Category Management Analyst – Research Procurement

• Title: Category Management Analyst – Research Procurement
• Location: Onsite / Hybrid Position in Foster City (3 days/week)
• Duration: 12+ Month contract role

• Position Overview
• We are seeking a data-driven and execution-focused Category Management Analyst to support the development and execution of procurement strategies across Research & Product Development categories. This role will partner closely with Category Managers to analyze spend and supplier data, generate market insights, support sourcing initiatives, and drive procurement activities across a complex spend portfolio.
• The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, commercially curious, and comfortable working with large datasets and multiple stakeholders. Experience within life sciences, biotech, pharma, or research procurement is strongly preferred.

• Key Responsibilities
• Category Strategy & Market Analysis
• Support Category Managers in developing and executing category strategies.
• Analyze spend, supplier, market, and demand data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop category profiles, supplier segmentation, and market intelligence.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization, standardization, and supplier consolidation.
• Spend & Data Analytics
• Manage and analyze spend data across multiple procurement categories.
• Ensure accurate spend classification, reporting, and data integrity.
• Develop forecasts and track savings, value delivery, and sourcing pipelines.
• Translate complex data into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Sourcing & Procurement Execution
• Support RFPs, RFIs, negotiations, and other sourcing initiatives.
• Prepare sourcing recommendations, business cases, and presentation materials.
• Track sourcing activities, timelines, and value-delivery initiatives.
• Help implement category strategies and procurement best practices.
• Supplier Management
• Support supplier segmentation, performance tracking, and rationalization.
• Maintain supplier information, contracts, and performance metrics.
• Assist Category Managers with supplier relationship and performance initiatives.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Partner with Category Managers, scientists, lab operations, finance, and other business stakeholders.
• Support demand management and ensure a consistent procurement experience.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and business stakeholders.
• Process Improvement
• Support procurement process standardization and continuous improvement.
• Assist with catalog enablement, SOP development, and adoption of procurement tools.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, data quality, and procurement processes.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• 3–6 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, operations, analytics, or related consulting.
• Strong analytical and data-management skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel; experience with Power BI or similar analytics tools preferred.
• Experience working with large datasets and converting data into actionable business insights.
• Strong communication, organization, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical, or research environments.
• Experience sourcing CRO/research services, chemicals, reagents, laboratory supplies, or laboratory equipment.
• Knowledge of supplier management, supplier segmentation, and sourcing processes.
• Experience supporting category strategies or strategic sourcing programs.

Ideal Candidate:

• Analytical and comfortable working with complex, high-volume datasets.
• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on data accuracy and integrity.
• Execution-focused and able to turn category strategies into actionable procurement activities.
• Comfortable supporting multiple categories and Category Managers simultaneously.
• Commercially curious with an interest in research and life sciences markets.
• Collaborative and comfortable working with scientists, lab operations, finance teams, and suppliers.

• Success in the First 12 Months
• Maintain clean, accurate, and actionable spend data across assigned categories.
• Become a trusted operational partner to Category Managers.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of sourcing and value-delivery initiatives.
• Improve visibility into supplier performance and category opportunities.
• Contribute to measurable cost savings and broader value beyond savings.