Category Manager – General & Administrative

Position Overview

As Global Category Manager - General & Administratives, you are responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously evolving the global sourcing strategies covering People & Organization services, Consulting, Travel, Events, and Car Fleet across the organization.

Operating in a highly competitive, cost-driven and regulated generics pharmaceutical environment, you ensure cost efficiency, service excellence, compliance, sustainability, and business continuity for key corporate support services.

This role requires strong cross-functional leadership, deep market expertise, and the ability to influence stakeholders in a global matrix organization. You drive category strategies, supplier relationship management (SRM), value creation, and play an active role in budget and Long-Range Planning (LRP) exercises.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Value Creation

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global sourcing strategy for People & Organization (HR services, recruitment, RPO, learning & development, consulting, temporary workforce), Travel (air, hotel, ground transportation, TMCs), Events (corporate events, sales meetings, congresses, internal conventions), Car Fleet (leasing, mobility solutions, fleet management services) aligned with business objectives, ESG commitments, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead initiatives for supplier consolidation and modal shifts to improve cost efficiency, service reliability, and environmental impact.
• Drive value creation beyond savings, including the demand management and policy optimization, service model standardization and simplification, alternative delivery models (digital learning, virtual/hybrid events, new mobility solutions)
• Monitor market dynamics (labor market tension, travel inflation, mobility regulations, fleet electrification) and translate insights into actionable sourcing decisions.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

• Manage strategic supplier relationships across G&A categories, including global and regional partners.
• Design and deploy a structured SRM framework, including supplier segmentation, governance models (QBRs, executive reviews), continuous improvement and innovation roadmap
• Define and monitor supplier KPIs
• Ensure robust risk management and continuity plans, especially for business-critical services.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Procurement CoE, P&O teams, Facilities stakeholders, Finance, Legal, and Compliance
• Act as procurement lead for transformation initiatives related to new ways of working, travel and mobility policy evolution, and employee experience optimization

Cost Management & Budget/LRP exercise

• Identify and deliver cost savings through competitive tendering, consolidation,
• and contract renegotiation.
• Play a key role in the annual budget cycle & LRP
• Ensure budget governance, spend visibility, and variance analysis across all G&A categories.

Sustainability & ESG Integration

• Embed ESG criteria into supplier selection and performance management on
• Sustainable travel and events, fleet electrification and CO₂ reduction, responsible workforce and diversity practices
• Track and report sustainability KPIs in line with corporate ESG objectives and external reporting requirements

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with internal procurement policies, labor, mobility, and ethical standards and pharmaceutical industry requirements
• Maintain accurate documentation, contracts, and supplier records.
• Support audit readiness and continuous improvement of procurement governance.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Master’s degree in Procurement, Business, HR, or related field.
• 8 - 12 years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, category strategy preferably in with exposure to G&A categories within the pharmaceutical or FMCG sector.
• Proven track record in managing global suppliers and delivering complex procurement projects.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.
• Advanced negotiation, stakeholder management, and project leadership skills.

Our Recruitment Process: 

Upon the completion of sourcing (CV collection) period, all received application will be reviewed by our Recruitment experts and evaluated against the needs of the open role. Successful candidates will be contacted by our Recruiting experts for an initial screening interview during which further details about the selection process will be shared. Successful candidates will progress to interviews with line managers, while not selected candidates will be informed in a written form as soon as possible.
 
Diversity is a fact.
 
At Zentiva, we are a team of 5000 unique talents bonded together by our purpose to provide health and well-being for all generations. We strive daily to create a work culture where everyone feels appreciated, can be their true selves, and contribute to the best of their ability. Seeking for a balanced team across the company, we welcome applications from all qualified candidates with various educational and industry experiences, cultural or ethnical backgrounds, and different life experiences or abilities, regardless of their religious or philosophical beliefs or whomever they choose to love. 

Join our winning team! Be a part of our winning culture! Be Zentiva! 

Minimum Gross Annual Salary in Italy: 70,000 EUR