Senior API Procurement Category Manager

MISSION STATEMENT ================= The Senior API Procurement Category Manager is the **strategic commercial owner** of Zentiva’s assigned Indian supplier portfolio for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs). The role contributes decision-ready India market input to global category strategies and is accountable for executing approved sourcing plans, commercial outcomes, supplier performance, supply resilience, and alternate-source implementation. This is a **senior individual-contributor role** with no direct reports. The incumbent is expected to operate independently, deliver at least **5% year-on-year validated savings** against the approved Finance baseline, maintain regulatory-ready supplier execution, and escalate material risks early with clear recommendations to the Head of API Procurement. **Value Proposition** The role directly shapes Zentiva’s position in one of the world’s most important API supply markets and has measurable impact on **COGS, PPV, launch readiness, supply continuity, supplier innovation, and long-term product profitability.** MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DUTIES ================================ **1\. Global Category Strategy Contribution & Financial Delivery** •  **Shape global category strategy.** Provide decision-ready Indian market intelligence, supplier options, cost benchmarks, should-cost insights, risk scenarios, and sourcing recommendations for assigned APIs and KSMs. •  **Own portfolio execution.** Translate approved strategies into supplier- and molecule-level plans with clear milestones, owners, approvals, financial impact, and implementation dates. •  **Deliver financial commitments.** Achieve at least **5% year-on-year validated savings** against the approved Finance baseline and own PPV, COGS, working-capital actions, and savings evidence; cost avoidance is reported separately unless agreed with Finance. **2\. Supplier Ecosystem & Commercial Leadership** •  **Own commercial relationships.** Lead negotiations, contracts, volume allocations, business reviews, escalations, and senior supplier engagement across the assigned Indian supplier portfolio. •  **Strengthen the supplier base.** Identify and develop competitive suppliers, capacity, backward-integration, innovation, and alternate-source opportunities that improve cost and resilience. •  **Drive supplier performance and value.** Apply segmentation, QBRs, scorecards, supplier-development plans, ESG expectations, and joint improvement programs; ensure at least **90% of strategic suppliers** are rated Good or Excellent. **3\. Supply Resilience, Quality, Regulatory & ESG** •  **Protect supply continuity.** Maintain current supplier- and molecule-level risk assessments, business-continuity plans, capacity assurance, inventory actions, and dual- or alternate-source roadmaps for all critical assigned APIs and KSMs. •  **Deliver compliant implementation.** Partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to complete supplier qualification, audits, DMF/CEP alignment, change controls, documentation, and approved-source milestones by committed dates. •  **Control and escalate risk.** Proactively manage GMP, raw-material, financial, capacity, logistics, trade/geopolitical, concentration, and ESG risks; escalate material threats early with quantified options and a recommendation. **4\. Business Partnering, Governance & Execution Excellence** •  **Lead cross-functional decisions.** Act as the primary strategic procurement contact for the assigned portfolio and present clear business cases and commercial recommendations to the Head of API Procurement and relevant functions. •  **Enable portfolio outcomes.** Ensure early procurement involvement in launches, technical transfers, supplier changes, tenders, lifecycle management, and critical continuity decisions. •  **Maintain execution discipline.** Keep contracts, prices, allocations, forecasts, supplier data, systems, and savings records accurate and current; meet governance deadlines and avoid late escalation of known material risks. **5\. Senior Individual Leadership & Team Contribution** •  **Operate with senior ownership.** Prioritize independently, meet commitments, communicate proactively, and make timely recommendations in complex and high-pressure situations. •  **Build team capability.** Share market intelligence, negotiation learning, supplier risks, and sourcing opportunities; support onboarding, cross-training, and category tools or playbooks. •  **Model Zentiva leadership behaviours.** Demonstrate Trust, Courage, Authenticity, Collaboration, Accountability, integrity, constructive challenge, and continuous improvement. KEY DELIVERABLES / KPIS **KPI** **Target / Objective** **Savings Delivery** Deliver at least **5% year-on-year validated savings** against the approved Finance baseline; cost avoidance is tracked separately unless agreed with Finance. **Strategy & Execution** Complete **100% of agreed supplier- and molecule-level plans** and governance deliverables by the agreed dates or through formally approved rebaselining. **Supply Resilience** Maintain a current risk assessment and approved business-continuity or mitigation plan for **100% of critical assigned APIs and KSMs**; prevent avoidable disruption caused by delayed procurement action. **Alternate-Source Implementation** Deliver **100% of assigned supplier-identification, commercial, qualification, and implementation milestones** on time or through formally approved rebaselining. **Supplier Performance** Ensure at least **90% of strategic suppliers are rated Good or Excellent** and maintain time-bound improvement plans for all suppliers below the threshold. **Quality & Regulatory Execution** Complete **100% of assigned procurement deliverables** for audits, qualifications, DMF/CEP alignment, change controls, and documentation by agreed dates. **PPV / COGS & Working Capital** Meet approved PPV, COGS, and working-capital targets and maintain accurate, timely, Finance-validated reporting. **Governance & Stakeholder Partnership** Maintain accurate contracts, prices, allocations, forecasts, supplier data, and savings evidence; provide decision-ready updates and **no late escalation of known material risks.** OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES ====================== **Quality** •  Adheres to GMP principles relevant to the role and completes all required training. **HSE** •  Adheres to Zentiva’s ESMS Policy and internal Health, Safety, and Environmental requirements. **Pharmacovigilance** •  Reports suspected adverse events and other relevant safety information in accordance with internal regulations. **Compliance** •  Complies with all internal policies, the Code of Ethics, and related procedures, and maintains the highest standards of integrity in all supplier and business relationships. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS ============================================ **Essential** •  **Experience.** Minimum 8 years of progressive strategic procurement or category-management experience in APIs, KSMs, pharmaceutical direct materials, CDMO, life sciences, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment, including major negotiations, alternate sourcing, and business-continuity delivery. •  **Technical and financial capability.** Strong knowledge of the Indian API supplier landscape; working knowledge of GMP, DMF/CEP, supplier qualification, audits, change controls, and regulatory documentation; strong capability in COGS, PPV, should-cost/TCO, FX, budgeting, working capital, and business cases. •  **Operating capability.** Proven ability to work independently in a global matrix, manage multiple priorities, and influence senior stakeholders across functions and geographies; fluent English and willingness to travel approximately 20%. **Preferred** •  **Industry context.** Experience in complex generics, specialty pharma, API manufacturing, or a private-equity-backed growth environment. •  **Digital capability.** Experience with SAP, SAP Ariba, e-sourcing, advanced analytics, and supplier-risk platforms. •  **Additional advantage.** Knowledge of sustainable procurement and ESG due diligence; proficiency in Hindi or another Indian language. **Leadership Behaviors** •  **Strategic and commercial.** Data-driven, pragmatic, and disciplined in converting category strategy into measurable outcomes. •  **Courageous and collaborative.** Challenges assumptions, leads difficult negotiations, and builds alignment across functions, sites, suppliers, and geographies, including under pressure. •  **Accountable and integrity-driven.** Meets commitments, escalates early, shares knowledge, supports colleagues, and acts with high ethical standards.