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Procurement Category Manager, Consulting Services

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Finance

Posted Aug 21, 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 negotiation where you improved something other than the rate. What was it worth?

What they are checking: Value beyond price, which is where consulting savings actually come from.

Walk me through working with legal, finance and compliance on a contract. What do you bring that they do not?

What they are checking: Whether they bring real commercial value to contracting alongside legal, finance and compliance, rather than just processing paperwork.

This is a category manager role in North Chicago covering consulting services enterprise-wide, and AbbVie has also posted a Manager, Procurement Management covering sourcing through contracting execution. Why the category seat for you, and what do you want to know about the spend you would own?

What they are checking: Self-placement against the sibling procurement role posted at the same time.

What would you do

Consulting is a category where the business often picks the firm before procurement is involved. How do you get in earlier?

What they are checking: Whether they can get procurement involved before firms are chosen, which is the central challenge in sourcing consulting services.

A supplier is underperforming but the business team loves them. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage supplier performance honestly even when the business is attached to a firm, using evidence rather than opinion.

What does ethical sourcing mean to you in practice in a category like this?

What they are checking: Whether the governance language in the posting means something concrete to them.

How do you find a cost-saving opportunity that the business will actually let you act on?

What they are checking: Whether they find savings the business will actually accept, since savings that stakeholders reject never reach the bottom line.

About the work

Walk me through building a category strategy for consulting services. What does the spend analysis tell you first?

What they are checking: Whether they build category strategy from real spend analysis, letting the data show where opportunities and risks lie.

How do you compare two consulting proposals when the deliverable is judgment rather than a product?

What they are checking: Evaluation of an intangible, which is what makes this category hard.

How do you manage supplier risk in consulting, where the risk is often about people rather than supply?

What they are checking: Whether they understand services risk, like key people leaving or confidentiality, which differs from risk in physical supply chains.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

AbbVie is seeking a Procurement Category Manager, Consulting Services to lead category strategy, sourcing initiatives, supplier management, and cost optimization for consulting spend across the enterprise. This role will partner closely with business stakeholders to ensure procurement solutions support AbbVie’s business objectives, compliance requirements, and commitment to delivering value through innovative and efficient sourcing practices. Key Responsibilities • Develop and execute category strategies for consulting services aligned with AbbVie’s business priorities. • Lead strategic sourcing events, negotiations, and supplier selection for consulting engagements. • Build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and ensure procurement solutions meet operational and strategic goals. • Manage supplier relationships, performance, and risk to drive value, quality, and service excellence. • Identify cost-saving opportunities, process improvements, and opportunities to optimize third-party spend. • Ensure adherence to AbbVie policies, governance standards, and ethical sourcing practices. • Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Compliance, and business teams to support contract development and execution. • Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry best practices to inform category decisions. • Support continuous improvement efforts across procurement processes, tools, and reporting. • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. • Minimum 7 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain, preferably with consulting or professional services spend. • Demonstrated experience developing category strategies and leading complex negotiations. • Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills. • Proven ability to analyze spend, identify opportunities, and deliver measurable business value. • Experience working in a regulated or global enterprise environment preferred. • Knowledge of contract management, supplier governance, and procurement best practices. Preferred Skills • Experience supporting consulting services, managed services, or professional services categories. • Strong business acumen and ability to partner across functions and levels. • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. • Proficiency in procurement systems, reporting tools, and data analysis. • Ability to influence & communicate with executive level stakeholders AbbVie Competencies • Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and sound business judgment. • Builds trusted relationships and collaborates effectively across the organization. • Drives results with a customer-focused and solution-oriented mindset. • Champions continuous improvement and operational excellence. Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of thisposting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location,and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless anduntil paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.​ AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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