At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Global External API Quality team to ensure safe and compliant supply of pharmaceutical ingredients.
- Company: Join GSK, a global biopharma company dedicated to improving health worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on patient health by shaping quality strategies in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Strong knowledge of API manufacturing and experience in supplier relationship management required.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values ambition, accountability, and doing the right thing.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
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 suppliers to set common objectives and to ensure suppliers deliver to GSK quality standards, maintain compliance with GMP requirements and risk introduced to GSK network from use of suppliers 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.
Additional Responsibilities within the External Quality Incoming Materials Leadership Team
- Supporting development of External API and incoming materials quality.
- Resolving any issues and ambiguity with regards to roles and responsibilities 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.
Basic Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of API manufacturing (APIy).
- Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing operations in Pharma.
- Experience of supplier performance and relationship management across complex supply chains.
- International experience.
- People and capability development experience.
- Sourcing strategy and procurement skills including relationship management, supplier development, continuous improvement, negotiations and ability to implement and manage complex contractual arrangements.
- Demonstrated experience and understanding of GMP.
- Ability to lead cross‑functional teams to an aligned strategy.
- Highly developed problem‑solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Production site experience.
- Planning experience.
- Crisis Management and Business Continuity Planning.
- GPS / Lean Sigma.
- Financial Acumen and / or learning agility and desire to learn and understand.
- Strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder engagement agility.
Location and Working Model
This role is based in GSK HQ London, UK / Wavre, Belgium / Cork, Ireland. The position offers a hybrid working model with a mix of remote and on‑site work. Regular travel to supplier sites and GSK locations will be required.
Closing Date for Applications
20th January 2026 (COB)
How to Apply
If you are motivated by practical leadership and real impact, we encourage you to apply. Please share your CV and a short note that explains how your experience aligns with the role and how you would contribute to our team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive workplace.
Why GSK?
Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale. People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.
GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law. We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are. Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at UKRecruitment.Adjustments@gsk.com where you can also request a call.
External Supply Global API Quality Director employer: Gsk
Contact Detail:
Gsk Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land External Supply Global API Quality Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you showcase your fit for the role and make a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of External Supply Global API Quality Director. Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at GSK.
We think you need these skills to ace External Supply Global API Quality Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of External Supply Global API Quality Director. Highlight your experience in API manufacturing and supplier management, as these are key areas for us. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills and achievements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Note: Your cover note should be a brief but powerful summary of how your experience aligns with the job. We want to see your passion for quality and patient impact, so don’t hold back on showcasing your motivation and what you can bring to our team.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading cross-functional teams, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects, especially in complex environments, to show us you're the right fit.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our company culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gsk
✨Know Your APIs Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their manufacturing processes. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed supplier quality and compliance in the past, as this will show your expertise and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This position requires strong leadership capabilities, so prepare to share experiences where you've led cross-functional teams or driven improvement initiatives. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to coach and develop others, as well as how you've successfully navigated complex supply chains.
✨Build Relationships with Stakeholders
Since collaboration is key in this role, come prepared with examples of how you've built relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Highlight your negotiation skills and how you've aligned objectives across different functions to achieve common goals.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Prepare by thinking of specific challenges you've encountered in previous roles and how you resolved them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.