Job Description

Providing Flexible Resourcing Solutions
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, CTC is a specialist life-sciences recruitment organisation. We place specialist talent into contract and permanent positions in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices and CRO industries.
An in-depth experience in life-sciences recruitment combined with an established and extensive local network means that CTC offers clients and candidates the "Gold standard" in recruitment services. With an expertise honed over many years at the cutting-edge of the life-sciences industry, we help companies find people and we help people find companies.
Lab Equipment Category Buyer - 6801
Our client, a global market leader in the production and process support of active pharmaceutical ingredients, both in the chemical and biotechnology sectors, is looking for a Lab Equipment Category Buyer for a 12 months' contract role with high chances of extension based in the Visp, Switzerland.
The CAPEX Procurement Category Buyer - Laboratory Equipment is responsible for leading sourcing activities for laboratory equipment within capital investment projects. The role ensures alignment between company's business needs and supply market capabilities, driving cost optimization, supplier performance, and risk mitigation. Acting as a strategic partner to engineering and project teams, this position plays a key role in delivering high-value procurement solutions that support company's growth and operational excellence.
Main Responsibilities:

• Run RFx and vendor selection process during project execution and early phases.

• Identify the current and long-term needs of businesses by cultivating relationships with the relevant collaborators, to ensure Procurement activities effectively support business strategies

• Improve and implement the category strategy for Lab Equipment that matches supply market capabilities with our business needs

• Ensure objectives, actions and priorities are aligned both within Procurement and with Global Engineering and other relevant collaborators

• Work closely with key collaborators to develop cost reduction strategies and implementation plans that meet project / business needs.

• Provide active leadership and change management support that challenges traditional spending behaviour, product and service level definition to enable productivity and efficiency improvements beyond traditional sourcing levers

• Lead supplier relationship management (SRM) and supplier development activities to ensure reliable supply and improve the full value of supplier relationships

• Drive supplier performance, compliance and accountability through supplier scorecards and performance metrics

• Act as the primary point of contact above projects in case of issue customer concern

• Handle partner concerns of issues, in conjunction with Contracts and Claims managers

• Develop supply risk management strategies and drive development and implementation of appropriate risk mitigation plans

• Work closely with Project Procurement colleagues to ensure category strategies are translated into project execution plans.

• Negotiate Equipment Purchase Agreement and Framework Agreement with Vendors

• Plan, lead and complete negotiations of commercial terms and contracting for framework, master and other major supply agreements.

Qualifications and Experience:
Relevant working/residency permit or Swiss/EU-Citizenship required
Bachelor's degree and a good technical understanding and knowledge of Laboratory or Process equipment. Preferred areas of study: Business and/or Engineering
5+ years in Procurement, with at least 5 years in global category management.
5+ years of experience in a global (at least Regional) category management role
Experience in a regulated industry (i.e. pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics) is preferred.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing sourcing strategies that have yielded measurable business results.
Pertinent Category experience in CapEx equipment with a particular emphasis on Lab Equipment: observation/analytical Instruments, heating/cooling/preservation, filtration/purification systems, mixing/agitation, containment/safety, handling, cleaning/sterilization...
Licenses or Certifications: CIPS or equivalent nice to have.
Languages: Fluent English required; German and/or French is a strong advantage.
Strong business acumen and ability to link business needs with external capabilities.
Deep understanding of Procurement's role in CAPEX projects beyond cost savings.
Negotiation and influencing skills with proven success in complex agreements.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work in cross-functional teams.
Change management capability to onboard new vendors and implement value engineering ideas.
Skilled in contract drafting and commercial agreements.
Solid project management skills.
Personal Leadership: Takes initiative, takes ownership and accountability; self-aware; professional maturity; self-starter; has integrity; has credibility; managerial courage; ability to influence.
Builds Links: Builds rapport with others - internally and externally; lateral leadership; develops good working relationships up, down and across; excellent written and verbal communication
Strategic Capability: Understands the big picture and interdependencies; thinks in terms of possibilities; develops evolutionary strategies which anticipates roadblocks; leads change
Customer Focus: Understands customer expectations and requirements and incorporates them into sourcing strategies; establishes and maintains effective relationships; excels in customer service
Executional Excellence: Gets things done first time right, on time; accurate; bias towards action; has a sense of urgency; thoroughness; able to prioritize work

Skills Required