Project Leader, R&D & Launch

Job Summary

This position serves dual roles as a Direct Procurement PLCM project leader supporting the Program Manager, R&D and Launch, in providing direction for the sourcing management and strategy for Global R&D, and Global New Product Launch as well as a Global Indirect Category Manager to support business units and stakeholders focusing on Lab Supplies.

Direct Procurement

The position supports the implementation of category management plans for all raw material (API, Excipients and Capsules). This position serves as the corporate function support for all sourcing activity required for New Product Development (NPD), New Product Launch (NPL) and External Manufacturing projects being managed within Direct Procurement. In this role, the incumbent will liaise and work directly with the NPD, NPL & External Manufacturing Project Managers, Project Leaders, and other cross-functional stakeholders on the planning and delivery of materials for their projects. This position will report to the Program Manager, R&D and Launch to administer and organize projects and coordinating tasks. This position includes working closely with Sourcing Hubs, Global R&D, Supply Chain and other functional areas and resources to prepare comprehensive action plans, schedule and manage forums and perform follow-ups, along with administrative duties such as maintaining project documentation and trackers duly updated.

Job Responsibilities

Direct Procurement Job Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Program Manager, R&D and Launch to prepare comprehensive action plans and follow up.


• Performing various coordinating tasks such as schedule and risk management and maintaining project documentation.


• Ensure that all projects are completed on time and meet high quality standards.


• Driving the project management process of project(s) including defining, planning, monitoring, and reporting API progress/performance against the project plan


• Updating trackers


• Driving the resolution of API delivery issues


• Proactively tracks and manages risks and resolutions of material-related issues or queries in a timely manner.


• Tracks delivery performance from all material suppliers and prepares monthly performance reports


• Contributes to the development and improvement of the operations of NPD, NPL and External Manufacturing Project Management, on an ongoing basis.

Indirect Procurement

The Global Indirect Procurement Category Manager leads the strategic sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier relationship management for a complex portfolio of services. The purpose of the position is to create value for key stakeholders, reduce total cost of ownership, and leverage world-class negotiation and sourcing strategies, tools, and processes, and mitigate risk through contract development. The Global Indirect Procurement Category Manager will be responsible for the development of 1–3-year category plans for the portfolio they are accountable for and obtain line of business buy in and support for the category plan. This position interacts with internal managers, directors, and actively works with 3rd party contracted partners and external suppliers.

Indirect Procurement Job Responsibilities

Category Planning

Collect input of internal stakeholders' needs and market knowledge. (e.g., supply market structure and dynamics, strategies of suppliers, pricing structures, opportunities, and threats)

Keeps up to date on Category Market Intelligence and Supply market trends that may impact supply pricing or continuity to gain competitive market/sourcing advantage

Strategy implementation and follow-up: tackle action items, deliver progress reports to the Director, Indirect Procurement

Strategic Sourcing

Hand over RFx execution to Global Indirect Sourcing Leads and ensure on time project delivery.

Analyses and understand total cost of ownership structures and benchmarking information to develop and improve innovative cost modelling.

Prepare business case with relevant quantitative and qualitative information, articulate it effectively, and get support from Senior Leadership

Develop and seek approval for project savings value and track negotiated savings

Business Partnering

Build key relationships and earn a position of trusted advisor within the Business decision making and strategy development organization.

Acts as the primary liaison between Procurement and Business Senior Leadership in their functional domain

Collaborate with SRM team

To manage contracts and decide on appropriate actions to be performed and metrics to be tracked

To identify supplier innovation and continuous improvement opportunities in assigned categories

Function as an escalation point and manage contract issues in coordination with SRM team

Other Duties

Works in a safe manner collaborating as a team member to achieve all outcomes.

Demonstrate behaviours that exhibit our organizational Values: Collaboration, Courage, Perseverance, and Passion.

All other relevant duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• Education
  
  
  
  • University graduate degree required. Specialization in Operations Management, Health Sciences, Business, Supply Chain or Engineering with Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) accreditation preferred
  
  
  • MBA or other master’s degree, PMP or professional designation would be an asset.
  
  
  
  


• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  
  
  
  • Experience with contract law, goods and services life cycle management, required
  
  
  • Significant supplier relationship management and presentation skills
  
  
  • Practiced collaborator with demonstrated capability to partner with other business functions and internal stakeholders, comfortable within a culture of rigorous regulatory and scientific process excellence
  
  
  • Proficiency with SAP, Ariba, and other enterprise Procurement systems, e-Sourcing, and contract management tools required
  
  
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
  
  
  • Demonstrated experience in supervising, influencing, and coordinating the complex activities and interaction of staff, including non-direct reports
  
  
  • Strong organisational skills, ability to work independently and manage priorities
  
  
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the generic new product development process
  
  
  • Excellent understanding of Project Management principles and practice in a complex environment
  
  
  • Knowledge and experience with the MS-Office suite of products; with particular emphasis on MS-Word, MS-Excel, and MS-Project (or other PM software)
  
  
  
  


• Experience
  
  
  
  • 5+ years progressive experience within the pharmaceutical industry
  
  
  • 3+ years proven experience in project management
  
  
  • 7+ years of relevant Global Category Management / Strategic Sourcing / Procurement lifecycle Experience, including a minimum of 5+ years experience in an Indirect Procurement function across various categories of spend at a multinational corporation, with experience in lab, scientific and related categories (preferred)
  
  
  • 5+ years of in-depth Procurement best practices (Benchmarking, should-cost models, RFX, Reverse Auction, Etc.)