Global Head of Transport & Warehousing Excellence

Global Head of Transport & Warehousing Excellence

Macclesfield (UK) Gaithersburg, Wilmington (USA)

Lead Global Excellence in Logistics: Drive Innovation, Sustainability, and Performance at AstraZeneca.

About the role

You will lead the Centre of Excellence for Global Logistics, setting the global standards and processes for the performance of the Global Logistics Function. The Global Logistics Function is accountable for the transportation of all commercial pharmaceutical product, at all stages of manufacture throughout the AZ supply network, from manufacturing plant to in-market first-paying customer. This role will head up a newly created function within Global Logistics and, as such, has the opportunity to shape the roles and goals for the organisation. Accountability includes transportation and distribution centre storage & handling of all AstraZeneca pharmaceutical product, to product label temperature requirements, as defined by GDP. The job holder will also lead Freight supplier strategy & Supplier management, Logistics Planning, Operational Excellence, and Green Logistics as part of the AZ Sustainability programme. You will report into the AZ Global Head of Logistics within Global Operations, sits on the Global Logistics leadership team and leads an organisation to manage & report the operational implementation and governance of these standards, processes & the network performance around the world.

Key Accountabilities

• You will partner with Logistics Quality to develop and implement Global Logistics controlled transportation & storage strategy, standards & operating procedures that cover primary and secondary transportation lanes, as well as warehousing, and that align with and support the organisation's current and long-term business objectives

• Accountable for AstraZeneca’s Process Controlled Transportation Processes (Business Process Owner) in primary and secondary distribution & logistics

Oversees development, deployment and maintenance of:

• GDP Temperature-Controlled Transportation standards & procedures

• GDP Temperature Monitoring & Management standards & procedures (including temperature, humidity, pressure, light, shock & vibration, and real-time and location tracking)

• Lane Risk Assessment (LRA) standards & procedures

• Change control process for containers, carriers, lanes, and modes

• Container, Lane and Carrier Qualification standards & procedures

• Defines the commercial and operating delivery structure for all aspects of process-controlled warehousing & transportation logistics within a large and complex environment, ensuring full integration of supply services and supporting systems and technology

• Qualification of temperature protection solutions, from containers to small parcels, often through outsourced suppliers or in collaboration with our Logistics Service Providers

• Ownership of all in-transit temperature failures and investigation of temperature excursions on distribution lanes, includes managing 3rd party investigations, driving corrective &preventative actions and continuous process improvements

• Defines and monitors Warehousing & Transportation temperature performance targets for GLF, setting key performance indicators, measuring progress and activity taking remedial action to deliver against agreed service standards. Acts as primary contact for customers and coordinates arbitration when required

• Manages the suppliers of temperature monitoring solutions & the in-transit temperature monitoring global budget. Accountable for temperature logger (& GPS tracking) system associated processes and provider(s) performance / management

• Leads the Supplier management process for the function and through the Supplier Director manages the global freight forwarder network, working closely with Regional Freight leads and Procurement to develop & implement our Freight Supplier strategy

• Conducts due diligence activity for external parties, e.g. 3rd party Packaging Qualification Testing Labs, determining requirements for third party support, developing and negotiating key commercial terms and undertaking ongoing service level and contract management

• Accountable for the Green Logistics Sustainability programme for Operations including the setting of targets, monitoring performance and leading performance improvement. Requires Senior Executive engagement to agree & report on progress vs goals

• Leads Logistics Planning working closely with Global Planning Function & Manufacturing sites to optimise pack & pallet design, to identify / activate Air-to-Sea conversion and shipping consolidation opportunities to support the Green Logistics programme

• Accountable for the Logistics Operational Excellence team and assigned Lean experts to implement good Lean practice across the Global Logistics Function, leading Root Cause investigations & identification of CAPAs, and coaching staff on Lean methods. Through this team the job holder will design and implement a programme of Operational Excellence Uplift across our 3rd party supplier network, as well as our internal sites, to drive operational performance improvement and to raise quality standards. To achieve this, close collaboration with all Logistics teams, including Logistics Quality is required

• Contributes to the development of AstraZeneca wide policy and process within the Global Logistics area, partnering with Global Supply Chain and Global Logistics leadership to provide input into strategic direction of the function

• Recruitment, training, development and performance management of all staff in the team who are responsible for executing the core accountabilities of the Job Holder, as well as coaching talent to ensure a healthy talent pipeline and succession for senior positions

• Ensures & monitors compliance by team members & third parties by (a) positively reinforcing the Code of Conduct and all relevant AstraZeneca policies & standards, (b) ensuring completion of all required training, (c) foster a culture of openness in which employees are comfortable raising questions & concerns, and (d) immediately addressing & reporting, as appropriate, instances of non-compliance.

Essential Experience & Criteria

• Graduate degree, preferably in Engineering/sciences or equivalent experience

• Deep experience in logistics, preferably in biopharma or related regulated industry

• Strong understanding and preferably direct experience in temperature qualification and validation life-cycle activities and validation compliance

• Good understanding of GDP requirements and regulatory bodies interpretation of these requirements

• Evidence of empathetic and inspirational line leadership of staff

• Evidence of ability to influence and direct stakeholder decision-making at senior levels

• Proven ability to drive change globally within a diverse and matrix organisational environment

Desirable

• Strong understanding and experience in temperature-controlled transport, packaging and monitoring solutions qualification, process validation and temperature-controlled logistics industry standards

• Experience in supplying solutions and services either as a specialist solutions provider or as a Logistics Services Provider for temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products

• Broad Supply Chain experience across different disciplines

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash ambitious 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.

Why AstraZeneca?

With constant new products and launches, there's never been a better time to join Supply Chain and shape our future with a big contribution to life-changing medicines. The challenge to stay ahead in rapidly changing markets is what keeps us driving forward, as we continuously seek new and better ways to deliver medicines all the way to our patients. Our resilience helps us to thrive as we innovate and evolve. If you are driven, take smart risks and are able to act quickly, then this is the place for you.

Ready to make your mark? Apply now

Maryland Pay Transparency

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $185,375 - $259,697 Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

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 authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.