Global Category Manager, Automation & Robotics

About the role

Novartis is looking for a Global Category Manager for Automation & Robotics in Prague, working in a hybrid setting. The role leads strategic procurement initiatives across the Automation & Robotics category, builds supplier partnerships and delivers value within a complex global environment. It translates broader procurement strategy into category plans and sourcing initiatives, driving supplier performance, value delivery and contracting, and works with divisions, countries, sites, Category teams and Business Partners.

Key responsibilities

• Translate global divisional Category strategy into sub-category strategies, sourcing plans and implementation activities.
• Lead sourcing initiatives and deliver agreed procurement savings and value targets.
• Contribute to the overall Category strategy, including supplier segmentation, strategic supplier identification and business planning.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, set performance indicators and address supplier performance risks.
• Lead major contracting activities so that negotiated agreements are clear and consistently applied.
• Gather supplier information and feedback from divisions, countries, sites, Category teams and Business Partners.
• Support the delivery of Procurement Balanced Scorecard metrics and other measures of financial and customer value.
• Manage budgets and resource allocation, and manage the performance and development of direct reports.

Required profile

• Significant professional experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or Category Management, with responsibility for complex sourcing initiatives.
• Experience developing and implementing category or sub-category strategies and sourcing plans.
• Strong experience managing strategic supplier relationships and supplier performance.
• Demonstrated commercial capability, including supplier negotiations and management of significant contracts.
• Experience delivering procurement savings, value and performance measures.
• Experience managing complex projects, priorities, budgets and resources in a procurement environment.
• Leadership capability, including managing and developing teams.

Desirable skills

• Exposure to industrial or laboratory automation, robotics, control systems, system integration or related technology and engineering categories.
• Familiarity with sourcing technology-intensive solutions, considering lifecycle cost, scalability, interoperability and supplier or technology dependency.
• Experience working with automation suppliers, technology partners, engineering teams or manufacturing stakeholders.

What we offer

• Expected annual base salary of CZK 1,097,670 to 2,038,530, with periodic review upon joining.
• Possible performance-based bonus depending on performance parameters.
• Local benefits in the Czech Republic: pension contribution matching up to 3% of gross monthly base salary, risk life insurance fully covered, 5 weeks of holiday, 4 paid sick days, Benefit Plus cafeteria programme, meal vouchers and MultiSport card.