Associate Director-Category supply planner

Associate Director-Category supply planning

Career Level E

Introduction to role

Be part of shaping the future of Operations here at AstraZeneca. We are driven by our commitment to deliver accelerated growth for AstraZeneca and to make people’s lives better. It pushes us to keep building on our foundations and progressing as we turn our ever-growing and increasingly complex pipeline from molecule to medicine. Be part of evolving how we work with Lean, powerful science, digitalization, and sustainable practices. Global Supply Chain and Strategy (GSC&S) leads the design, development, planning, and governance of AstraZeneca’s supply chains to ensure we have the most efficient and effective ways of getting life-changing medicines to patients. GSC&S works closely with our manufacturing sites, External Supply & Manufacturing, Raw Material Suppliers, and many other areas of the business to ensure we use our manufacturing sites in the best way and have a joined-up approach across our global supply chain.

Accountabilities

This above-site planning role, part of Global Supply Chain & Strategy, reporting into the Value Stream Optimization, typically spans a 3-to-24-month tactical planning horizon. It’s held accountable for the delivery of a number of core planning processes for a complex broader critical material category, ensuring that mid to long-term supply is effectively balanced against demand. Furthermore, the role partners with the External Supply Lead and External Operation Managers/Leads to be responsible for leading the execution of the agreed strategy within the above horizon. As an Associate Director – Category Supply Planning, you will also work very closely with Production / Material Planners in the sites, to ensure a continuity of supply is also maintained in the 0–13-week horizon.

In this role, you will:

• Ensure that supply within the 3 - 24 month horizon is secure, ensuring that customer service levels are achieved and inventory levels are optimized
• Partner with Global Planning and the internal manufacturing sites to deploy key business planning processes, including Inventory design/management, global forecasting, supply chain visibility, capacity planning, and scenario planning
• Lead the Critical Materials Supply Consensus meeting in-line with the global planning calendar in order to manage demand and supply exceptions and raise issues where necessary and accountable that the local site plan is updated based on agreed solutions
• Lead resolution of supply or capacity issues at suppliers where multiple AZ sites and brands are impacted. Drive alignment with Network Planning to propose required scenario plans to support decision making
• Responsible for global materials requirement planning and capacity outlook for the materials supplied by the Critical Materials suppliers
• Work closely with the Critical Materials suppliers and the AZ supply sites to ensure robust supply of Critical Materials with accountability for collating the data for the OTIF critical metric and assessing suitability of safety stocks for high-risk materials across the network
• Lead a robust supplier performance management governance with Weekly & Monthly drumbeat
• Actively participate/understand BCP strategies and implement BCP actions for Critical materials
• Establish good communication links with the AZ Site planning network. Facilitate regular Supply and Demand meetings with the AZ Sites to understand the brand, site, and market dynamics impacting the consumption and future requirements of materials. Ensuring this is accurately reflected into the sites forecasts and the intelligence shared with suppliers via the Supplier S&OP meeting
• Work in collaboration with the External Operations Manager/Lead to contribute to the Supplier IRM process, identifying and documenting potential risks to supply and working with the External Operations Manager/Lead and AZ Supply Site to implement suitable mitigations
• In supply constraint situations you will also be accountable for the development of network scenarios and following endorsement from the External Supply Lead, have oversight of execution of supply solutions within the AZ Network, communicating the associated risks
• Participate in projects and continuous improvement projects both internally and with external suppliers
• Collaborate and influence across AstraZeneca sites to manage supply of critical materials shared across sites and brands, leading material allocation as appropriate in collaboration with the External Operations Manager/Lead and External Supply Lead
• As an SME, coach & guide junior team members

Essential Skills/Experience

• A degree or equivalent in Business, Logistics, Sciences or Engineering is preferred; equivalent experience will be taken into account.
• 10+ years of prior experience in Supply Chain Environment (Manufacturing, Planning, & Procurement)
• Advanced supply chain (inventory, capacity and network) planning skills
• Capacity management & modelling
• Operational experience with ERP/APS system
• Understanding of supply chain planning parameters, master data and master data integrity & quality is a must.
• Strong competence in Supplier contract T&C, SLA (Service Level Agreement), and MSA (Master supply Agreement)
• Experience in managing and developing solutions for supply chain events is needed.
• Proven leadership and influencing skills in a cross-functional environment
• Experience in collaboration with key interfaces within the end-to-end supply chain, with manufacturing, supply chain, procurement and commercial functions – experience working with third-party suppliers
• Digital savvy (data & system minded), proficient in using key Lean Tools and have excellent communications and collaboration skills. This is required to handle a multitude of customers and partners, both internal and external to AZ.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Robust understanding of and contributing to an S&OP process.
• Advanced supply chain (capacity and inventory) planning skills
• APICS / CSCP or equivalent certification
• Lean certification
• Leadership experience

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we fuel bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Join a supportive and welcoming team of equals. Be welcomed into our inclusive network of diverse and high-performing teams. Have the support, trust, and respect to thrive here. Fair leadership, great workplaces, and energized teams who always have each other's back. For those with a shared drive and passion for impacting people's lives, experience a sense of belonging like no other.

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Apply today!

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.