Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategy for external manufacturing and manage supplier relationships.
- Company: Join AstraZeneca, a global leader in science and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape strategies that improve patient outcomes and drive commercial excellence.
- Qualifications: 10-15 years in external manufacturing with strong leadership and negotiation skills.
- Other info: Global role with a dynamic team and a commitment to inclusivity.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
About the Role
The Senior Director External Manufacturing Procurement leads AstraZeneca's procurement strategy and execution for outsourced contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). This role is accountable for performance across multiple sites and countries driving commercial excellence, robust governance, and reliable supply while meeting Safety Health & Environment standards and all applicable regulations. The leader will manage and develop a team of Procurement professionals, build executive-level supplier relationships, and serve as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders across Operations and R&D.
Key Accountabilities
- Strategic Leadership: Define the Procurement strategy for External Manufacturing and contribute expert input to broader Procurement strategy development.
- Delivery Management: Ensure objectives are met across all sites within remit with disciplined value tracking and measurable financial and operational outcomes.
- Resource Planning: Partner with Line Managers to identify resource needs; secure and allocate resources to ensure timely delivery and progression of priorities.
- Team Leadership: Manage, motivate, coach, and set goals for Procurement leads; build a culture of leadership, creativity, collaboration, and high performance.
- Supplier Strategy & Negotiation: Lead negotiations and selection of outsourced service and equipment suppliers; oversee commercial governance and executive supplier relationships.
- Risk & Contingency Planning: Develop and manage contingency risk plans to assure on-site availability, quality, and budget adherence; elevate issues to protect patients and business reputation.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Lead key interactions with internal stakeholders to build reputation and broker cross-functional decisions and trade-offs.
- Best Practice & Compliance: Drive knowledge sharing and dissemination of best practices; establish and oversee processes ensuring compliance with Safety Health & Environment standards, AstraZeneca policies, and applicable laws.
- Talent Development: Support senior staff in coaching and developing talent to maintain a healthy pipeline and succession for senior Procurement roles.
People Leadership
Span of Leadership: Approximately 10-15 total direct and indirect reports
Global Remit: A global role working across EU, Asia, and US
Required Qualifications Skills and Experience
- External Manufacturing Expertise: Extensive leadership experience within external manufacturing and CMO environments. 10-15 years of industry experience.
- Supply Chain or Manufacturing Category Strategy & Value Delivery: Proven track record in setting category strategies and delivering multi-year improvement plans with measurable financial and operational outcomes.
- Performance Management: Demonstrated success holding teams and suppliers to account; establishing milestones; addressing underperformance promptly; ensuring delivery.
- Executive Communication: Exceptional communication and gravitas; trusted partner to senior leaders across Operations and R&D; adept at brokering cross-functional decisions and trade-offs.
- Commercial Governance: Demonstrated success leading executive supplier relationships, negotiating large and complex agreements, and driving commercial governance.
- Change Leadership: Strong record leading complex change programs with high adoption; experience deploying governance models and business process frameworks.
- Financial Acumen: Strong cost modelling, benchmarking, and P&L impact understanding; disciplined approach to value tracking.
Core Requirements: Degree-level qualification; significant management experience in Procurement; excellent people management and motivational skills; ability to lead cross-functional teams; proven priority-setting and resource management in global/regional environments; excellent written and verbal communication; negotiation, collaboration, and interpersonal leadership skills; budgetary and resource planning experience; willingness to travel; strong conceptual, analytical, and strategic thinking; ability to influence strategically and persuade tactfully while maintaining positive relationships.
Key Relationships
- Internal: Senior Procurement staff; leaders across Operations, R&D, and other functions.
- External: Global Suppliers and outsourced service providers; executive-level supplier stakeholders.
Why AstraZeneca: Join a company driven by science and innovation dedicated to improving patient outcomes worldwide. You will shape external manufacturing strategies, lead high-impact teams, and forge strategic supplier partnerships that enable reliable, efficient, and compliant supply.
Senior Director, External Manufacturing Procurement employer: AstraZeneca
Contact Detail:
AstraZeneca Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director, External Manufacturing Procurement
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at AstraZeneca. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching AstraZeneca’s values and recent projects. We want to see how you can align with our mission and contribute to our goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the AstraZeneca team. Let’s get you started on this journey!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, External Manufacturing Procurement
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Director role. Highlight your experience in external manufacturing and procurement strategies, as well as any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to deliver measurable financial and operational outcomes. Use numbers and examples to illustrate your success in previous roles – we love a good success story!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate clarity, and it helps us understand your qualifications better!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at AstraZeneca.
How to prepare for a job interview at AstraZeneca
✨Know Your Procurement Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of procurement strategies, especially in external manufacturing. Familiarise yourself with AstraZeneca's approach and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've motivated and developed your team in previous roles, focusing on specific outcomes and improvements you've achieved.
✨Prepare for Executive-Level Discussions
Expect to engage with senior stakeholders during the interview. Brush up on your executive communication skills and be ready to discuss how you've successfully brokered cross-functional decisions in the past.
✨Highlight Your Negotiation Successes
Negotiation is key in this role, so come prepared with examples of complex agreements you've led. Discuss the strategies you used and the results achieved, showcasing your commercial governance expertise.
