Assoc Director, Supply Chain

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

About The Position

The Associate Director, End-to-End Commercial Supply Planner develops and executes commercial supply plans for small molecule and biologics products. The role partners with regional commercial supply chain leads to understand demand trends, market dynamics, market access changes, promotional activities, and product lifecycle events, incorporating those inputs into global supply plans covering API, Drug Substance, Drug Product, and Finished Goods. It reports to the End-to-End Commercial Supply Chain Product Lead and uses SAP ERP and Kinaxis Rapid Response to support responsive planning and product availability across global markets. The position manages detailed supply planning and execution, including production capacity, lead times, inventory, allocation, expiry risk, and minimum remaining shelf-life requirements at batch release and market delivery. It collaborates with internal and external manufacturing sites and cross-functional partners in Commercial Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, and Finance. The role also tracks supply planning, inventory, and service metrics, communicates risks and escalations, and supports change management arising from commercial or regulatory changes. The role provides leadership and management to a team, including supervision, training, guidance, and performance management. It develops and implements supply chain policies, procedures, strategies, and goals; may manage outsourced manufacturing, supplier relationships, and significant contracts; and may support regulatory documentation and liaison with governmental or audit agencies. People-leader expectations include creating an inclusive environment, developing talent, and empowering teams.

Requirements

10+ years of relevant experience with a BS or BA, or 8+ years with an MA/MBA, or 5+ years with a PharmD/PhD.
Experience in pharmaceutical operations or a cGMP environment.
Experience purchasing custom chemicals, planning pharmaceutical development activities, and managing third-party synthesis of intermediates or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
In-depth understanding of relevant principles, concepts, practices, standards, and industry practices.
Solid working knowledge of relevant regulatory guidance, including pharmaceutical GMPs and ICH Q7A.
Ability to solve complex problems using ingenuity and innovation and to evaluate situations involving intangible variables.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise, well-supported written communications.
Strong negotiation skills and ability to interact effectively with senior management.
Good organizational and time-management skills, including working knowledge of basic project management tools and techniques.
In-depth understanding of the financial aspects of supply chain operations and proficiency across multiple supply chain practices.
Ability to apply organizational policies and interpret, execute, and recommend modifications to department policies and procedures.
Ability to exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
Leadership skills to direct and manage a team, provide training and performance management, and create a productive, engaged working environment.
May require familiarity with the technologies, strengths, and weaknesses of fine chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide.

Responsibilities

Partner with regional commercial supply chain leads to understand demand trends, market access changes, promotional campaigns, and product lifecycle events.
Integrate regional demand signals into end-to-end supply plans for API, Drug Substance, Drug Product, and Finished Goods.
Facilitate regular communication and alignment sessions with regional leads to validate assumptions, reconcile forecast discrepancies, and adjust supply plans.
Develop, maintain, and execute commercial supply plans that account for demand, manufacturing capacity, lead times, and minimum remaining shelf-life requirements.
Perform API planning activities, including reviewing part setups and master data, monitoring new product supply setup updates, managing API retest and expiry reviews, reviewing and managing MoH across API, and managing system FPOs and ICN allocations.
Review demand and Drug Product supply plan outliers, long-range Drug Product and API plans, API inventory health, shipping quantities and requirements, and lot-level restrictions for Drug Product firm orders.
Prepare API change analysis materials and provide four-year budget volumes during LE.
Use SAP ERP and Kinaxis Rapid Response to build, monitor, and scenario-test supply plans; proactively manage demand changes, constraints, expiry risk, and shelf-life trade-offs.
Coordinate with internal and external manufacturing sites on production schedules and batch strategies to minimize write-off risk and support service-level commitments.
Optimize global inventory positioning with regional supply leads and support allocation decisions during constrained supply situations.
Partner with Commercial Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and regional market leads to maintain supply visibility and support product availability.
Support changes to supply plans resulting from commercial or regulatory changes.
Track and report supply plan adherence, inventory levels, and service performance; provide timely stakeholder and leadership updates and escalations.
Lead, direct, and manage a team; provide supervision, training, guidance, and performance management, and foster productivity and employee engagement.
Develop and implement supply chain policies, procedures, strategies, and goals while ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
Create and communicate supplier, subcontractor, and vendor agreements; negotiate contracts and drive cost savings; monitor contract cost, schedule, performance, and agreed service, quality, schedule, and flexibility goals.
Conduct formal performance reviews with key suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors; may manage outsourced manufacturing activities and coordinate multiple production schedules.
Maintain awareness of relevant market and competitor information; review or implement controlled-document changes and may author sections of regulatory documents.
Create inclusion, develop employee talent, and empower teams by aligning goals and removing barriers.