Director, Supplier Development

Cell Therapy is one of the key areas of the business where AstraZeneca's is investing significantly to achieve its bold ambition to become a $80B organization.  The Director, Supplier Development will be responsible for strategically improving the performance and capabilities of a company's supplier base by identifying areas for improvement, implementing development plans, and monitoring progress to ensure consistent quality, delivery, and cost efficiency across all suppliers, often collaborating closely with procurement teams to achieve optimal supply chain results.  You will report to the Senior Director, Sourcing & Procurement and may be based in Gaithersburg, MD, or Santa Monica, CA 

Essential Functions and Accountabilities:

Design and implement a risk model that will reduce any potential supply disruption ahead of launch and demand forecast for the Cell Therapy Portfolio. Strategically evaluate N-2 Supply Chain suppliers to be incorporated at the portfolio risk profile. 

• Supplier Evaluation and Assessment: Conduct thorough evaluations of existing suppliers, assessing their performance against key metrics like quality, delivery time, cost, sustainability and compliance with company standards to identify areas for improvement. 

• Development Plans Creation: Develop customized improvement plans for individual suppliers based on their identified weaknesses, including specific goals, timelines, and action steps to address quality issues, cost reduction opportunities, and process optimization. 

• Supplier Performance Monitoring: Regularly track supplier performance against established metrics, identifying trends and potential risks, and taking corrective actions when necessary to maintain desired performance levels.  

• Collaboration with Technical, Quality & regulatory teams: Work closely with these teams to identify priority segments/categories where suppliers will need to be developed to ensure continuous supply and better COGS. 

• Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Lead and participate in continuous improvement activities within the supplier base, such as implementing Lean methodologies, Six Sigma practices, or other quality improvement program. 

• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with the supplier base, including supply chain disruptions, geopolitical instability, and quality issues.  

• Stakeholder Management: Maintain effective communication with internal stakeholders, including Senior Leadership to ensure alignment on supplier development strategies. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Support leadership and change management of a growing supply chain organization.  Other responsibilities as needed. 

• Build and lead a high-performing supplier development, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to drive individual and collective success.