External Supply Global API Quality Director

Role Summary

You will lead the Global External API Quality team to ensure safe, reliable and compliant supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients from external partners. You will work across functions and regions to manage supplier quality, reduce risk to supply, and drive continuous improvement. The team values clear thinking, practical problem solving, strong stakeholder collaboration, and a focus on patient impact. This role offers scope to develop global leadership skills, shape quality strategy, and make a real difference in how medicines reach people.

Responsibilities

• Direct the matrix PQTS+ (procurement, quality, technical, supply & EHS, finance etc teams) responsible for day-to-day quality management and performance of API Suppliers
• Have accountability for product quality supplied by API Suppliers, working to minimize and eliminate any risks to supply of product to patients
• Coordinate activities in a matrix environment to ensure products manufactured are right first time, meet GSK standards, are delivered to patients on time and are competitively priced to achieve customer satisfaction
• Build relationships with Supplier to set common objectives and to ensure Supplier delivers to GSK quality standards, Supplier maintains compliance with GMP requirements and risk introduced to GSK network from use of Supplier is properly managed and mitigated
• Build relationships across GSK required to support supply from Suppliers – including but not limited to Global Procurement, Global Planning, Regional Hubs, Global Logistics, Trading Service and Finance
• Oversee any improvement programs, such as remediation, as needed with Suppliers to ensure compliance and viability of products for the long term
• Continuously drive and deliver improvement across service, quality, safety and cost
• As a member of the External Quality Incoming Materials Leadership Team, the Global External API Quality Director will also have responsibility for the following:
• Supporting development of External API and incoming materials quality
• Resolving any issues and ambiguity with regards to roles and responsibility for the organization
• Leading initiatives across the organization either in support of our strategy or to help improve the way we work
• Being an active leader for the organization using shadow of the leader to positively demonstrate coaching, leading and developing the teams
• Ensuring active development of both the organization and team members

Qualifications

• Required: Strong knowledge of API manufacturing
• Required: Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing operations in Pharma
• Required: Experience of supplier performance and relationship management across complex supply chains
• Required: International experience
• Required: People and capability development experience
• Required: Sourcing strategy and procurement skills including relationship management, supplier development, continuous improvement, negotiations and ability to implement and manage complex contractual arrangements
• Required: Demonstrated experience and understanding of GMP
• Required: Ability to lead cross functional teams to an aligned strategy
• Required: Highly developed problem-solving skills
• Preferred: Production site experience
• Preferred: Planning experience
• Preferred: Crisis Management and Business Continuity Planning
• Preferred: GPS / Lean Sigma
• Preferred: Financial Acumen and / or learning agility and desire to learn and understand
• Preferred: Strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder engagement agility

Additional Requirements

• Location and Working Model: This role is based in London (UK) / Wavre (Belgium) / Cork (Ireland) / Tres Cantos (Spain) / Mayenne or Evreux (France). The position offers a hybrid working model with a mix of remote and on-site work.
• Travel: Regular travel to supplier sites and GSK locations will be required.