About Astellas:
At Astellas we are a progressive health partner, delivering value and outcomes where needed.
We pursue innovative science, focusing initially on the areas of greatest potential and then developing solutions where patient need is high, often in rare or under-served disease areas and in life-threatening or life-limiting diseases and conditions.
We work directly with patients, doctors and health care professionals on the front line to ensure patient and clinical needs are guiding our development activities at every stage.
Our global vision for Patient Centricity is to support the development of innovative health solutions through a deep understanding of the patient experience. At Astellas, Patient Centricity isn’t a buzzword - it’s a guiding principle for action. We believe all staff have a role to play in creating a patient-centric culture and integrating an awareness of the patient into our everyday working practices, regardless of our role, team or division.
We work closely with regulatory authorities and payers to find new ways to ensure access to new therapies. We deliver the latest insights and real-world evidence to inform the best decisions for patients and their care-givers, to ensure the medicines we develop continue to provide meaningful outcomes.
Beyond medicines, we support our stakeholder communities to drive initiatives that improve awareness, education, access and ultimately standards of care.
The Opportunity:
In this role, you will be responsible for the strategic sourcing and supplier management of services supporting raw materials and contract manufacturing for drug products across Europe. You will ensure the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and compliant external partnerships that align with global business goals and regulatory expectations.
Working cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Regulatory, Legal, and Finance, you will lead initiatives that drive value across the end-to-end supply chain. This position is critical to securing supply assurance, optimizing total cost of ownership, and enabling innovation across Astellas' pharmaceutical portfolio.
Hybrid Working:
At Astellas we recognize that our employees enjoy having balance between their professional and home lives. We are proud of our hybrid approach which empowers you to have flexibility on whether to work from home or in the office.
Key Activities for this role:
- Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, supplier evaluations, and high-value contract negotiations for raw materials, packaging, and CMO services.
- Structure contracts with KPIs, SLAs, and GxP compliance clauses to ensure quality, performance, and regulatory alignment.
- Drive value creation through cost savings, TCO optimization, and lead-time or flexibility improvements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders including QA, CMC, and Manufacturing to align sourcing with operational needs.
- Use digital tools and analytics to track supplier performance and support data-driven sourcing decisions.
Essential Knowledge & Experience:
- Significant experience in strategic sourcing or procurement within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.
- Strong knowledge of GxP processes and qualification timelines related to manufacturing and packaging.
- Proven ability to negotiate complex contracts and manage large-scale supplier relationships.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects involving Quality, Legal, and Finance stakeholders.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to drive alignment across global teams.
Preferred Qualifications:
Degree in healthcare, legal, or finance-related discipline preferred or equivalent.
Expertise in direct materials sourcing within a pharmaceutical manufacturing context.
Experience managing supplier metrics and performance frameworks (e.g., OTIF, Open Book Costing).
Proven success in project management and leading cross-functional sourcing teams.
Familiarity with digital procurement tools and supply chain data platforms.
Qualifications:
- BA/BS degree or equivalent experience or equivalent.
- Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
- Ability to manage sourcing projects independently while fostering cross-functional collaboration.
- Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
- A passion for quality, compliance, and innovation within pharmaceutical supply chains.
Additional Information:
- This is a permanent, full-time position.
- This position is based in Warsaw (Poland)
- This is a permanent role based in our Global Capability Centre in Warsaw, Poland and hybrid working with the expectation for some office presence. Flexibility may be required in line with business need. Candidates must be located within a commutable distance of the office
Astellas’ Global Capability Centres – Overview:
Astellas’ Global Capability Centre’s (GCCs) are strategically located sites that give Astellas the ability to access talent across various functions in the value chain and to co-locate core capabilities that are currently dispersed. Our three GCCs are located in India, Poland and Mexico.
The GCCs will enhance our operational efficiency, resilience and innovation potential, enabling a timely response to changing business demands.
Our GCCs are an integral part of Astellas, guided by our shared values and behaviors, and are critical enablers of the company’s strategic priorities, sustainable growth, and commitment to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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