New Product Launch Expert (Instruments) - Supply Chain

Roche; Mannheim; On-site; EUR 194,000 - 302,000; Full time

Job summary

Roche is seeking a Global Product Launch and Supply Chain Lead to drive the international commercialization of complex instruments and hardware. The role balances hands-on execution with strategic design and footprint optimization across global sites.

You will coordinate timelines, manage volume ramps, resolve cold chain bottlenecks, and lead transformational projects within a highly regulated environment, collaborating with R&D, Finance and Logistics partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering or Supply Chain Management, MBA preferred.
• 8+ years of leadership experience in Diagnostics, Medical Devices, or Aerospace/Capital Equipment.
• Experience managing global launches for capital equipment in regulated environments (ISO 13485 or FDA).
• Deep understanding of hardware Product Life Cycle, manufacturing scale-up, and global trade compliance.
• Strong matrix leadership and ability to coach diverse teams while upholding Roche values.

Responsibilities

• Lead organization-wide integration initiatives and new product commercialization internationally.
• Balance 60% operational execution (timelines, volume ramps, cold chain bottlenecks) with 40% strategic footprint optimization.
• Navigate cross-functional challenges and drive end-to-end supply chain improvements for hardware systems.

Skills

Global launches

Supply chain

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering or SCM

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

The Global Supply Chain division operates as a vital strategic vehicle for business transformation, driving cross-functional alignment and global regulatory compliance across R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality functions. The department focuses on embedding innovative design methodologies, standardizing end-to-end supply chain integration, and planning multi-year distribution footprints to achieve carbon neutrality. Every team member in this global network is dedicated to permanently optimizing processes in order to increase quality and efficiency standards, ensuring that organizational future readiness is balanced with high-precision launch execution.

We are seeking a Global Product Launch and Supply Chain Lead ( New Product Launch Expert (Instruments) - Supply Chain ) to manage organization-wide integration initiatives and new product commercialization on an international scale. This role functions with an operational-to-strategic split that balances 60% operational execution, coordinating timelines, managing volume ramps, and resolving immediate cold chain bottlenecks, with 40% strategic direction focused on footprint optimization and high-level systems thinking. Operating as a transformational project leader, you will navigate highly ambiguous, cross-functional challenges to bring complex instruments and hardware systems successfully to market.

The Opportunity

• Securing global launch readiness and achieving successful pilot-to-commercial scaling across diverse countries drives organization-wide performance and long-term commercial impact.

• Dedicating 60% of your time to day-to-day timeline coordination, volume ramps, and immediate cold chain or regulatory compliance bottleneck resolution ensures products hit the market smoothly.

• Executing multi-year planning in the early stages of the Product Life Cycle positions the network for future readiness regarding hardware solutions that may not launch for two to five years.

• Challenging the status quo involves introducing new technologies and design methodologies to break down structural silos and foster a transformational leadership environment.

• Overseeing critical, large-scale integration projects encompasses managing E2E supply chain workflows, divisional launches, and technical problem-solving across internal manufacturing and external sites.

• Influencing internal leaders across the DIA Supply Chain Leadership Team, Finance, and R&D happens on a daily or weekly basis alongside negotiating global design standards with external Logistics Service Providers.

• Managing high-stakes conflicts is central to this governance role, specifically when balancing R&D’s desire for speed against supply chain compliance or aligning financial cost goals with operational resilience needs.

Who You Are

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, or Supply Chain Management is required, with an MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

• Possessing 8+ years of leadership experience within Diagnostics, Medical Devices, or Aerospace/Capital Equipment is essential, backed by a deep understanding of manufacturing and distributing complex hardware systems.

• Proven experience managing global launches for capital equipment and instruments in highly regulated environments, such as ISO 13485 or FDA frameworks, is necessary.

• Deep comprehension of the hardware Product Life Cycle is required, including manufacturing scale-up, global trade compliance for electronics, and field service logistics.

• Demonstrated matrix leadership capability enables you to make strong strategic decisions, navigate the complexity of global trade barriers, and coach others through culturally diverse environments while role‑modeling Roche values and VACC principles.

Where pay transparency applies, details are provided based on the primary posting location. For this role, the primary location is Rotkreuz. If you are interested in additional locations where the role may be available, we will provide the relevant compensation details later in the hiring process.

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.