VP Global Procurement

Summary of the Vice President of Global Procurement role

As the Vice President of Global Procurement, you will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer where you will be responsible for developing a robust and innovative global strategy in the CDMO API supply chain space, in existing geographies while working collaboratively with business leaders.

You will be accountable for over £100 million in category spend for raw materials for API manufacture, chemicals, packaging, contract manufacturing, capital etc. You will also drive the development and implementation of robust category and sourcing strategies along with ensuring supplier relationship management best practices are embedded in how we do business with our regional and global suppliers. With a focus on quality, service, risk management, innovation, and cost savings, the Vice President of Procurement will be responsible for delivering total cost of ownership value while ensuring continuity and reliability of supply to meet our customer demands.

This is a remote working role with up to 30% global travel.

Who Are We?

We are a fast-growing global pharmaceutical CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation), with more than 50 years’ experience in developing and manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). We are a proven and trusted partner to some of the world’s most innovative biotechs and leading pharmaceutical companies and are widely recognised for our expertise in complex and hazardous chemistry.

We are a dynamic business, employing more than 1300 talented and passionate people in the UK, US and Europe who together support our customers in bringing new medicines to market, improving and saving the lives of patients. We support our customers through the full product lifecycle from pre-clinical development right up to full scale commercial manufacturing and today we are proud to have built a culture of excellence in science and unrivalled service.

Your responsibilities

• Leading our procurement team members, strategy, protocols and procedures, while developing, communicating and reinforcing best practices and driving standardisation in procurement, inventory management, procurement administrative processes, insurances etc.
• Identifying and qualifying best in class suppliers from across the globe, negotiating appropriate agreements to assure quality, service and price stability.
• Implementing policies and practices to build and maintain successful relationships.
• Championing a project portfolio pipeline of savings and value plans in alignment with business strategies to deliver sustainable productivity and supply and ensuring optimal cash management.
• Collaborating with Business Partners to deliver year over year productivity and risk mitigation plans, drive continuous improvement, build appropriate standardised metrics and scorecards.
• Contributing to continuous improvement in sourcing processes, tools and operating model and developing team capabilities with full utilisation of category, sourcing and contract management.
• Collaborating with our manufacturing, finance operations, engineering, business development and other functional teams to optimise efficiencies while managing business cost.
• Driving operating efficiencies by understanding business needs and complex supply markets.
• Accessing supplier capability and innovation for the business.
• Framing and driving cross-functional sourcing agenda as well as alignment between category spend and the needs and requirements of regions, countries and sites.
• Building a strategic vision and roadmap for digital solutions to drive automation of procurement processes, where possible, using latest digital technologies.
• Reviewing and updating procurement practices in accordance with new or changing environmental policies, standards, regulations, or laws.
• Working with Quality to maintain and enhance the Raw Material Supplier Assurance process. In conjunction with the quality team undertake quality audits of key raw material, consumable and service providers.
• Embodying our company values; Be Transparent, Be Willing, Be Reliable and Be Caring.

Requirements for the role

• Degree in Supply Chain Management/ or Procurement Management would be desirable.
• Significant global supply chain experience is essential with an understanding of the nuances and differences amongst business cultures.
• Significant experience in operational, procurement roles within the API or related industry.
• Excellency in direct material sourcing, contract negotiations, and supplier management.
• Broad knowledge of the operational market forces shaping an operations business context (e.g. supplier base, legal and regulatory environment, sources of competitive advantage).
• Demonstrated experience in identifying and utilising full set of direct material and service sourcing levers to drive value for stakeholders in direct materials in a small molecule pharmaceutical environment.
• Ability to conduct benchmarking to address cost, quality, risk and innovation considerations as well as to provide thought leadership and actively shape strategy.
• Provides support, mentorship and guidance to shape the category strategies of direct reports.
• Experience of implementing global standards while maintaining a strong regional execution and business connection.
• Ability to own and strengthen relationships with key customers and suppliers.
• Ability to lead according to the Sterling Values; Be Transparent, Be Willing, Be Reliable and Be Caring.

Why Consider Us?

Our collaborative and empowering culture is unique to us and is what really sets us apart as a business and this is built upon our four core values: Be Transparent, Be Reliable, Be Willing and Be Caring. We also run a variety of programmes across our sites to promote health, wellbeing and work life balance, in addition to supporting causes and charities close to our employees’ hearts, encouraging volunteering within the communities we are part of and even arranging socials, through our global social committees, to encourage team building and reward our team’s hard work.

At Sterling we promote mutual trust and respect regardless of your nationality, background, feelings, beliefs, gender or age. Our workforce, much like life, is made up of many different people with many different backgrounds, needs and perspectives. This is something we celebrate at Sterling, as it makes Sterling a better place to work and encourages innovation and collaboration.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including bonus, pension scheme, private healthcare, Engagement Hub, cycle to work scheme, death in service coverage, on-site health and wellbeing support including medical consultations and physiotherapy, 24/7 employee assistance programme, employee referral scheme, sports and social club as well as opportunity for training and further career development.