Head - Global Procurement, AVD & NPI

Role Purpose

Lead sourcing, New Product Introduction (NPI) and Alternative-vendor development (AVD) for APIs, key starting materials (KSMs) and critical intermediates across regulated and emerging markets. Build resilient, competitive and compliant supply networks through category strategy, supplier qualification, risk mitigation, commercial negotiation and lifecycle-cost optimization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sourcing Strategy and AVD Planning

• Develop sourcing and qualification strategies aligned with the product pipeline, growth priorities and supply-risk requirements.
• Assess materials by revenue exposure, cost impact, geographic concentration and single-source dependency.
• Establish annual Alternative Vendor Development (AVD) plans, priorities, milestones and risk-mitigation roadmaps.
• Define make-versus-buy, single-versus-multiple-source and regional sourcing strategies using total-cost-of-ownership principles.
• Maintain intelligence on cost drivers, capacity, manufacturing routes, technologies, regulatory status and supply-market risks.

2. Supplier Development and Qualification

• Identify and develop capable, competitive and regulatory-compliant manufacturers across India, China and other strategic markets.
• Lead techno-commercial evaluations, due diligence, site assessments, quality audits and cross-functional source selection.
• Manage alternative-vendor development from supplier identification through technical qualification, regulatory approval and commercial implementation.

3. Commercial Excellence

• Lead negotiations for development programmes, long-term agreements, price reviews, capacity reservations and risk-sharing arrangements.
• Deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance and payment-term improvements without compromising quality, compliance or supply assurance.
• Ensure contracts address specifications, regulatory support, change notification, intellectual property, confidentiality, liability, continuity and performance.

4. Risk, Quality and Regulatory Compliance

• Evaluate geopolitical, financial, capacity, logistics, quality, environmental and regulatory risks.
• Drive alternate sourcing, dual sourcing, safety-stock strategies and business-continuity plans for critical materials.
• Partner with Quality, Regulatory Affairs and Technical Operations to secure DMFs, CEPs, GMP evidence, change-control records and filing support.

5. Execution and Governance

• Deliver approved AVD and NPI plans against agreed scope, milestones, timelines and business outcomes.
• Define cross-functional owners, due dates and dependencies; conduct governance reviews and escalate delivery risks.
• Guide category managers, review supplier comparisons and support negotiations for critical programmes.
• Present supply exposures, mitigation plans and progress to senior leadership, the Risk Committee and Board.

6. Leadership and Collaboration

• Collaborate with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal and Commercial teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing NPI and AVD team, including succession and capability planning.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in science, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Sciences or a related discipline; MBA or postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain or Business Administration desirable.
• 15 years progressive experience in API sourcing, strategic procurement, category management or supply management within pharma or biopharma industry
• Significant senior-leadership experience managing global API categories, supplier relationships, teams and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in regulated markets, supplier qualification, commercial negotiation and supply-risk mitigation across major API-sourcing regions.

Core Competencies

• Deep knowledge of API manufacturing, chemistry, cost structures, quality systems and regulatory requirements.
• Expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, contracting and supplier-performance management.
• Advanced negotiation, financial evaluation, should-cost analysis and total-cost-of-ownership skills.
• Working knowledge of GMP, regulatory filings, change control, data integrity and EHS requirements.
• Proficiency in SAP or similar ERP systems, spend analytics, e-sourcing tools and dashboards.
• Enterprise thinking, executive presence, ethical judgement, resilience and disciplined execution.