Category Manager, Professional Services - Indirect Procurement

Category Manager, Professional Services - Indirect Procurement
Procurement  

 

Join Xellia and make every day matter.

At Xellia Pharmaceuticals, everyone contributes to delivering critical medicines on time, every time. As a Category Manager within Indirect Procurement, you will play a key role in ensuring that our global organization has access to high-quality, cost-effective, and compliant professional services and advisory capabilities.

This is a strategic role with high visibility across the organization, where you will influence how we source, manage, and optimize critical business services that support our operations globally.

“This role is a great opportunity to participate and drive the professionalization of sourcing at Xellia. We’re in the middle of exciting changes, and I’m looking for someone who’s ready to make a visible impact — not just within Procurement, but across the entire company.” – Marcus Durazo, Head of Indirect Procurement

 

Your new team
You will join our Global Procurement organization during an exciting period of transformation. We are strengthening our category management approach, increasing business partnering, and driving greater value creation across indirect spend.

 

Reporting to the Head of Indirect Procurement you will work closely with colleagues in Copenhagen, Budapest and Bangalore, and collaborate across functions such as Finance, HR, IT, Legal, and Commercial to ensure alignment between procurement strategies and business needs.

Your role and impact
This role is a strong opportunity to shape and mature how Xellia manages General Business Advisory and Professional Services spend globally. You will be responsible for defining category strategies, driving sourcing initiatives, and building strong stakeholder and supplier relationships.

Depending on your experience and interests, you may also take ownership of additional indirect categories (e.g., HR services, Legal services, Marketing, Travel, Facility Management).

 

Key responsibilities

• Own and develop category strategies for General Business Advisory and other categories owned
• Drive strategic sourcing initiatives, including supplier selection, negotiations, and contract management
• Act as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, ensuring alignment between procurement and business objectives
• Identify and deliver cost optimization opportunities while maintaining quality and compliance
• Manage supplier relationships, performance, and risk across key vendors
• Lead or support cross-functional procurement projects across additional indirect categories
• Ensure governance, compliance, and adherence to internal policies and external regulations
• Monitor market trends and supplier innovation within advisory and professional services

 

What we’re looking for
We are looking for a commercially strong and proactive procurement professional who thrives in a stakeholder-driven environment and is comfortable navigating complex service categories.

 

You combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution and are motivated by creating tangible business value.

 

You likely bring:

• A relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (e.g., Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or similar)
• 5+ years of experience in Indirect Procurement or Strategic Sourcing
• Strong experience within Professional Services, Consulting, or Business Advisory categories
• Proven track record in negotiations, contract management, and stakeholder engagement
• Experience working with category management methodologies (e.g., category strategies, sourcing pipelines)
• Strong analytical and commercial mindset
• Fluency in English (Danish is an advantage but not required)

 

We believe personal meetings with colleagues and key suppliers are key enablers to the best possible agreements. As such a number of travel days in relation to strategic sourcing projects should be expected. 

 

What we offer

• A high-impact role in a global pharmaceutical company with a strong purpose
• Exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic decision-making
• A collaborative and international working environment
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Centrally located place of work in the middle of Copenhagen at our new and modern corporate headquarters

 

Application process
Please apply by submitting your CV no later than May 24. We review applications on an ongoing basis, so early application is encouraged.

 

To comply with GDPR, we only accept applications submitted through our official job postings.

 

We’re excited to hear from you and learn more about what you can bring to our team.

 

 

Xellia Pharmaceuticals is the global leader in fermentation-based, non-beta-lactam anti-infectives, supplying Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Finished Dosage Forms (FDFs) to over 500 pharmaceutical companies across 80 countries.

 

Recognized by the World Health Organization and the European Union for our critical medicines, we play a vital role in combating severe infections and antimicrobial resistance. Headquartered in Denmark, we operate manufacturing sites in Copenhagen, Denmark; Budapest, Hungary; and Taizhou, China, with R&D and commercial operations in seven additional locations globally. As the only European manufacturer of several key anti-infectives and with a heritage spanning over 120 years, we are driven by purpose and progress.

 

With more than 1100 employees, our impact starts from within. We offer a workplace where ideas, curiosity, and initiative thrive, and where your role evolves with your ambition. Instead of rigid structures, we provide real responsibility, freedom to explore, and support to grow. Together, we shape not only the future of our company and the development of our people, but also the health of communities worldwide.

 

Further information about Xellia can be found at: www.xellia.com
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