Associate Director, Network Supply Planning

AstraZeneca plc; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking an Associate Director, Network Supply Planning to lead strategic supply planning for the Alexion Rare Disease Business Unit. The role drives end-to-end planning across the network, ensuring reliable product supply, optimal inventory, and proactive risk mitigation in a complex, regulated environment.

You will collaborate with demand, supply, quality, and manufacturing teams to align mid- to long-range objectives with tactical execution and governance.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in biopharmaceutical operations and global supply planning.
• Senior-level ability to translate strategy into robust supply plans and governance.
• Track record of managing supply risk and coordinating cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior member of the Network Supply Planning Team for the Alexion RBDU, contributing expertise and ensuring supply network planning activities support business priorities, patient needs, regulatory requirements, and market-specific considerations.
• Contribute as an experienced senior team member by sharing expertise, supporting colleague development, encouraging accountability, and fostering collaboration and continuous improvement across the global network supply planning team.
• Support end-to-end network supply planning strategy and execution, developing robust supply plans aligned across the global network to deliver reliable product supply, appropriate inventory levels, and effective capacity utilisation.
• Translate strategic business priorities into operational supply plans, aligning mid to long-range objectives with tactical and short-term execution across manufacturing sites, external partners, and distribution networks.
• Establish and embed best-in-class supply planning standards, processes, and governance to improve consistency, transparency, decision-making quality, and compliance across the network.

Skills

Global supply planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, supply chain, operations, business

MBA or MS desirable

Tools

Smartsheet

ERP systems

Job description

Position Summary:

The Associate Director, Network Supply Planning is a senior team member within the Global Supply

Planning Team in Astra Zeneca Alexion Rare Disease Business Unit (RDBU), responsible for

supporting the end-to-end tactical supply planning agenda across the network over a 0–3-year

horizon. The role supports integrated planning and supply oversight across all supply chain nodes,

contributing to strong performance in service, inventory, and cost while supporting broader business

and portfolio objectives.

This roles supports alignment across demand, supply, inventory, and operational priorities to enable

informed decision-making and effective management of trade-offs and supply risks for the

network. The Associate Director works across cross-functional teams to support robust plan

validation, proactive issue resolution, and timely escalation of critical risks through the appropriate

governance channels.

The role contributes to strengthening network supply planning capabilities and governance by

supporting structured risk management, improving planning discipline, and advancing mitigation plans

that support business continuity, launch readiness, supply reliability, and network resilience. The

position also supports strategic decision-making by highlighting emerging risks, scenario

impacts, and operational considerations that may influence portfolio execution and mid to long-term

supply performance.

The ideal candidate should possess significant experience in global supply planning and

network operations, supply chain strategy, and cross-functional collaboration, particularly in complex,

matrixed, and regulated environments. They should demonstrate strong capability in supply chain

operations, with the ability to collaborate across functions, make sound operational decisions,

manage risk, support continuous improvement, and translate strategic priorities into effective

execution.

Principal Responsibilities:

• 
  

  Serve as a senior member of the Network Supply Planning Team for the Alexion RBDU,

  
  

  contributing expertise and ensuring supply network planning activities support business priorities,

  
  

  patient needs, regulatory requirements, and market-specific considerations.

  
  


• 
  

  Contribute as an experienced senior team member by sharing expertise, supporting colleague

  
  

  development, encouraging accountability, and fostering collaboration and continuous

  
  

  improvement across the global network supply planning team.

  
  


• 
  

  Support end-to-end network supply planning strategy and execution, developing robust

  
  

  supply plans aligned across the global network to deliver reliable product supply, appropriate

  
  

  inventory levels, and effective capacity utilisation.

  
  


• 
  

  Translate strategic business priorities into operational supply plans, aligning mid to longrange objectives with tactical and short-term execution across manufacturing sites, external

  
  

  partners, and distribution networks.

  
  


• 
  

  Establish and embed best-in-class supply planning standards, processes, and governance to

  
  

  improve consistency, transparency, decision-making quality, and compliance across the network.

  
  


• 
  

  Coordinate risk management and disruption mitigation activities within supply network

  
  

  planning, identifying vulnerabilities early and supporting the development and execution of

  
  

  proactive plans to minimise impact to patients and the business.

  
  


• 
  

  Ensure effective exception management and escalation, making informed decisions in complex

  
  

  situations while balancing patient supply, financial impact, operational feasibility, and compliance

  
  

  requirements.

  
  


• 
  

  Support and enhance the global Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) process,

  
  

  strengthening integration between demand, supply, capacity, inventory, and business priorities

  
  

  across the network. Assess trade-offs, support resolution of imbalances, and enable timely

  
  

  decisions related to supply constraints, prioritisation, allocation, and network performance.

  
  


• 
  

  Monitor and report on critical performance indicators such as service levels, backlog, on-time

  
  

  delivery, inventory value, months on hand, plan attainment, and supply reliability, using insights to

  
  

  drive accountability and performance improvement.

  
  


• 
  

  Drive data-led operational decision-making by leveraging planning insights, supply scenarios,

  
  

  and performance trends to guide actions and support effective issue resolution.

  
  


• 
  

  Support financial planning processes by providing robust supply inputs for budget cycles,

  
  

  business reviews, and resource planning, ensuring operational plans are aligned to financial

  
  

  commitments.

  
  


• 
  

  Partner closely with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders across regulatory,

  
  

  quality, finance, internal / external manufacturing, product management, technical operations, and

  
  

  logistics to ensure aligned planning and execution.

  
  


• 
  

  Build strong and trusted stakeholder relationships across the organisation, enabling effective

  
  

  collaboration, alignment on priorities & rapid resolution of supply issues.

  
  


• 
  

  Drive continuous improvement & digitalisation across supply planning processes, identifying

  
  

  opportunities to simplify workflows, reduce inefficiencies, improve responsiveness, and strengthen

  
  

  planning accuracy.

  
  

Qualifications:

• 
  

  Extensive experience in biopharmaceutical operations, global supply chain, supply planning, network operations, or related disciplines within a complex, global, and highly

  
  

  regulated environment, typically gained over 10+ years.

  
  


• 
  

  Demonstrated senior-level experience in supply planning, product supply, network planning, or end-to-end supply chain management, with a strong track record of

  
  

  delivering results through expertise, collaboration, and influence across global and matrixed

  
  

  organisations.

  
  


• 
  

  Strong understanding of end-to-end product supply across manufacturing, external

  
  

  supply, distribution, and market delivery, with the ability to manage trade-offs across service,

  
  

  inventory, capacity, cost, and compliance.

  
  


• 
  

  Experience in supply risk management, supply continuity planning, network strategy,

  
  

  launch readiness, or product lifecycle planning is strongly preferred.

  
  


• 
  

  Deep knowledge of operational risk management principles, methodologies, and

  
  

  tools, including experience contributing senior expertise to complex risk assessments

  
  

  involving multiple stakeholders and functions.

  
  


• 
  

  Proven ability to influence and collaborate across complex organisational interfaces, with

  
  

  success in working cross-functionally across supply chain manufacturing, quality,

  
  

  regulatory, finance, commercial, and external partners.

  
  


• 
  

  Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving capability, with the ability to interpret

  
  

  complex data, assess network and supply risks, and translate insights into practical mitigation

  
  

  and execution plans.

  
  


• 
  

  Strong decision-making capability in fast-paced and ambiguous environments, with the

  
  

  judgment to balance short-term operational needs and long-term business objectives.

  
  


• 
  

  Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience

  
  

  engaging senior leaders, contributing to governance discussions, and supporting crossfunctional decision-making forums.

  
  


• 
  

  Experience establishing governance, performance metrics, and operating models to

  
  

  improve supply chain effectiveness, enhance visibility, and drive business performance.

  
  


• 
  

  Experience developing, monitoring, and driving global KPIs to assess and improve

  
  

  supply planning performance, network health, service outcomes, inventory management, and

  
  

  risk mitigation effectiveness.

  
  


• 
  

  Track record of driving continuous improvement across processes, tools, reporting, and

  
  

  ways of working to enhance consistency, transparency, decision-making, and organisational

  
  

  resilience.

  
  


• 
  

  Working knowledge of GMP, quality systems, and regulatory requirements, with

  
  

  demonstrated commitment to compliance, inspection readiness, record management, and

  
  

  continuous improvement of quality-relevant processes within area of responsibility.

  
  


• 
  

  Advanced familiarity with digital planning, reporting, and project management tools,

  
  

  including platforms such as Smartsheet or similar systems, is desirable.

  
  

Education:

• 
  

  Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, supply chain, operations, business, or a

  
  

  related discipline is required.

  
  


• 
  

  An advanced degree, such as an MBA, MS, or other postgrad qualification, is desirable.

  
  


• 
  

  10+ years of equivalent multi / cross functional experience

  
  

Date Posted: 05-Oct-2026

Closing Date: 18-Oct-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.