Director, Cell Therapy Logistics Operation

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to build and scale a vein-to-vein logistics engine that turns cutting-edge cell therapies into real outcomes for patients? In this director role, you will lead end-to-end scheduling and logistics across autologous, allogeneic, and in vivo therapies and critical raw materials, ensuring chain of identity and chain of custody through robust digital systems and quality management. Your work will enable compliant, reliable patient scheduling, collection, and delivery to clinical sites, aligned to manufacturing realities and release windows.

You will sit at the center of a connected network spanning manufacturing, clinical, quality, digital, and external partners, aligning operations so the entire enterprise can move faster and smarter. How will you design a logistics operating model that is compliant on day one and scalable for the next wave of indications? Do you thrive in high-stakes, real-time environments where your decisions protect patients and unlock speed at scale?

Accountabilities:

• Logistics Operating Model: Define and evolve the operating model across patient and material flows to enable scalable, compliant vein-to-vein execution, covering slot scheduling, shipment booking, real-time monitoring, exception management, escalation SLAs, and COI/COC controls. Align design with manufacturing cycle times, validated hold times, and site capacity plans.

• Slot Allocation and Scheduling: Execute and enforce slot management rules to maximize utilization and patient access; lead cross-functional escalations with Planning, Manufacturing, Clinical and Commercial to protect priority cases and timelines.

• Quality and Compliance: Ensure logistics processes comply with GxP and internal quality system requirements; lead and support audits, inspections, CAPAs, and training; publish and maintain SOPs, work instructions, and playbooks.

• EU Depot Operations: Partner with depot teams on EU receiving, storage, pick/pack, QP handoffs and GDP controls; coordinate EU shipment monitoring to safeguard product integrity.

• Trade Compliance: Ensure compliant import and export movements, permits and licenses, documentation, and adherence to regional requirements in partnership with Legal, Compliance and customs brokers.

• Digital Systems and Orchestration: Define business requirements and UAT for the cell orchestration platform; partner with IT to deliver a roadmap that improves real-time visibility, exception monitoring, and customer experience.

• Daily Execution and Patient Interfaces: Oversee day-to-day logistics performance for apheresis, drug product, and critical materials, including order booking, COI/COC traceability, and handoffs to depots and manufacturing; oversee patient scheduling interfaces with clinical sites and collection centers; coordinate pickups, customs clearance, and deliveries to meet release windows; manage exceptions and remediation in real time.

• Data and Analytics: Set service levels and monitor KPIs; drive vendor performance through business reviews and continuous improvement to elevate speed, reliability, and patient experience.

• Exception and Deviation Management: Detect, triage, and resolve shipment exceptions and quality events; lead incident reviews, lessons learned and CAPA effectiveness to reduce recurrence and systemic risk.

• Courier Vendor Leadership: Own courier COPs and qualified lanes (LN2, 2–8 C, OBC), KPIs and QBRs, and vendor RCA/CAPA; ensure consistent performance, governance and business continuity across global lanes.

• Risk Management and Business Continuity: Define and maintain lane mapping and lane risk assessments; document route and risk profiles; build contingency playbooks to keep product moving despite disruptions.

• Change Management: Lead logistics readiness for new indications, capabilities, facilities, and digital or process changes; ensure smooth transitions without compromising compliance or patient timelines.

• People Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing team; define clear roles and objectives, develop talent, and foster a culture of patient-centricity, compliance, and operational excellence.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• At least BS/BA with 10+ years (or MS/MA/MBA with 8+ years) in logistics operations at pharma/biotech or leading clinical supply or logistics providers; cell therapy experience preferred. 

• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience, preferably managing across multiple sites or countries.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Proven logistics control tower leadership for critical, temperature-controlled shipments, including, scheduling, COI/COC, and incident response.

• Direct co