PHARMAFull-time
Associate Director - Procurement, API, Innovative Medicine
By Admin · Manufacturing, Production & Supply Chain
HYDERABAD (IN)HYBRIDPOSTED: 9/4/2026
PHARMAFull-time
HIRING ORGANIZATIONJOHNSON & JOHNSONPharmaceuticals, Healthcare & MedTech
ROLE DEFINITION & RESPONSIBILITIES
Position Summary
The Associate Director, Procurement — API Category leads end-to-end Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) procurement strategy and execution for value-generation and M&A products within Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. The role focuses on high-impact opportunities across cost efficiency, supplier quality, innovation, sustainability, supply continuity, and business growth. As an API category subject-matter expert, the role partners extensively with External Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and other stakeholders to define sourcing strategies, shape the supplier base, and drive supplier performance.
Procurement Strategy & Execution
Support the Innovative Medicine vision and contribute to supply-chain procurement strategy.
Identify high-value procurement opportunities and drive capability improvements.
Develop and execute category sourcing strategies aligned with short-, medium-, and long-term business requirements.
Use market intelligence to assess industry trends and identify value-creation opportunities.
Proactively identify and address supply, commercial, and cost risks.
Maintain a prioritized roadmap of sourcing initiatives and ensure execution against business milestones.
Lead or coordinate large and complex procurement projects aligned with supply-chain strategy.
Supplier Management & Contracting
Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Manage supplier selection and due-diligence activities.
Collaborate with Supply Chain on supplier onboarding and performance management.
Negotiate commercial agreements and contracts while balancing value, risk, supply continuity, and business requirements.
Work with suppliers to identify cost-reduction opportunities, quality improvements, and process efficiencies.
Oversee contract lifecycle activities with Legal, including contract renewals and amendments.
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Represent Procurement in cross-functional category forums and new-product-development forums.
Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and R&D to support product launches and operational readiness.
Work closely with stakeholders to translate business requirements into actionable sourcing strategies and plans.
Provide procurement subject-matter expertise across global and regional initiatives.
Financial Management & Commercial Impact
Deliver cost-effective sourcing solutions for new products and procurement initiatives.
Drive cost avoidance and cash-flow improvements through strategic negotiation.
Ensure accurate procurement forecasting and budgeting in alignment with financial cycles.
Manage key procurement performance indicators, including CIP, cash, cost avoidance, inflation, and related metrics.
Use commercial and spend insights to improve procurement value generation.
Risk, Resiliency & Compliance
Identify commercial, supply, quality, and regulatory risks across the API supply base.
Develop and maintain contingency and business-continuity plans.
Ensure sourcing activities comply with applicable regulatory and quality requirements.
Escalate critical risks and issues appropriately.
Lead mitigation activities to protect supply continuity, quality, cost, and business objectives.
Data, Digital Tools & Continuous Improvement
Leverage procurement systems and analytics to generate actionable insights and support decision-making.
Promote digital tools, automation, and technology-enabled procurement opportunities.
Apply data-driven approaches to improve sourcing and supplier performance.
Support continuous improvement in procurement processes, supplier outcomes, and category performance.
Innovation & Commercialization
Translate API category requirements into supplier innovation projects.
Represent Procurement in global and regional innovation initiatives.
Lead innovation projects through commercialization, qualification, and verification.
Ensure appropriate participation from Quality, R&D, Procurement, and other relevant functions throughout project phases.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
MBA is preferred.
Minimum 7 years of procurement or category-management experience.
Strong expertise in sourcing strategy, supplier management, and contract negotiation.
Strong analytical capabilities.
Proficiency in Excel and analytics tools.
Familiarity with digital and AI-enabled procurement tools.
Strong stakeholder-influence and presentation capabilities.
Project-management experience.
Leadership Behaviors & Competencies
Results-oriented and accountable.
Self-driven and action-oriented.
Strong collaborative relationship-building ability.
Creative and innovative mindset.
Agile and adaptable in a fast-moving business environment.
High ethical standards and strong governance orientation.
Customer-focused approach.
Strong innovation mindset and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Travel & Work Pattern
Hybrid work pattern.
Primary job locations include Mumbai and Hyderabad, India.
Up to 20% domestic and international travel may be required.
Business Impact
Shapes the strategic API supplier base supporting Innovative Medicine.
Drives procurement value through cost efficiency, cost avoidance, cash-flow improvement, supplier performance, innovation, and sustainability.
Supports new-product launches and operational readiness.
Protects supply continuity through proactive risk management and contingency planning.
Enables collaboration between Procurement and critical functions including Quality, R&D, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, and External Manufacturing.
Contributes to global and regional procurement transformation through digitalization, analytics, automation, and supplier innovation.
Equal Opportunity
Johnson & Johnson states that it is an equal opportunity employer. The position requires the ability to operate effectively in a global, cross-functional environment while upholding the company's Credo and values.
REQUIRED VERIFIED SKILLS
Minimum 7 years procurement/category management
Strategic sourcing
API procurement
Category management
Supplier management
Contract negotiation
Supplier selection
Due diligence
Cost management
Spend analysis
Risk management
Vendor management
Vendor selection
RFx management
Market intelligence
Business data analysis
Excel
Analytics tools
Project management
Stakeholder management
Regulatory compliance
Quality requirements
Supply continuity
Contingency planning
COMPENSATION & REWARDS
Salary: Competitive / Disclosed upon candidate shortlisting
The posting does not disclose a specific salary range, bonus amount, or detailed benefits package, so salary_min and salary_max are left blank rather than estimated. Compensation for this Associate Director-level position would be influenced by the candidate's 7+ years of procurement/category-management experience, API sourcing expertise, strategic-sourcing capability, leadership scope, location, and internal job level. The role's seniority and responsibility for cost, supplier performance, risk, innovation, and business impact indicate that total compensation would be positioned at a senior procurement-management level, but no unofficial figure is provided here.
ORGANIZATION CONTEXT & CULTURE
Johnson & Johnson is actively hiring for this position.
INDUSTRY: Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare & MedTech
EXPECTED CAREER ROADMAP
This Associate Director role offers a senior procurement leadership pathway within a global healthcare organization. The position can provide progression toward Director-level and broader procurement or supply-chain leadership roles, particularly for professionals who demonstrate strong category ownership, strategic sourcing results, supplier leadership, cross-functional influence, and global project execution. Deep API procurement expertise can also open opportunities in global category management, external manufacturing procurement, supply-chain strategy, procurement transformation, digital procurement, supplier innovation, and enterprise sourcing leadership. Exposure to R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Legal, and commercialization provides a broad platform for long-term strategic leadership.
APPLICATION ADVISORY
Highlight at least 7 years of procurement/category-management experience and demonstrate clear ownership of API or pharmaceutical sourcing categories. Quantify procurement achievements such as cost savings, cost avoidance, working-capital or cash-flow improvements, spend managed, supplier consolidation, contract value, supplier-quality improvements, and continuity-risk mitigation. Emphasize strategic sourcing, supplier selection, due diligence, RFx management, negotiations, contract lifecycle management, and category strategy. Show experience working with Supply Chain, Quality, R&D, Regulatory, Finance, Legal, and External Manufacturing. Include advanced Excel and analytics capabilities plus experience with digital or AI procurement tools. Prepare interview examples covering complex negotiations, supplier disruptions, quality/regulatory risks, sourcing strategy, stakeholder conflicts, new-product launches, innovation projects, and measurable business outcomes. Demonstrate executive communication, influence without authority, accountability, ethical decision-making, and global stakeholder management.
RECOMMENDED TRAINING
1/5
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