R&D Associate Director of Procurement Research

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies!

AstraZeneca is now recruiting an Associate Director to join R&D Procurement. This position is located at one of AstraZeneca’s vibrant strategic R&D sites in Shanghai.  AstraZeneca has a single R&D Procurement group which supports the two integrated R&D science units – Oncology and Biopharmaceuticals (Respiratory, CVRM and INA). These units have responsibility for the value chain from discovery through to late-stage development, enabling rapid acceleration of promising early-stage assets and life-cycle management programs. The R&D structure is designed to help us build on this proud legacy of scientific contribution, and ensure we are positioned to continue to translate our innovative science into even more life-changing medicines for patients.

Your role

Join our diverse community and contribute to our truly global Procurement team, which reflects the full diversity of the people we serve. In this procurement leadership role you will be accountable for the overall management of a cluster of categories, or a complex category within R&D Procurement and it may also include managing activities of a group of Global Procurement Category Managers. You are expected to lead, coach and develop non-direct report team members to achieve set goals. You will do this by acting as a role model for our AstraZeneca Values and Behaviours. The role reports to the Senior Director Procurement Clinical trials who will be based in Europe.  Other parts of your role:

Strategy:

• Accountable for designing, and implementation of global categories, that include region or market strategies to optimize business efficiency
• Accountable for ongoing global category management including strategic sourcing, supplier collaboration and innovation , contract and risk management
• Accountable for developing and maintaining expert knowledge of respective global supply markets, competitors and product innovations
• Accountable to understand the global spend and identify ongoing opportunities to increase quality and improve value for money. Facilitate implementation of procurement change initiatives within categories to improve business performance

Business & Supplier Engagement:

• Develop an extensive understanding of customer needs and the business environment and translates this into meaningful Procurement projects
• Builds strong relationship with stakeholders and ensure customer satisfaction
• Responsible for Category level sustainability actions ensuring our suppliers are aligned and delivering in line with our sustainability goals
• For Procurement owned suppliers accountable for all aspects of supplier relationship management
• Instil the highest standards of compliance and ethics consistently across AZ

Essentials for the role

• Degree level qualification or relevant experience
• Significant recent global R&D procurement experience with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of strategic Procurement principles
• Recent proven track record of providing strategic procurement advice and support to stakeholders at all levels of an organisation
• Proven ability to manage change
• Communication skills and ability to influence others
• Comfort with risk and ambiguous situations