Senior Manager, External Manufacturing

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine•West Chester, PA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The External Manufacturing Senior Manager leads the VELYS Enabling Tech External Manufacturing network, with end‑to‑end accountability for externally manufactured products. It partners closely with senior leadership and strategic suppliers to optimize the manufacturing network, ensure robust planning, capacity, cost, quality, and risk management, and deliver strong business performance. The role drives NPI execution, supplier governance, transformation initiatives, and talent development to enable scalable growth, operational excellence, and competitive advantage across the external manufacturing network.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor’s and/or equivalent University degree required; Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations or related field highly preferred; Advanced degree such as a M.S. or MBA a plus
Minimum eight (8) years of relevant professional work experience
Experience in manufacturing, operations, or supply chain leadership
Experience in Supply Chain performance management
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with all levels of management and influence decision-making across a matrix organization
Experience leading external manufacturing networks with accountability for operational performance, capacity, cost, quality, and risk
Strong understanding of supply chain planning, S&OP, and performance management in regulated manufacturing environments

Nice To Haves

Product cost management and budget management
Global business experience and comfort operating across regions and cultures
Experience in strategic planning, network optimization, or long‑range capacity planning
Financial acumen, cost optimization, and partnership with Procurement
Experience leading transformation initiatives, including process harmonization, or standardization
Experience leading supplier governance and product or technology transfers
Lean manufacturing and six-sigma methodology experience

Responsibilities

Defines and drives the global External Manufacturing vision in close collaboration with senior leadership and the stakeholder community, fostering a high-performance, customer-focused culture across teams and suppliers.
Operates as a virtual plant manager with end-to-end accountability for global external manufacturers and suppliers of finished goods, overseeing operational performance, planning, inventory, capacity management, cost optimization, and comprehensive risk mitigation.
Serves as a key strategic partner to senior leadership on network optimization, long-term capacity planning, footprint strategy, and make-versus-buy decisions.
Owns strategic and operational relationships with assigned suppliers, establishing robust governance frameworks including executive-level business reviews, S&OP alignment, CIP execution, and Quality and Planning reviews.
Represents External Manufacturing in global governance forums and ensures cross-regional and cross-functional alignment.
Leads and oversees product and technology transfers, supplier change initiatives (e.g., equipment validation, site expansions), and lean process improvement programs.
Owns and leads New Product Introduction (NPI) processes with external manufacturers, ensuring stakeholder alignment, resource coordination, and successful on-time launches.
Develops and aligns operational plans, budgets, and volume forecasts with external manufacturing sites to ensure mid- and long-term synchronization of supply and demand.
Conducts scenario-based capacity planning to support sustainable growth and long-range business requirements.
Identifies and proactively mitigates quality, regulatory, technical, and supply chain risks, strengthening business continuity planning and compliance frameworks.
Drives financial, service, reliability, quality, and growth performance in line with business commitments and defined KPIs.
Partners with Procurement and Finance on commercial negotiations and cost optimization initiatives for assigned value streams.
Leads change management and transformation initiatives, including process harmonization, digitalization, and standardization across the external manufacturing network.
Facilitates cross-functional decision-making, manages trade-offs within the assigned external value stream, and serves as escalation point for critical business-impacting matters.
Ensures effective execution of strategic initiatives through hands-on leadership and close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Collaborates with strategic suppliers to champion innovation initiatives and unlock additional value and competitive advantage.
Develops organizational talent, mentors team members, drives succession planning, and manages and develops the External Operations Team.

Benefits

Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).