• Ensure contracts are fit for purpose, clearly define scopes of work, pricing models, service levels, escalation mechanisms, and performance metrics.    

Supplier Relationship Management

• Lead supplier evaluation, selection, qualification, and onboarding processes, ensuring suppliers meet commercial, operational, compliance, and risk requirements.

• Establish and manage structured Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) for key suppliers, including performance reviews, KPI tracking, continuous improvement, and innovation discussions.

• Proactively manage supplier performance, risk, and continuity, engaging cross-functional teams to define mitigation and contingency plans where needed.

Stakeholder Management

• Ensure the engagement of key stakeholders early in the strategic sourcing process and ensure a consistent, objective and transparent approach is always maintained.

• Drive buy-in and compliance with global category strategies and contracts through clear communication, governance, and change management.

• Ensure communication in interaction between global and local procurement.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Qualifications:

• University degree, preferably in Business or a related field.

• Several years of experience in strategic procurement with deep expertise in category management and advanced strategic sourcing.

• Proven experience in indirect procurement categories such as consulting, temporary labor, HR services, travel, and fleet.

• Demonstrated ability to lead global, cross-functional project teams.

Preferred (Merit) Qualifications

• Excellent communication and project leadership skills with the ability to manage teams in a global, multicultural environment.

• Experience in organizational change management.

• Fluency in business-level English.

• Experience in GMP-regulated environments and/or the pharmaceutical industry.

• Willingness to travel up to 20%.

Why Join Us at PolyPeptide Group:

PolyPeptide Group offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of peptide-based therapeutics, a rapidly growing and innovative segment of the pharmaceutical industry. As a key member of PolyPeptide team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a company that is dedicated to the success of its clients and the advancement of peptide science. Join us and be part of a global organization that is shaping the future of life-saving therapies.