Associate Director, Global Cell Therapy Sourcing & Procurement

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of category plans to ensure that the underpinning process improvement and procurement activities deliver business value in accordance with the strategic plan and help towards our Sustainability targets.
• Develop long term strategic plans for agreed scope of spend area, with a focus on delivering broader value, innovation, and savings.
• Support the team in strategic relationship management (customer and supplier) - ensuring Category Strategies are fully aligned to current and future Business need, and we maintain a supply base capable of supporting these strategies.
• Work alongside key stakeholders advising on and driving procurement strategies to make decisions necessary to make purchases in congruence with organizational objectives.
• Advise on contracts and agreements for the supply of sophisticated products and services with new and existing suppliers.
• Cross functional support of global procurement colleagues and collaborate on setting and completing the strategy.
• Lead alliance management strategies for key CDMO partnerships.
• Sourcing and negotiation for Auto TCR-T, Allo CAR-T, and In-vivo manufacturing.
• Drive COGM reduction initiatives for LVV, Plasmids, Gene Editing, and Drug Product.
• Build resilient, multi-source supplier base for critical materials in collaboration with technical, quality, and external manufacturing teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• 7+ years of experience in a procurement environment
• Significant experience of Category Management (preferably in Cell Therapy)
• Strong project management, change management and people leadership skills
• Strong understanding of the pharmaceutical industry
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence others
• Comfort with risk and ambiguous situations

Qualifications

• Proven track record negotiating and managing complex CDMO contracts
• Technical background (ideally MS&T, CMC, or manufacturing engineering)
• Strong alliance management skills balancing cost, quality, and relationship dynamics
• Experience with novel modalities (CAR-T, TCR-T, in-vivo gene editing)
• Track record managing tech transfers to CDMOs
• Familiarity with Lean/Six Sigma methodologies
• China market experience: Deep understanding of China's biotech ecosystem, regulatory environment, and supplier landscape
• Mandarin language proficiency (for China-focused role)