Director, External Manufacturing & Supply Operations

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Director, External Manufacturing & Supply Operations

Apotex is a Canadian-based global health company. We improve everyday access to affordable, innovative medicines and health products for millions of people worldwide, with a broad portfolio of generic, biosimilar, innovative branded pharmaceuticals and consumer health products. Headquartered in Toronto, with regional offices globally, including in the United States, Mexico and India, we are the largest Canadian-based pharmaceutical company and a health partner of choice for the Americas for pharmaceutical licensing and product acquisitions.

The External Manufacturing & Supply Director oversees and optimizes partnerships with external manufacturing and supply partners, including Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), Contract Packaging Organizations (CPOs), in-lincesing and co-development partners. This role owns the operational relationships for all partners within the assigned portfolio and manages the strategic relationships with CMOs/CPOs, working closely with Strategic Alliance Management for in-licensing & co-development partnerships. The Director engages in due diligence with Business Development (BD), ensures robust supply agreements, and drives operational performance reviews, escalations, and strategic alignment across cross-functional teams within a matrix structure. Reporting to the VP of External Manufacturing (Head of Virtual Site) and as a member of the Global External Manufacturing Site Leadership Team (GEM SLT), this position supports the company’s external growth strategy and ensures alignment between external partners and business objectives.

Job Responsibilities

• CMO/CPO Relationship Management
  • Establish high performing, cross functional, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective relationships with external manufacturers/suppliers
  • Establish & maintain governance frameworks for managing relationships with partners in collaboration with Strategic Alliance Management
  • Lead operations for assigned portfolio ensuring prompt issue resolution to maintain supply continuity and alignment with business goals.
  • Manage the strategic relationship with CMOs/CPOs, aligning partner performance and strategic objectives with the company’s long-term goals, while supporting Alliance Management on in-licensing / co-development partnerships
• Contract Management
  • Establish and maintain senior-level relationships with CMOs/CPOs. Hold partners accountable for contractual obligations as well as challenging suppliers to perform to agreed standards (Supply Agreement and Technology Transfer Agreement)
  • Ensure oversight of contract execution, updates, and renewals, working in partnership with Legal and Procurement
  • Actively participate in new contract development with Business Development and other departments, offering operational insights to ensure robust Supply Agreements and Technology Transfer Agreements
  • Lead resolution of high priority contract escalations, leveraging cross-functional expertise to address systemic issues,mitigate risks and ensure alignment with strategic goals
• Performance Management
  • Accountable for the operational performance of product in assigned portfolio (Supply, Service, External Operations P&L, Quality…)
  • Develop performance management frameworks to monitor and evaluate External manufacturing & supply partners service levels, quality adherence, and financial targets
  • Lead regular business and performance reviews with partners, tracking KPIs such as, delivery, and cost metrics to ensure continuous improvement
  • Engage in financial reviews, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, to drive sustainable value from the Global External Manufacturing portfolio
• Business Development and Due Diligence
  • Collaborate with Business Development on due diligence for in-licensing deals, providing operational insights to assess feasibility, cost implications, and potential risks
  • Partner with Alliance Management to ensure a unified approach across shared partners, integrating commercial and manufacturing perspectives
• Cross-functional Leadership
  • Lead cross functional team composed of Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, and Technical/MS&T teams to address any operational disruptions, implementing risk mitigation strategies where needed
  • Provide strategic leadership within the Global External Manufacturing Site Leadership Team, shaping Global External Manufacturing strategy, organizational design and performance management to support the broader roadmap and long term objectives
  • Works in a safe manner collaborating as a team member to achieve all outcomes
  • Ensure personal adherence with all compliance programs including the Global Business Ethics and Compliance Program, Global Quality policies and procedures, Safety and Environment policies, and HR policies
  • All other relevant duties as assigned

Job Requirements

• Education
  • University degree or equivalent in Business and/or Science related field (BSc, BASc Engineering or similar preferred)
  • MBA considered an asset
  • Integrated Project Management, Technical Acumen, PMP, Supply Chain Certification considered an asset
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Strong decision-making, communication, facilitation skills and attention to detail
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to relate well to internal and external partners
  • Excellent leadership skills and proven experience holding cross-functional members accountable and facilitating the decision-making process
  • Experience with the creation and management of contracts as well as associated terms and conditions of Supply agreements
  • Demonstrated knowledge of pharmaceutical products (technical/scientific and commercial), preferably learned through experience working in the generic industry
  • Familiar with the development, manufacturing & packaging and testing of products, and capabilities/principles of operation of relevant equipment and facilities
  • Proven ability to function in a fast-paced and continuously changing environment
  • Strong understanding of enterprise systems (e.g., SAP, MSP, EPM), organizations, business processes, supply chain practices, computer skills and knowledge of spread sheet, word processing and project management software
  • Excellent oral and written English communication skills
• Experience
  • 10+ years’ experience in external manufacturing & supply in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Experience in managing partner relationships
  • Proven executive level communications skills and relationship skills
  • Proven ability to lead, ideally in a matrix-managed environment, to motivate people with a variety of skills
  • Exhibited business and finance acumen in understanding cross-functional processes, requirements, and relevant information flows, translating gaps into solutions
    

At Apotex, we are committed to fostering a welcoming andaccessible work environment, where all everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to succeed.

We offer accommodation for applicants with disabilities as part of its recruitment process. If you are contacted to arrange for an interview or testing, please advise us if you require an accommodation.