Procurement Specialist

**Contract position**

The Procurement Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting the US Marketing/Selling & Impact Procurement Team by actively contributing to the execution and evolution of the category strategies that align with company objectives and the business needs of our internal stakeholders.

This position will report to the Agencies and Media Category Lead, based in the Smyrna GA office.

Procurement is tasked with delivering value, optimizing commercial leverage, mitigating risk, promoting sustainability, and managing suppliers, balancing investment with results.

• Categories: Agencies and Media (primary); Data Acquisition and Market Research; and Patient Support Services
• Responsibilities include: Engages in sourcing and negotiation, Supplier Relationship Management, strategic alignment, risk management, cost optimization, and collaborative efforts to enhance industry performance.
• Builds solid relationships with the extended stakeholder eco-system to fully understand the business and their requirements.
• Is responsible for handling end to end sourcing operations.
• Advocates the existing Buying Channels and enables an improved stakeholder experience
• Aligns with the Procurement Lead on execution of category strategies
• Engages with the COE on analytics, and other relevant value adding technology platforms
• Supports the Sustainability (environmental and social) & Risk department in the relationship with the suppliers in their whelm of influence
• Comply with existing regulatory, compliance, and audit requirements work with Associate Procurement Value Lead to facilitate co-ordination across FFG category in the areas of Sustainability, Preferred Vendor, Buying Channel, and Supplier Relationship management.

Accountabilities

• Network Strategy
• Translate the Procurement strategies within the business
• Manage and nurtures selected suppliers’ relationships
• Provide insights from sourcing experience and interaction with the business
• Supplier Segmentation
• Assist on developing supplier segmentation based upon his expertise (contracting/business)
• Develop commercial relationship models in line with the business strategy
• Supplier Selection
• Identify potential suppliers by applying target vendor lists or supporting in the identification of alternatives
• Responsible for maintaining commercial relationship with Suppliers
• Support sourcing recommendation to defined governance groups
• Contracting
• Handle Full RFI / RFQ processes with excellence using the procurement vetted tools
• Consider the market trends, the competitive landscape and the dynamics around the supply markets
• Provide fact-based sourcing recommendation for the supplier selection
• Ensure collaboration with the Legal department for setting up the appropriate terms
• Negotiate T&C with suppliers
• Safeguards the KPI’s and SLA’s as negotiated in the contracts
• Performance Management
• Supports assessment of commercial performance within the spend category
• Acts as an escalation point for selected suppliers

Risk Management

• Ensures risk management strategies are embedded into contracts (when applicable)
• Share and support plans for commercial risk contingencies
• Sustainability
• Ensure standard frameworks for sustainability assessment within the spend category are populated
• Ensure sustainability is embedded into contracts
• Ensure sustainability is included as a criteria for Supplier selection

Other activities

• Approve POs (within threshold), and other compliance activities as defined by different SOPs and governance bodies
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and synergies across the eco-system

Qualifications

• Bachelors
• Relevant operational and/or academic background for the spend
• portfolio under assignment.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in similar strategic Procurement or Sales roles
• Previous Experience in Pharma Industry Companies and/or in
• Mktg/Medical/Media/Mkt Research Agencies working for Pharma industry would be recommended

Competencies

• Collaborative, adaptable, and able to thrive in a dynamic environment
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to build lasting supplier relationships
• Managing procurement projects, timelines, and deliverables
• Proficient in drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts, understanding of legal terms and implication
• Proficiency in data analysis and procurement software.
• Great communication skills - ability to think creatively, engage in effective communication and promote change with internal stakeholders and suppliers
• Team player, fostering diversity and inclusion, capable of operating in cross-functional, cultural teams
• A good knowledge of supplier markets in the assigned portfolio