Director - External Pack & Label

At AstraZeneca we're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There's no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

Join our Pack & Label team as the Director of External Pack & Label, where you will be at the heart of supplying patient kits to our clinical studies to an amazing project portfolio as accountable for the delivery of clinical packed supplies through our external suppliers in a compliant, timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

Your role will be to lead, manage, and develop a team of professionals working with our external suppliers, managing performance, improving and simplifying the information flow and manufacturing processes, and ensuring clinical packed supplies are delivered, ready to be shipped out to the clinical site and patient. The team operates in 4 countries with the majority of direct reports being External Supply Leads and External Supply Coordinators plus a sub-team of Clinical Supply Associates led by an Associate Director. You will also contribute to the capability and network strategy development of external Pack and Label, and our overall Pack and Label strategies which also have an internal element, aligned with the overall business strategy of Clinical Manufacture and Supply (CM&S) and our stakeholders.

Accountabilities:

As the Director of External Pack & Label, you will be responsible for overall project-related supply of releasable packed and labelled clinical supplies from the external network on behalf of CM&S clinical supply chain TA organizations. You will ensure efficient issue resolution and triage at the appropriate level, act as a second elevated point of escalation, and work effectively with Strategic Alliance Manager and P&L Business Process Owner to ensure efficient first-line supplier performance management structure and processes. You will also be accountable for the compliant delivery of commercial and production-related tasks through a sub-team of Clinical Supply Associates. Your role is also to build effective relationships with a wide range of internal partners to understand future demand and capability needs of the external network, influence capability and network strategies, demand for outsourcing, and other business changes relevant to external pack and label.

Essential Skills/Experience:

- University Degree, preferably in drug development or supply chain related subject, or equivalent qualification/experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Management and leadership experience in cross-functional and cross-cultural teams
- Business acumen and ability to work effectively across multiple functions and levels
- Good influencing, negotiating, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills
- Proven record of effective stakeholder management at various levels
- Professional expertise in relevant areas
- Track record in identifying and driving continuous improvement and an awareness of Lean
- Experience in manufacturing and supply chain management in a clinical research environment, with understanding of quality principles and GMP requirements
- Commercial awareness

Desirable Skills/Experience:

- Extensive experience of working with and delivering through suppliers in relevant areas
- APICS CSCP
- Lean training or certification
- Technical knowledge of clinical supply
- Knowledge of AZ R&D operating model
- Change management
- Business Process Management

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by our commitment to deliver accelerated growth and make people's lives better. Our Operations team is dedicated to delivering more medicines to patients, quicker and more affordably. We are backed by investment, leadership, and a clear plan to achieve our goals. We thrive in our often intense and ambiguous environment, seeking out new challenges and working towards new solutions. Be part of evolving how we work with Lean, cutting-edge science, digitalization, and sustainable practices.

Are you ready to make an impact on society through our sustainability goals? Commit to making a difference beyond patients by pioneering AstraZeneca's sustainability strategy. Have the opportunity to be a key contributor to Zero Carbon by 2025 and carbon negative across the entire value chain by 2030. Everyone can contribute towards our collective legacy of doing good for people, the environment, and society.

So, what's next? Take the next step in your career and join our team as the Director of External Pack & Label! Apply no later than 1st December 2023.

Competitive salary and benefits package on offer.

Opening date: 10th November 2023
Closing date: 1st December 2023