Head of External Sterile Operations; in Europe

Head of External Sterile Operations Role Summary

• Overall responsibility for the strategy, governance, and performance of an assigned segment of the external manufacturing network within the Sterile Vertical.
• Leads a team of External Operations Managers and is accountable for senior-level supplier relationship management across supply, quality, service, cost, contract compliance, and risk.
• Works with Supply Chain, Quality, Technical Services, and other partners to align priorities and drive performance across external manufacturers.
• Leads major negotiations, capacity decisions, and escalation management; defines external operations standards and ways of working across the network.

• Lead a team of External Operations Managers for assigned CDMO relationships.
• Own strategy, governance, and overall performance of external manufacturing partners within assigned scope.
• Lead supplier relationship management across supply, quality, service, cost, and contract adherence.
• Lead executive governance meetings, business reviews, and performance discussions.
• Lead major commercial, contractual, and capacity negotiations with CDMO.
• Partner on supply strategy, capacity alignment, and network priorities.
• Own major escalations and recovery direction for significant issues.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across Supply Chain, Quality, Technical Services, Procurement, and other functions.
• Set priorities/expectations and drive accountability across stakeholders.
• Support development of external operations standards, governance, and operating practices.

• Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Legal, and Technical Services on supplier strategy, risk management, and execution.
• Partner with senior leadership on external network performance, supply continuity, and long-term partner management.

• 15+ years of sterile operations experience.
• Significant experience leading complex third-party manufacturing/CDMO relationships in highly regulated industries.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.
• Strong background in external manufacturing, supplier relationship management, or network operations.
• Experience leading commercial, capacity, or contract negotiations.
• Experience engaging directly with third-party suppliers in supply chain/manufacturing/technical operations/procurement/quality.
• Experience managing major escalations, supply disruptions, or performance issues.
• Experience setting supplier performance strategy and governance (business reviews, scorecards, risk management).
• Prior people leadership experience.
• Experience with sterile manufacturing/sterile external networks preferred; product transfers/launches/lifecycle or network changes valuable.
• Exposure to financial/commercial/business planning related to supplier management.

• Supplier governance and performance management; negotiation and escalation management; cross-functional collaboration.