Associate Director – Procurement

Sterling Pharma Solutions Limited; Cramlington; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Pharma Solutions Limited recruits for an Associate Director – Procurement to lead procurement operations at the Cramlington site. The role focuses on reliable supply, compliance, and cost-effectiveness to support manufacturing activities and business continuity.

The position emphasizes developing and delivering procurement strategies, driving supplier performance, mitigating risk, and ensuring audit readiness, with a hybrid work setup and 37-hour work week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business / Supply Chain / Engineering / Chemistry / Finance or related discipline.
• MCIPS or equivalent procurement qualification preferred.
• CIPS qualification at any level preferred.
• Progressive procurement and supply chain experience required.
• Leadership experience with procurement teams and significant spend.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments (pharma/chemicals).
• Experience negotiating contracts and optimizing commercial terms.
• ERP experience, preferably SAP, and ability to influence senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Owns site procurement performance, service levels, and compliance.
• Ensures uninterrupted supply of materials for site manufacturing.
• Executes global category strategies at site level.
• Manages local supplier performance (PPV, OTIF, quality, scorecarding).
• Drives regulatory and audit readiness.
• Leads rapid response to supply disruptions and OOS investigations.
• Oversees local contract renewals within budget and authority.
• Ensures SAP data accuracy and adherence to procurement processes.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with Operations, Planning, Warehousing, Quality, Finance, and Global Procurement.
• Upholds company values and professional standards.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Strategic sourcing

Cost optimization

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

MCIPS

CIPS qualification (any level)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Summary of the Associate Director - Procurement role

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.

Your responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements for the role

• 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 within a leadership or management role with responsibility for procurement teams and significant spend.
• Experience within 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.

How you will be rewarded

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.

Why consider Sterling?

Sterling Pharma Solutions is a global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) with more than 50 years’ experience in developing and manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This is complemented by Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) research, development and clinical manufacturing services.

We are a fast growing, dynamic business with facilities in the UK, US and Europe, where we employ talented and passionate people who support our customers in bringing new medicines to market, improving and saving the lives of patients.

Our culture and our way of working is what really sets us apart as a business; we aim to deliver an exceptional experience to our customers and our employees. You can expect to be part of a supportive team, all working towards a shared goal: to deliver first‑class science and service to our customers every day.

Sterling Pharma Solutions is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief .

Be caring. Be transparent . Be willing. Be reliable.