Director, Portfolio Management

The Opportunity: ​ The following positions are available within the North America VWR Portfolio organization, reporting to Jonathan Yoppi: Director, NA Portfolio - Consumables Director, NA Portfolio - Equipment & Instruments As Director of Portfolio Management, you are responsible for developing, leading and executing tactical and operational plans that drive portfolio performance over a short to midterm horizon (1–3 years). This role shapes the direction and results of complex distribution product portfolios by ensuring alignment with business objectives, market dynamics, and evolving customer needs. You lead a large team or multiple teams through subordinate managers, translating the SVP and Regional VP vision and high level strategy into their defined commodity strategy and working with their portfolio manager teams to develop their focus areas, aligned with the vision and high level strategy., lifecycle planning, prioritization, and innovation at scale. Through deep market insight and close cross functional collaboration with commercial, marketing, operations, e-commerce and regulatory leaders, you drive differentiated portfolio outcomes and sustainable growth. The successful candidate leads segment‑wide category strategy, supplier partnerships, and cost‑optimization initiatives across key spend areas. This role is responsible for shaping long‑term roadmaps, driving supplier performance, and partnering with business leaders to deliver measurable value. The Director oversees a team of Portfolio Managers and works cross‑functionally with Operations, Finance, Legal, and Executive Leadership. As a key partner to senior stakeholders and executive leadership, you influence portfolio direction, identify new growth opportunities, and contribute to broader enterprise portfolio strategy—strengthening VWR’s competitive position in a dynamic, innovation driven market. Major Job Duties and Responsibilities (list in order of importance) Define and execute portfolio strategies to drive sustainable growth, market share expansion, and competitive differentiation. Develop and execute multi‑year category strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, and risk. Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team of Portfolio Managers and Analysts. Build and manage preferred supplier programs, including negotiation of pricing, service levels, and contract terms. Provide strategic direction for portfolio expansion through new supplier and product introductions supplier partnerships, line extensions, and entry into new and adjacent markets. Lead end-to-end portfolio lifecycle governance, including supplier onboarding, product rationalization, lifecycle optimization, pricing strategy, mix management and portfolio health management. Establish and oversee financial and operational performance metrics, proactively identifying risks and opportunities to improve revenue, margin, inventory efficiency, and return on invested capital. Translate market intelligence, customer insights, and emerging technology trends into clear portfolio priorities and actionable investment decisions. Partner cross functionally with Commercial, Marketing, Operations, Regulatory, E-commerce and Supply Chain leaders to align portfolio strategy with enterprise objectives and execution plans. Build and strengthen strategic supplier relationships to enhance innovation, cost competitiveness, supply continuity, and long-term value creation. Lead portfolio profitability strategy across product groups, including margin improvement initiatives, cost structure optimization, and value based pricing approaches. Support client‑facing activities such as business reviews, proposals, and solution design. Collaborate and partner with VWR Brand portfolio team to ensure completeness and competitiveness of the line. Assess competitive and supplier innovation pipelines to anticipate customer needs and inform future portfolio direction. Direct supplier consolidation and portfolio optimization initiatives, ensuring disciplined change management and clear internal and external communication, and desired financial outcomes. Represent the portfolio with senior leadership through executive level presentations on market dynamics, competitive positioning, customer segmentation, and strategic recommendations. Maintain external market perspective through industry engagement, including participation in relevant trade shows and forums. Qualifications (Education/Training, Experience and Certifications) Bachelor’s degree required Master’s degree in business, or equivalent experience preferred. A minimum of 8+ years of strategic marketing, product management, category management, sales or related experience required. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (Those necessary to perform the job competently) Financial skills – to assess sales, profits, inventory investment, payment terms, return on sales, return on capital employed and EBITDA to improve Avantor’s financial performance. Communication skills – ability to communicate effectively with a diverse number of constituents including Senior Leadership, Suppliers, Internal Customers and External Customers. Exceptional analytical skills – ability to interpret information pertaining on sales reports, quality reports, purchasing reports in order to assess trends and address specific areas for opportunities for improvement. Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Why Avantor? Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today! Pay Transparency: The expected pre-tax pay for this position is Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location. EEO Statement: We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster . Privacy Policy: We will use the personal information that you have submitted to us in order to consider your application for the relevant role. Your privacy is important to us. Please click here for our Privacy Policy which explains the purposes for which we will use your personal information and the ways in which we will handle and retain your information. It also explains the rights you have in relation to your information, and how to contact us with any queries or requests. 3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy: By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation. Avantor offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with company match, and an employee stock purchase program. Employees also receive 11 paid holidays, accrue 18 PTO days annually, are eligible for volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave). These benefits may not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or those subject to other eligibility rules.