Direct Procurement Project Manager
Pleasanton, CA

Job Description

The Project Manager is accountable for delivering procurement deliverables on assigned projects and agreed targets and goals to ensure product development milestones are achieved and material cost, delivery, and quality targets are realized while in compliance with relevant policies, standards, guidelines, and operating procedures. The role is responsible for ensuring the successful execution and completion of procurement deliverables on product development projects while leveraging category and supplier strategies to maximize value to the product portfolio. The Project Manager is responsible for selecting and developing suppliers in alignment with global category and supplier strategies in the pre-launch phase of product development.

To ensure successful execution of projects assigned the role collaborates closely with business and technical experts, with the Category and Supplier Management teams, and Business stakeholders to proactively identify, report, and mitigate delivery risks, including providing regular progress updates to relevant stakeholders. The role is also responsible for building and maintaining Business Partner relationships with stakeholders and acts as a key point of contact for Direct Procurement in the pre-launch/pre-commercial phase of product lifecycle within the scope of their responsibility. As part of supporting the product development teams, the role also collaborates with Category Management, legal and / or contracting functions to support contracting requirements where needed. The Project Manager ensures the operationalization and implementation of project outputs by ensuring a smooth and successful transition to commercial manufacturing and supply, thereby requiring close collaboration with Global Operations functions as applicable. In some cases, this may require the planning and deployment of supporting Direct Procurement Project Specialist resources.

The Project Manager has deep knowledge of project management, product development process, and Roche's category and supplier management approach, and applies this expertise to effectively deliver to project needs. The role uses strong procurement analytical skills to collect and evaluate supplier, market, category, and internal business data and information required to monitor and evaluate project execution. Using leadership and communications skills the role effectively guides Business stakeholders through the procurement process, ensuring alignment to category and supplier strategies, escalation of risks and issues in a timely manner and efficient handover to procurement operations teams in commercial supply.

Primary responsibilities

* Deliver on assigned projects and targets - high value strategic projects according to the relevant Business Area / Business Unit Product Portfolio Strategy, Product Development roadmap, and annual pipeline of initiatives within DOP. Create all primary product development deliverables and obtain sign off for all major milestones in line with Roche's category and supplier management approach, and in compliance with relevant policies, standards, guidelines, and operating procedures. After project execution, ensure a smooth and efficient handover to the Procurement Operations teams.
* Apply robust project management - Create and execute against project plans. Work in cooperation with Business Project Leaders / Project Managers to ensure the appropriate support is leveraged to deliver project needs.
* Establish effective project support - Ensure robust project support by leveraging category and supplier management, procurement process know-how, and Direct Procurement Project Specialist resources, where applicable. Serve as the primary contact for procurement and ensure issues and needs are addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
* Monitor and mitigate risk - Monitor the progress of projects and pro-actively identify and report any projected risks to overall targets or timelines as well as potential mitigation strategies. Resolve issues and project risks on a timely basis and escalate issues and risks where appropriate.

Education, experience and skills

Required

* University degree, with Business or Life Sciences degree preferable.
* 5+ years procurement or supply chain experience delivering measurable value in strategic sourcing, enterprise cost reduction, and / or operational efficiency projects.
* Demonstrated understanding of some / all of the major direct spend categories and potential cost levers or market fundamentals.
* Strong background in strategic sourcing and supplier management in new product development and introduction in the medical device/pharmaceutical industry, or other highly regulated industry.
* 3+ years of project management experience including risk management, project reporting, and delivering quantitative and qualitative results in complex environments.
* Strong experience in upwards communication and senior stakeholder management skills supported by good interpersonal competencies (communication, influencing).
* Strong capability in negotiation, conflict resolution and stakeholder management.
* Expert proficiency in MS Project and other business systems.
* Knowledgeable in procurement specific systems and processes for the efficient management of sourcing events and contract negotiations (e.g. eSourcing, eAuction).

Desired

* Post graduate business related qualification.
* Documented international strategic sourcing experience.
* Experience in a scientific or engineering capacity, or vocational training.
* Experience in new product and/or technology transfer processes and requirements
* Strong analytical experience including ability to drive insights from large and varied data sources, data visualization applications (e.g. Tableau, Qlikview) and database applications (e.g. Access).
* Experience with enterprise systems (SAP, Oracle) and procurement / procure-to-pay tools such as (e.g. Ariba, Emptoris, SAP) is preferred.
* Life Sciences or Management Consulting industry experience.
* Any professional purchasing (e.g. CIPS), project management (e.g. PMP, Prince 2), or Finance related licenses or certifications would be considered advantageous.

Travel requirements

Availability to travel (air and ground both domestic and internationally) for up to 20-30% of time for various meetings at Roche and Supplier sites.

Roche is an equal opportunity employer.

Procurement, Procurement > General Procurement