Job Description
At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come.
As the Associate Director, CMO Execution within Global External Manufacturing (GEM), you are responsible for end-to-end execution of supply activities across contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs).
This role ensures that forecasted demand is translated into executable supply plans and purchase orders, while maintaining alignment with CMO contractual obligations, supply chain strategies, and operational constraints. The position serves as the primary liaison between Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Quality, and CMO partners.
Core Responsibilities
1) CMO Supply Execution & Order Management
- Own execution of supply plans at CMOs, including conversion of forecasts into purchase orders (POs)
- Manage order lifecycle from placement through QA release
- Ensure timely processing of PO transactions and inventory/consumption reporting
2) Forecast Alignment & Supply Planning Integration
- Review and validate medium- to long-term forecasts (~24 months)
- Align forecast commitments to contract terms and CMO capacity
- Ensure firm orders align with forecast commitments
3) CMO Relationship Management & Coordination
- Act as primary operational interface with CMOs
- Coordinate manufacturing progress, batch release timelines, and supply commitments
- Lead engagement forums for GEM CMO Execution relating to the monthly S&OP cycle
4) Issue Resolution & Escalation Management
- Identify and resolve supply risks (delays, capacity, quality issues)
- Lead escalation processes and ensure stakeholder alignment
5) Performance Monitoring & Reporting
- Track metrics such as schedule adherence, production attainment, and on-time delivery
- Provide root cause analysis and drive continuous improvement
6) People Leadership
- This role will manage ~5+ direct reports
Knowledge:
- Able to develop solutions to a wide range of complex problems, which require the regular use of ingenuity and innovation.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Able to create written communication that is properly structured providing clear, concise messages that draw well supported conclusions.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Good organizational and time management skills, including working knowledge of basic project management tools and techniques.
- Ability to interact effectively with senior management.
- In depth understanding and application of relevant principles, concepts, practices, and standards, along with an in depth knowledge of industry practices.
- Solid working knowledge of relevant regulatory guidance, including pharmaceutical GMPs and ICH Q7A.
- Able to apply established organizational policies, and interpret, execute, and recommend modifications to department policies and procedures as needed.
- May require familiarity with the technologies, strengths, and weaknesses of a wide variety of fine chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide.
- Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the financial aspects of Supply Chain operations.
- Demonstrates in-depth knowledge and proficiency across multiple practices within
- Supply Chain department, to understand, coordinate and communicate across the competing demands of each.
Requirements:
- 10+ years relevant experience in related field and a BS or BA OR
- 8+ years of relevant experience and a MA/MBA OR
- 5+ years of relevant experience and a PhD/PharmD
- May require experience purchasing custom chemicals, planning pharmaceutical development activities, and managing the third-party synthesis of intermediates/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Preferred:
- Experience in pharmaceutical operations/cGMP environment highly desirable.
Specific Job Responsibilities:
- Works on problems of moderate to advanced complexity where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangible variables.
- Provides leadership, direction and management of a team, to support execution of the Supply Chain strategy.
- Provides supervision, training, guidance and performance management to department personnel.
- Creates and maintains a positive working environment to ensure high productivity, employee engagement and performance.
- Exercises independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
- Develops and implements policies and procedures for the operation of Supply Chain activities, ensuring all relevant regulatory requirements are met.
- Develops and implements strategies and goals for specific products or projects.
- Creates and effectively communicates supplier, subcontractor and/or vendor agreements and opportunities to the organization.
- Implements and maintains material and production control systems, policies, processes and procedures ensuring that a controlled flow of approved materials timed to meet production requirements.
- May serve as liaison between the company and the various governmental agencies and/or audit agencies as required.
- Reviews, and/or implements changes to controlled documents as needed. May author sections of regulatory documents.
- Negotiates large contracts involving substantial financial amounts. Monitors cost, schedules and performance aspects of major contracts.
- Drives cost savings through direct negotiation and other sourcing methods.
- May execute supplier agreements in conjunction with Legal and internal clients to ensure contracts terms and conditions are in compliance with corporate and purchasing guidelines.
- Conducts formal business reviews with key suppliers, subcontractors and/or vendors to discuss performance on a regular basis. Manages against contract performance to ensure that agreed upon cost, service, quality, schedule and flexibility goals are met.
- May manage outsourced manufacturing activities.
- Compiles information from periodicals, catalogs, and other sources to keep informed on relevant market and competitor information.
- May be responsible for coordinating multiple production schedules.
People Leader Accountabilities:
- Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
- Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.
- Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.
