Lonza
Global Category Lead - Automation & Fitout
Role Purpose:
Own the Automation & Fit‑Out category with a dual strategic and operational mandate: develop and execute category strategy while being actively involved in project delivery to ensure value, schedule, and compliance outcomes. Act as the primary above‑project commercial escalation point for the category, driving supplier performance, risk mitigation, and adoption of frameworks across projects.
Category Scope:
Automation: Process automation (PLC/DCS), BMS/EMS, utilities & facility automation, lab automation, software, panels, integration and commissioning services.
Fit‑Out: Process & clean piping, HVAC, cleanrooms and controlled environments, Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) and lab furniture.
The actual location of this job is in Basel, Switzerland. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed.
What you will get:
An agile career and a dynamic work culture.
An inclusive and ethical workplace.
Compensation programs that recognize high performance.
In addition to a competitive salary, you can expect numerous lifestyle, family, and leisure benefits. Our full list of tailored local benefits can be found below.
Benefits in Basel: assetstream.aspx
What you will do:
Translate and consolidate the current and long‑term needs of Lonza’s businesses into clear category priorities by nurturing relationships with Engineering, Projects, Operations, QA/Validation, and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure Procurement activities effectively support business strategies and project delivery requirements.
Develop and execute a documented category strategy for Automation and Fit‑Out that explicitly matches supply market capabilities with our business needs (1–3 years plan) and refresh it annually.
Ensure objectives, actions and priorities are aligned both within Procurement and with Engineering, other relevant stakeholders and Project teams, with clear decision rights, hand‑offs, and accountability.
Partner with and actively support key stakeholders to develop cost reduction strategies and to implement supply strategy plans that meet project / business needs , including hands‑on involvement in sourcing decisions, supplier selection within the approved model, and commercial execution during projects.
Provide active leadership and change management support that constructively challenges traditional spending behavior, product and service level definition and over‑specification, to enable productivity and efficiency improvements beyond traditional sourcing levers.
Lead supplier relationship management (SRM) and supplier development activities for Automation & Fit‑Out, to ensure reliable supply and continuous value delivery, maximizing the full value of supplier relationships through performance reviews, joint CI plans, and clear keep/exit criteria.
Drive supplier performance, compliance and accountability through supplier scorecards and performance metrics, with quarterly business reviews and corrective action tracking.
Act as the primary point of contact above projects in case of issue escalation for supplier‑related, commercial, and contractual topics within the category; exercise authority to intervene, align stakeholders, and drive resolution.
Manage escalation of issues, in conjunction with contracts and claims managers , ensuring timely claim prevention/mitigation and alignment to master agreements and frameworks.
Develop supply risk management strategies and drive development and implementation of appropriate risk mitigation plans, maintaining an up‑to‑date risk register and mitigation playbooks.
Work closely with Project Procurement colleagues to ensure category strategies are translated into project execution plans , frameworks are correctly called off, and commercial terms are applied consistently across projects.
Plan, lead and execute negotiations of commercial terms and contracting for framework, master and other major supply agreements, including amendments and project‑specific call‑offs within those frameworks.
Report savings monthly as well as maintain the project savings pipeline , covering both category‑level initiatives and project execution benefits, aligned to Finance definitions and auditable baselines.
Report category management and SRM progress maintaining Procurement tracking tool up‑to-date.
What we are looking for:
Extensive experience in large-scale CAPEX sourcing projects, specifically within Automation, Fit-Out, or complex engineering environments.
Proven ability to see beyond the procurement function, crafting strategies that reflect wider enterprise needs and yield measurable business results.
Advanced skills in commercial contracting and the ability to lead high-stakes negotiations.
Natural ability to build rapport across all levels of an organization, from engineering SMEs to executive leadership, with the credibility to influence and challenge the status quo.
A solution-oriented mindset with the ability to react quickly to changing customer demands and remain effective in environments with a high degree of uncertainty.
Experienced in managing direct reports and leading global, cross-functional relationships in a fast-paced, matrixed organization.
About Lonza
At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.
Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.
Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.