Associate Director – Procurement

The Associate Director – Procurement will lead all procurement operations across our Cramlington site, ensuring reliable, compliant and cost-effective supply of materials and services critical to supporting manufacturing activities and business continuity.

The strategic leadership role is responsible for developing and delivering procurement strategies, driving supplier performance, mitigating supply chain risk and securing sustainable value through effective sourcing and strong commercial management. In this role, you will ensure audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and implement global procurement strategies and best-in-class procurement practices.

Based at our site in Cramlington, this is a hybrid position with the opportunity to work from home up to two days per week following the successful completion of induction and training. The role is 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• Owns site procurement performance, service levels, and compliance.
• Ensures uninterrupted supply of raw materials and services supporting site manufacturing.
• Executes global category strategies at site level in line with approved sourcing approaches.
• Manages local supplier performance, including PPV, OTIF, quality, and score carding.
• Drives compliance with regulatory, customer, and third‑party audit requirements.
• Leads rapid response to supply disruptions, delivery issues, and OOS investigations.
• Oversees local contract renewals within budgeted scope and delegated authority.
• Ensures effective SAP usage, data accuracy, and adherence to defined procurement processes.
• Works cross‑functionally with Operations, Planning, Warehousing, Quality, Finance, and Global Procurement.
• An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.
• Embodying our company values, which are: be reliable, be caring, be transparent and be willing.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Chemistry, Finance or a related discipline is preferred.
• MCIPS (Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) or equivalent professional procurement qualification is preferred.
• Any level of CIPS or equivalent professional procurement qualification is preferred.
• Proven experience of progressive procurement and supply chain experience.
• Experience with in a leadership or management role with responsibility for procurement teams and significant spend.
• Experience with in pharmaceuticals, life sciences, chemicals, biotechnology or a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing direct materials, APIs, key raw materials, packaging, contract services, and capital expenditure sourcing.
• Proven track record delivering cost reduction and value creation initiatives, supplier performance improvement and supply continuity and risk mitigation.
• Experience in contract negotiation and commercial optimisation.
• Experience operating within ERP systems, preferably SAP.
• Experience presenting to and influencing senior leadership teams.
• Budget ownership and financial accountability experience.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including bonus, pension scheme, private healthcare, Engagement Hub, cycle to work scheme, death in service coverage, on‑site health and wellbeing support including medical consultations and physiotherapy, 24/7 employee assistance programme, employee referral scheme, sports and social club as well as opportunity for training and further career development.

Sterling Pharma Solutions is a global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) with more than 50 years’…