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.
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.
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.
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.
