Jobs › Abbott

Manager Procurement

Abbott · Chicago, IL · $99,300–$198,700 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you saved money without hurting the quality marketers depended on.

What they are checking: Whether they can deliver savings while keeping internal clients satisfied.

How do you build trust with marketing teams who see procurement as slowing them down?

What they are checking: Whether they act as a partner who adds value, not just a gatekeeper.

Tell me about a sourcing event you ran from start to finish.

What they are checking: Whether they can run a full RFP process with clear criteria and stakeholder input.

What would you do

A marketing leader wants to hire an agency without a competitive process. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can enforce sourcing rules while respecting the business's relationships and timelines.

A key agency is underperforming but the brand team doesn't want to switch. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can push for improvement plans using data while respecting the team's concerns.

About the work

This is a category role for marketing procurement. How would you build a category strategy for agencies and marketing services?

What they are checking: Whether they can map spend, suppliers and needs into a clear plan for a hard-to-define category.

How do you negotiate with creative or media agencies, where the value is hard to measure?

What they are checking: Whether they understand pricing models like retainers and fees and how to judge value beyond price.

How do you measure supplier performance in marketing services?

What they are checking: Whether they can set up meaningful scorecards for creative and service work.

What contract terms matter most in agency agreements, such as ownership of creative work?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the company on intellectual property, audit rights and termination.

How do you manage risk with suppliers that handle consumer or patient data?

What they are checking: Whether they consider privacy and compliance risk in marketing vendors.

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The full job description

As published by Abbott.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. JOB DESCRIPTION: Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to: • Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of . • Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO • An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution • Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree. • A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune. • A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists. The Opportunity Abbott is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Category Manager Procurement, Marketing to lead high-impact marketing procurement initiatives across a diverse portfolio of marketing and advertising spend. In this role, you will partner with Marketing, Legal, Finance, and supplier partners to deliver innovative sourcing strategies, drive value creation, and enable best-in-class marketing capabilities. This position can be based at either our Willis Tower office in downtown Chicago, IL, or Abbott Park, IL , and is a 5-days onsite role . What You'll Work On • Lead a Marketing Procurement category portfolio spanning approximately $150M-$350M in marketing and advertising spend. • Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business priorities, growth objectives, and marketing goals. • Provide category expertise and market intelligence across media, marketing technology platforms, AI/GenAI solutions, digital activation, and agency models. • Identify and implement cost optimization and value creation opportunities while balancing quality, innovation, and business needs. • Own category performance metrics, savings targets, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Lead complex RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs to identify and select best-in-class suppliers and agency partners. • Conduct market research, supplier assessments, and competitive benchmarking to stay ahead of industry trends. • Develop and execute negotiation strategies with agencies and strategic suppliers. • Partner with Legal and business stakeholders to negotiate and manage Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and Statements of Work (SOWs). • Drive operational excellence by improving sourcing, contracting, and vendor management processes. • Build strong relationships with Marketing leaders, agencies, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders. • Serve as a trusted advisor by delivering strategic recommendations, innovative solutions, and procurement best practices. • Mentor and support colleagues within the Marketing Procurement organization. • Lead and influence cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact business initiatives. Required Qualifications • Bachelor's degree required. • 6+ years of experience in Marketing Procurement, Marketing Technology Procurement, advertising agency account management, media planning/investment, or marketing strategy and planning. • Experience developing and executing category management, sourcing, and supplier management strategies. • Proven track record of leading large-scale, high-visibility initiatives and delivering measurable business outcomes. • Experience leading complex sourcing events, supplier negotiations, and contract discussions. • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking capabilities. • Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. • Demonstrated ability to influence and gain alignment across cross-functional and senior leadership teams. • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage ambiguity effectively. Preferred Qualifications • Advanced degree (MBA or other relevant graduate degree). • Experience supporting global or regional marketing procurement categories. • Strong understanding of media, digital marketing, marketing technology ecosystems, AI/GenAI tools, and emerging marketing trends. • Experience managing agency relationships and evaluating agency capabilities and performance. • Knowledge of procurement systems, sourcing tools, and contract management processes. • Demonstrated success driving business transformation, process improvements, and operational efficiencies. • Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing procurement professionals. • Professional procurement certifications (e.g., CPSM, CIPS, CPM) are a plus. Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity. Connect with us at www.abbott.com , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal. The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 – $198,700.00 In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted. JOB FAMILY: Category Management DIVISION: GPS Global Purchasing Services LOCATION: United States > Chicago : Willis Tower Building 233 S Wacker Dr. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: WORK SHIFT: Standard TRAVEL: Not specified MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Not Applicable SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday) Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans. EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf

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