Commercial Director

PCO Pharma Group; Ashbourne; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

PCO Manufacturing Ltd in Ireland (Ashbourne, Co Dublin) is seeking an experienced Commercial Director to lead the group's commercial strategy across Irish and UK pharmaceutical wholesale sectors.

The role oversees purchasing, supplier partnerships, high-value negotiations, pricing strategies, and customer relationships, ensuring regulatory compliance and patient safety. You will report to the Senior Leadership Team and drive sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Pharmacy, Supply Chain, Commerce, or related field.
• Senior commercial leadership experience in pharma/healthcare or pharma wholesale.
• Proven track record in high-value procurement and supplier negotiations.
• Strong financial forecasting, budgeting, and P&L management.
• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical supply chains and regulatory risk.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary executive teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the commercial strategy and drive sustainable growth.
• Oversee purchasing, supplier partnerships, and high-value negotiations.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with HPRA, EMA, GDP and GMP.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Quality, Finance and Regulatory.
• Mentor and develop commercial and procurement teams.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial Strategy

Procurement

Financial Forecasting

Supply Chain

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor Degree in Business/Pharmacy/Supply Chain/Commerce

Job description

Location: Ireland (Ashbourne, Co Dublin)

Company: PCO Manufacturing Ltd

Website: www.pco.ie| LinkedIn

About PCO Manufacturing

Established in 1986, PCO Manufacturing Ltd is the market-leading parallel importer of pharmaceutical products into Ireland. We source high-quality medicines from a trusted network of authorized wholesalers across Ireland and the European Union. Supplying nearly 95% of Irish retail pharmacies—as well as the HSE and private hospitals—we hold the highest market penetration of any pharmaceutical wholesaler in Ireland.

The Opportunity

As PCO Manufacturing celebrates 40 years of success, we are entering an exciting growth phase and seeking an experienced Commercial Director to join our Senior Leadership Team.

The Commercial Director will take full ownership of our commercial strategy, driving sustainable growth, profitability, and market leadership across the Irish and UK pharmaceutical wholesale sectors. Overseeing purchasing, supplier partnerships, high-value negotiations, pricing strategies, and key customer relationships, this role bridges commercial opportunity with full regulatory compliance and patient safety.

Working closely with Operations, Quality, Finance, and Regulatory Affairs, the Commercial Director will help shape our corporate direction, strengthen supply chain resilience, and cultivate high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Growth

• Formulate and execute a overarching commercial strategy aligned with corporate growth targets.
• Identify and capitalize on market opportunities to boost revenue, expand margins, and increase market share.
• Analyse industry trends, competitor activities, and market demand to inform strategic decision-making.
• Oversee annual commercial planning, financial budgeting, forecasting, and regular performance reviews.
• Drive innovation in customer propositions, product offerings, and service delivery.

Sales & Customer Strategy

• Direct commercial relationships across Irish and UK markets, supporting growth across independent and retail pharmacy chains.
• Oversee key account management and high-level customer contract negotiations.
• Establish strategic pricing models that balance competitiveness with optimal profitability.
• Partner with the Sales team to improve customer retention, unlock new target market segments, and maximize customer lifetime value.

Purchasing & Procurement Strategy

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing across European markets to ensure supply chain resilience.
• Oversee supplier selection, onboarding, performance evaluation, and relationship management.
• Negotiate high-value supply agreements, pricing structures, rebates, and commercial contracts.
• Build robust, long-term partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers and European wholesalers.
• Proactively manage supplier risk, establish contingency sourcing models for critical medicine shortages, and ensure continuity of supply.
• Monitor EU pricing developments and work in tight alignment with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to ensure full compliance with HPRA, EMA, GDP, and GMP guidelines.

Commercial Performance & Financial Oversight

• Deliver against primary commercial KPIs: revenue growth, gross margins, supplier performance, and customer profitability.
• Partner with Operations to optimize inventory levels and balance cash flow with stock availability.
• Design and implement actionable commercial dashboards for clear reporting to executive leadership.
• Perform ongoing financial monitoring and implement immediate corrective strategies where needed.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and build capability across the commercial and procurement teams.
• Foster a high-performance, accountable culture focused on continuous improvement.
• Promote seamless cross-functional collaboration across Sales, Operations, Finance, and Regulatory teams.
• Serve as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to overall corporate strategy, transformation initiatives, risk management, board-level reporting, and culture.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Pharmacy, Supply Chain, Commerce, or a related field.
• Leadership: Proven track record in a senior commercial leadership role within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or pharma wholesale sector.
• Commercial Expertise: Extensive experience in high-value procurement, international supplier negotiations, and complex commercial strategy execution.
• Financial Acumen: Strong expertise in financial forecasting, commercial budgeting, and P&L management.
• Supply Chain: In-depth understanding of pharmaceutical supply chains, international trade, and commercial risk mitigation.
• Team Leadership: Experience managing and developing multidisciplinary teams at the executive or Senior Leadership Team level.

Desirable Criteria

• MBA or relevant master’s/postgraduate qualification.
• Direct experience operating within the Irish and European pharmaceutical regulatory landscapes.
• Familiarity with HPRA, EMA, Good Distribution Practice (GDP), and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.
• Background in managing medicine shortages, parallel import logistics, and complex European procurement channels.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate will be a strategic, commercially astute leader who combines deep pharmaceutical market knowledge with outstanding negotiation and relationship-building skills. You bring the authority and vision necessary to navigate market dynamics, ensure regulatory excellence, drive long-term profitability, and inspire teams across the organisation.