Director, Procurement & Vendor Governance

Job Summary
The Director of Procurement & Vendor Governance has overall ownership of the policies and process around governing Otsuka’s vendor management practices, driving procurement efficiencies and ensuring compliance with established procurement policies.  This individual will partner closely with sourcing, business partners and vendors to ensure vendor contractual compliance, procurement policy compliance and driving efficiencies across a combination of onshore and offshore processes.  This role is responsible for the development and governance of the company’s overall Purchasing Program.  This role enforces all policies, processes, and systems related to purchasing in OAPI/OPDC, and partners with other key Sourcing stakeholders in Supply Chain, R&D, Regional (OAI), and with our parent company in Japan.

Job Description

• Develop and implement procurement policies, procedures, and standards to govern the buying practices at Otsuka.  This will include all purchasing policies and include establishing policies around the selection, evaluation, and oversight of vendors.
• Collaborate with procurement, legal, finance, and other departments to ensure procurement management policies align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Establish vendor qualification criteria, performance metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure vendor performance and adherence to contractual agreements.  Work with Sourcing and Legal to ensure these are embedded in contractual documentation.
• Conduct periodic reviews and audits of vendor relationships to assess compliance with policies, contractual terms, and service level agreements (SLAs).  This may also include examining financial data.
• Identify potential risks associated with vendor relationships and develop strategies to mitigate risks, including contingency plans and alternative sourcing options.
• Provide guidance and support to internal stakeholders on processes, including vendor selection, negotiation, contract management and buying.
• Stays knowledgeable of industry trends, best practices, and regulatory developments related to procurement management, and recommend updates to policies and procedures as necessary.
• Foster strong relationships with key vendors, promoting collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement in vendor performance and service delivery.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on vendor management policies and procedures, providing training and guidance to employees involved in vendor-related activities.

Qualifications/ Required

Knowledge/ Experience and Skills:

Knowledge

• Experience and proven success in establishing procurement policies.
• Demonstrated knowledge on building out dashboarding and metrics that evaluate performance
• Extensive knowledge in the development, ongoing monitoring and reporting of KPIs as part of a vendor program
• Experience in auditing contracts, understanding financial implication of contracts and evaluating vendor control environments
• Strong experience with senior stakeholder management with the ability to collaboratively co-develop strategies and set and manage expectations of senior leadership
• Experience working in a Sourcing/Procurement team in a complex environment
• Strong communication skills required; must have the ability to communicate effectively
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to independently manage and prioritize workload
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and have an appetite for change
• Business degree or equivalent
• Experience interacting with senior level clients and vendors; able to evaluate situations from multiple angles and sensitive to stakeholders needs while maintaining focus on bring the best value to the organization
• Understands key financial and operational controls needed in a Procurement organization in the Pharmaceutical industry.

Skills and Experience
 

Minimum of 10+ years of Vendor Management experience including the ability to strategize and lead.

• Proven experience in vendor management, procurement, or supply chain management, with a focus on policy development and implementation.
• Strong understanding of vendor management principles, purchasing processes, and best practices, including vendor selection, evaluation, and performance management.
• Superior leadership skills with demonstrated success in team development
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to assess vendor and procurement performance, identify risks, and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with vendors and i