Global Head of Product Lifecycle & Launch Architecture - Supply Chain

About the role

The Global Head of Product Lifecycle & Launch Architecture - Supply Chain serves as a critical strategic engine within the organization, focused on driving cross-functional alignment across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Commercial, and Regulatory functions. By implementing advanced design methodologies, establishing global standards, and optimizing end-to-end supply chain integration, the role breaks down functional silos to foster a transformational leadership environment. The team is dedicated to permanently optimizing processes to increase quality and efficiency standards, ensuring long-term multi-year planning and innovative technologies position the entire organization for future readiness.

This primarily strategic role acts as an architect and systems thinker to shape global supply chain strategy, with a task split of 50% Launch & Integration Orchestration, 25% Strategic Architecture, and 25% Leadership & Capability Building. Operating on a global scale, you will lead high-level project execution and empower cross-functional teams to navigate highly ambiguous, unstructured challenges, transforming complex operational hurdles into measurable business opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Drive organization-wide impact by delivering operational efficiencies through Lean design, cost savings, and successful pilot-to-commercial scaling that directly influences commercial sales results.
• Enforce global design standards and regulatory compliance while acting as the key strategic point of contact for global launch readiness.
• Devote 60-80% of focus to multi-year strategic planning during the early stages of the Product Life Cycle (PLC) to challenge the status quo and introduce new technologies.
• Lead and co-own the Global Supply Chain strategy by setting comprehensive policies, standardizing processes, establishing governance, and defining physical product requirements.
• Oversee critical, large-scale integration projects encompassing end-to-end supply chain integration and new product commercialization across diverse regions and divisions.
• Influence and negotiate on a daily or weekly basis with internal leaders across Manufacturing, R&D, and Finance, as well as external Logistics Service Providers and manufacturing sites.
• Manage significant conflicts between competing functional interests, such as balancing R&D’s speed with supply chain compliance, while regularly presenting investment and readiness rationales to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Advanced degree holder, with a required Master's degree in Life Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, or a related subject; a Ph.D. or MBA is highly preferred.
• 10+ years of leadership experience within the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, healthcare, or a similarly highly regulated industry.
• Expertise in industry operations, with hands-on experience across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Quality & Regulatory environments.
• Deep knowledge of product development, life cycle management processes, and the Roche Diagnostics product portfolio.

Skills

• Strategic decision-making and transformational leadership.
• Commitment to role-modeling Roche Values, Creative Leadership, and VACC principles.
• Ability to coach culturally diverse, global teams toward solution-oriented outcomes.