Director of Pharmaceutical Trade & Distribution

Role Summary

The Director of Pharmaceutical Trade & Distribution leads Aquestive’s trade and distribution operations to ensure timely and efficient delivery of products to the market. The role partners with internal and external stakeholders, including 3PLs, specialty pharmacies, distributors, and other strategic trade partners. The candidate will have experience in trade operations, inventory management, pharmaceutical distribution, and channel analytics within the biotech or specialty pharmaceutical industry. This role requires a demonstrated history of cross-functional collaboration and problem solving, and will report to the Vice President, Market Access, Trade & Patient Services.

Responsibilities

• Lead trade operations and distribution channels
• Develop and implement distribution strategies to support the lifecycle of Aquestive products
• Monitor inventory levels and product movement to ensure adequate supply and demand alignment
• Serve as the primary contact for 3PL partners, specialty pharmacies, distributors, and other strategic trade and distribution partners
• Track, analyze and monitor vendor performance, monitor service level agreements (SLAs), and report KPIs to leadership
• Support demand planning and forecasting in collaboration with Supply Chain, Finance and Commercial teams
• Assist with pricing and contract administration related to trade and distribution partners
• Champion a culture of compliance by working closely with Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance to ensure all activities meet applicable laws and regulatory requirements
• Oversee budgeting and financial planning for all trade and distribution services, ensuring cost-effective dynamic execution
• Assist with the creation of necessary materials for sales force execution, in collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and other internal stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to drug distribution (DEA, FDA, state licensing)
• Coordinate with internal teams, such as Supply Chain, Finance, Regulatory, Legal, Compliance to address operational issues and improve processes
• Proactively communicate market trends, policy changes, and emerging distribution strategies to key internal stakeholders

Qualifications

• Required: 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical trade operations and distribution
• Required: Experience with specialty pharmacy distribution, vendor relationships, and 3PL operations
• Required: Knowledge of drug distribution regulations and compliance requirements
• Required: Highly analytical with ability to turn data into strategic insights and process improvements
• Required: Strong vendor management and negotiation skills
• Required: Highly proficient in advanced Excel skills
• Required: Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Education

• Required: Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or related field

Additional Requirements

• Travel: Willingness to travel approximately 20%
• Work arrangement: Hybrid/home office based with expectations of being in the office 3 days per week