Head of Supply Chain and Materials Management

Astellas Pharma•Westborough, MA

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas! Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com [http://www.astellas.com]. Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc and focused on the development and commercialization of stem cell and regenerative medicine therapies. Astellas is an R&D-driven global pharmaceutical company whose philosophy is to contribute to the improvement of people's health around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. AIRM has a world-class R&D team, and is pursuing a diverse range of disease indications, ranging from macular degeneration (currently in clinical trials) and other ocular indications to vascular and autoimmune disease. AIRM's intellectual property portfolio includes pluripotent stem cell platforms -- both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells as well as other cell-based therapy research programs. AIRM is headquartered in Massachusetts. Astellas is announcing a Head of Supply Chain and Materials Management opportunity at their Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM) site in Westborough, MA. Purpose: The Head of Supply Chain is a key member of the Manufacturing and Supply Leadership Team (MSLT), accountable for all supply chain activities supporting internal manufacturing operations at the MA-TC site. This includes planning, ordering, goods receipt, raw material management, warehousing, logistics, trade compliance, and master data management. The role ensures uninterrupted supply for internal production, fosters continuous improvement, and partners closely with Global Procurement and Global Supply Chain to align strategies and standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Scientific, or Engineering discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
10+ years of Supply Chain experience within biopharmaceutical manufacturing (early, late, or commercial phases).
8+ years of experience in GMP manufacture of biologics.
8+ years of leadership experience.
Proficiency with S&OP/IBP, end‑to‑end supply planning and forecasting, production scheduling, demand/supply balancing, scenario analysis, and budget performance.
Knowledge of quality systems, cGMP, regulatory and industry standards across drug development phases.
Understanding of regulations related to raw materials, critical components, drug substance, and drug product and how they translate into Supply Chain activities.
Demonstrated Supply Chain expertise associated with tech transfer and scale‑up of biologics.
Experience with negotiations, contract management, and/or procurement.
Thorough understanding and demonstrated experience with FMEA and risk analysis.
Computer skills: MS Office Suite; ERP (e.g., SAP or equivalent); LIMS; statistical software; Visio.
Demonstrated project leadership and relationship‑building skills across internal/external partners and cross‑functional teams.
Strong critical thinking skills and ability to make impactful decisions.
Ability to foster a culture that embraces lessons learned and drives a proactive mindset; effective change leadership.
Experienced at establishing clear direction, leading others, and bringing out their best.
Regular communication with peers/team members about corporate strategy to drive awareness and capability

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs.
Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma).
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills

Responsibilities

Lead the site Supply Chain team to support internal manufacturing and ensure material availability for production schedules.
Implement governance and performance metrics for site-level supply chain operations.
Drive S&OP and site-level planning processes to align production, inventory, and financial targets.
Oversee ERP system functionality for accurate inventory control and material transactions.
Manage raw material and component flow from receipt through storage and issuance to production.
Ensure compliance with GMP, Safety, and Trade Compliance regulations across all supply chain activities.
Coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Facilities to support production readiness.
Develop and manage the site supply chain budget; monitor performance against targets.
Manage vendor relationships for raw materials and critical components; ensure adherence to quality and service agreements.
Partner with Global Procurement and Global Supply Chain to leverage global contracts and harmonize processes.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize material flow, reduce waste, and improve OTIF performance.
Engage, retain, and develop staff through coaching, mentoring, and career development programs.

Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
401(k) match and annual company contribution
Company paid life insurance
Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
Company-paid fleet vehicle for eligible positions
Referral bonus program

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