Associate Director, Supply Chain

Are you ready to lead a dynamic team in the heart of the Americas Supply Chain? As an Associate Director, you'll lead all aspects of a diverse team responsible for customer operations, distribution logistics, and process automation.

Our mission? Ensure efficient, compliant, and high-quality completion of processing and distribution tasks while promoting continuous progress across the region. Collaborate cross-functionally, champion operational excellence, and support progressive supply chain initiatives.

Are you up for the challenge?

Accountabilities:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of supply chain specialists providing day-to-day coaching, establishing clear objectives, and aligning activities with departmental and company goals.
• Coordinate the end-to-end order management process, ensuring timely and detailed processing of customer orders, returns, and distribution logistics in accordance with GxP regulations, SOPs, and quality standards.
• Ensure proactive and effective collaboration with internal stakeholders—such as Quality, Commercial, Finance, and Supply Chain Operations—as well as external partners including healthcare providers, distributors, 3PLs, and suppliers, to guarantee timely and accurate order issuance.
• Lead all aspects of the Supply Chain team, addressing blocking issues and ensuring customer happiness.
• Advise the creation, completion, and maintenance of quality records (deviations, complaints, change controls, CAPAs) within the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with GDP, GMP, DSCSA, and REMS requirements.
• Lead initiatives to improve operational efficiency, including the development and implementation of process automation (RPA), EDI monitoring, documentation updates, and process optimization projects.
• Support, review, and approve SOPs, work instructions, and procedural documentation to standardize and optimize processes across all led teams.
• Communicate regularly with all team members, provide training and development opportunities, and ensure adequate coverage and effective backup systems are in place for absences or peaks in workload.
• Serve as a blocking issue point for urgent matters during after-hours, weekends, and holidays across the distribution network.
• Proactively identify and address resource needs to handle evolving business requirements; facilitate change management and promote a culture of teamwork, inclusion, transparency, and innovation.
• Assist in transformation initiatives and ongoing improvements across the supply chain functions, participating in or leading cross-functional project teams as required.
• Collaborate with the Head of US Supply Chain on strategic initiatives, business planning, and reporting for the Americas region.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of management experience in supply chain operations, preferably within the pharmaceutical industry, with a proven record of people leadership and talent development across multi-functional teams.
• In-depth knowledge of end-to-end supply chain management, order processing, distribution operations, project management, and process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience working within a GxP-, GMP-, and GDP-regulated environment, including oversight of quality management processes and compliance activities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to track, report, and act on performance metrics, and to leverage technology such as ERP systems (e.g., SAP), EDI, and process automation tools.
• Exceptional written and oral communication abilities, with a history of building strong collaborative relationships both internally and externally.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, resolve escalations efficiently, inspire a continuous improvement mindset, and champion transformation.
• Proficiency in MS Office and familiarity with other business systems (e.g., Esker, Coupa, TraceLink) is an asset.
• High level of ethics, reliability, flexibility, and organizational skills.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Supply Chain/Logistics, or related field
• Post-graduate degree or MBA preferred.
• Six Sigma or Lean certification preferred.

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

At AstraZeneca's Alexion division, you'll find an environment where work transcends ordinary boundaries. Our commitment to patients drives everything we do. We embrace diversity and innovation to tackle the toughest challenges faced by those living with rare diseases. With a rapidly expanding portfolio and an entrepreneurial spirit akin to a leading biotech firm combined with global resources—your career here means making a real difference. You'll be supported by exceptional leaders who empower you to grow through tailored development programs that align your personal growth with our mission.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now to join our team!

Date Posted

Closing Date

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact accommodations@Alexion.com. Alexion participates in E-Verify.