Associate Director, Supplier and Distribution Quality

Role Overview

• Act as global process owner for supplier and distribution quality, accountable for end-to-end design, standardisation, governance, and performance.
• Define global frameworks, procedures, and operating models, including clear roles, responsibilities, and escalation pathways.
• Define effective global KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
• Own the global supplier lifecycle process, from initial qualification, through approval, and ongoing performance management.
• Define risk-based approaches and ensure consistent implementation through oversight of local SMEs.
• Own governance of the global external audit programme, including standards, planning, execution, and follow-up processes.
• Own the global distribution quality process, including third-party oversight, performance monitoring, and incident management.
• Provide oversight and direction to local stakeholders and SMEs, ensuring alignment and effective escalation.
• Ensure global processes are consistently inspection ready. Support inspections and audits, ensuring timely and effective management of observations and actions.
• Lead integration of supplier and distribution quality processes following acquisitions. Assess, align, and embed acquired entities into global standards.
• Drive a risk-based, data-driven approach to process management. Monitor performance trends, identify risks, and implement improvements across systems and processes.

Requirements

• Degree (or equivalent) in a scientific field desirable.
• Extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry (typically 10+ years), including significant exposure to supplier quality management (e.g. API, raw materials, packaging, CMOs) and distribution quality.
• Experience in the medical device industry is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience operating within a global quality governance or process ownership role, with accountability for designing and implementing standardised processes across multiple regions.
• Strong working knowledge of EU/UK/US GMP and GDP requirements and associated regulatory expectations for supplier qualification and distribution oversight.
• Proven experience leading or overseeing global supplier qualification programmes, including risk-based approaches, performance management, and third-party oversight.
• Experience with external audit programme management, including audit strategy, execution oversight, and remediation of findings.
• Demonstrated involvement in regulatory inspections and audits (e.g. MHRA, EMA, FDA), including preparation, hosting, and response management.
• Experience in M&A integration or large-scale quality system transformation desirable, including harmonisation of acquired quality systems into global frameworks.
• Recognised qualification as a Lead Auditor and/or completion of Responsible Person (RP) training is desirable.
• Experience leading cross-functional and cross-regional projects, including implementation of quality systems, digital tools, or process improvements.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation & benefit packages
• Culture of working together in a supportive way built on our strong foundation of values