Director, Procurement EMEA - IM

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• Staff
• Finance
• Procurement & Supply Chain
• Project Management

• Staff
• Finance
• Procurement & Supply Chain
• Project Management
• Sales
• Communication
• IT
• AI & Machine Learning
• Data & Analytics
• Enterprise Applications & Systems

Expert Bachelor’s Degree (HBO, WO)
Permanent Full time 2340 Beerse, Belgium

Role Summary

This role is accountable for shaping, championing, and delivering Procurement strategies that accelerate the EMEA Innovative Medicine (IM) Commercial agenda. The Director is a trusted thought partner to senior leaders—able to table bold ideas, build compelling business cases, and secure sponsorship to drive value  will lead the EMEA Agile Team in the operational execution of global category strategies and regional implementations, ensuring Procurement’s activities are aligned, adopted, and measured against IM business outcomes.

Primary Objectives

1. Strategic Alignment & Executive Partnership

Ensure Procurement delivers measurable results that advance the EMEA IM business strategy. Proactively engage the EMEA Commercial Leadership Team (ELT), Regional Vice Presidents, Country Managing Directors, Regional Business Leaders, and the Regional Finance Leadership to shape Procurement’s agenda, translate business priorities into sourcing strategies, and secure alignment and adoption across markets.

2. Category Leadership & Regional Execution

Lead the strategy and execution of IM Commercial categories (and other categories as required) across EMEA. Drive innovation, speed-to-value, risk management, and supplier performance through differentiated category plays, bold sourcing strategies, and disciplined execution via the EMEA Agile Team.

Scope of Responsibilities

• Set IM Priorities & Strategy Translation:
  Determine IM Commercial business priorities and partner with Procurement Category Leaders to design forward-looking strategies that directly advance those priorities, balancing cost, growth enablement, risk, speed, and sustainability.
• Influence & Adoption:
  Collaborate with senior business leaders to ensure Procurement strategies meet business needs, are socialized effectively, and are adopted within the business—creating executive-ready narratives and clear decision paths.
• Trend Sensing & Market Intelligence:
  Identify critical pharmaceutical market and supply trends and embed them into category strategies to maintain sustainable relevance for IM.
• Embed Digital & AI Capabilities:
  Identify opportunities to apply AI and advanced analytics in category strategies, supplier performance management, and risk mitigation to drive speed, precision, and innovation.
• Agile Team Leadership & Delivery:
  Lead and provide oversight to the EMEA Agile Team on the operational execution of global category strategies and their regional implementation, including sourcing, negotiations, and contracting services for designated activities.
• Major Strategic Negotiations:
  Lead complex, high-stakes negotiations for owned categories, or on behalf of the IM business, ensuring value creation, risk mitigation, compliance, and relationship outcomes.
• Functional Leadership:
  Participate in the IM EMEA Procurement Leadership Team to shape regional functional strategy, operating model improvements, and delivery against IM business objectives.
• Performance Management:
  Own delivery against Procurement performance targets within the role’s remit; establish dashboards and lead reviews to ensure target achievement.
• Supplier Innovation & Partnership:
  Build strategic supplier partnerships that unlock innovation, pilot bold commercial solutions, and scale proven plays across EMEA.
• Risk, Compliance & Governance:
  Uphold ethical sourcing, data privacy, anti-bribery/anti-corruption standards, and contracting governance; anticipate and address regional risks proactively.

Approximate Time Allocation

Tasks/Duties/Responsibilities

45%:
Key business partner to IM Commercial leadership teams in strategy development and Procurement delivery

40%:
Lead the EMEA Agile Team in the operational execution of the global category…