Senior Procurement Manager, Global Distributor Management & Commercial Operations

1054 GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

GlaxoSmithKline plc is seeking a strategic leader to oversee the global procurement strategy for the distributor network and related commercial operations. This role collaborates with Commercial, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Legal and Compliance to optimise service, cost and risk across multiple markets.

You will drive governance, supplier performance, and complex contracting with international distributors.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in procurement, sourcing or commercial management in pharma or life sciences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global procurement strategy for pharmaceutical distributors and commercial operations partners.
• Lead strategic sourcing, onboarding, contracting and governance of distributor partners across international markets.
• Establish and maintain distributor performance frameworks with KPIs, SLAs, scorecards and governance routines.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements with distributors ensuring long-term value creation.
• Assess distributor capabilities, inventory management and customer service to improve efficiency and quality.
• Drive cost optimisation, service enhancements and risk mitigation across the distributor network with stakeholders.

Skills

Procurement

Strategic sourcing

Contract management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Supplier relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

Team Introduction

Team Introduction You will join GSK’s Global Procurement organisation, focusing on Global Distributor Management & Commercial Operations. Working closely with Commercial, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Legal and Compliance teams, you will help shape how GSK partners with pharmaceutical distributors and related service providers across international markets.

Position Summary

Position Summary In this role, you will lead the global procurement strategy and commercial management for GSK’s distributor network. You will be accountable for sourcing, contracting and governance of pharmaceutical distributors and commercial operations providers that support product availability, market access, customer service and supply chain execution. You will develop and manage strategic relationships that optimise service, cost and risk performance across multiple markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global procurement and supplier management strategy for pharmaceutical distributors and commercial operations partners, aligned to GSK’s business objectives.
• Lead strategic sourcing, selection, onboarding, contracting and ongoing governance of distributor partners across international markets, ensuring robust compliance and partner performance.
• Establish and maintain distributor performance management frameworks, including KPIs, SLAs, scorecards and governance routines to drive service excellence and continuous improvement.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements with distributors, ensuring balanced commercial outcomes, clear accountabilities and long-term value creation.
• Assess distributor capabilities, operational performance, inventory management practices and customer service effectiveness, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience and quality.
• Drive cost optimisation, service enhancements and risk mitigation initiatives across the distributor network in collaboration with Commercial, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Legal and Compliance stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. business, supply chain, finance, engineering or related discipline).
• Significant experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare or broader life sciences industry.
• Proven experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or commercial management involving pharmaceutical distributors or similar channel partners.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical distribution models, distributor operations, channel management and commercial supply chains.
• Demonstrated track record of negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing supplier performance in a global or multi-market environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and alignment across diverse functions and geographies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive pharmaceutical industry experience, ideally with direct exposure to global distributor, wholesaler, specialty distributor or channel partner networks.
• Knowledge of GDP requirements and international healthcare supply chains, including associated regulatory and compliance considerations.
• Strong executive presence with clear, confident communication and advanced negotiation skills, enabling effective engagement with senior internal and external stakeholders.

Why this role?

This is a high-impact role at the centre of GSK’s distributor and commercial operations strategy. If you are motivated by building strategic partnerships, optimising complex supply chains and delivering sustainable value for patients and customers worldwide, we encourage you to apply.

Closing date for applications: 11th November 2026 #LI-Hybrid

Skills Category Strategy, Contract Management, Data Analysis, Digital Literacy, Financial Acumen, Interactive Storytelling, Negotiation, Sourcing Management, Stakeholder Management, Supplier Relationship Management

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 [e-mail] where you can also request a call. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide.

Important notice to Employment businesses/ Agencies

GSK does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact GSK's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to GSK. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and GSK. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of GSK. GSK shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site.

Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK’s compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements.

For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/

We are a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years. Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together. Find out more on our career site.