VP, Direct Materials Procurement

Teva Pharmaceuticals; Haarlem; On-site; EUR 129,199 - 172,266; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Flexible working schedules

Career development programs

Job summary

Teva Pharmaceuticals in Haarlem seeks a Head of Procurement Direct Materials to lead the strategic sourcing and supplier management of over $1.5B in materials annually. The role demands a strong innovator with expertise in AI tools and the ability to lead a diverse team in a complex environment.

Ideal candidates have 20+ years of experience in direct materials sourcing, focusing on compliance and sustainability, along with excellent negotiation and leadership skills. Teva offers a dynamic culture that prioritizes wellbeing and employee development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering or related field; MBA preferred.
• 20+ years of progressive experience in direct materials sourcing with at least 5 years in pharma or biotech.
• Proven track record in leading global sourcing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead an organization managing over $1.5B in annual spend.
• Develop multiyear category strategies for cost competitiveness and innovation.
• Ensure compliance with global regulatory standards.

Skills

Expert negotiation skills

Strong leadership and change management

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Strategic thinking and storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Procurement or related field

20+ years of relevant experience

Tools

AI platforms for procurement

Job description

We Are Teva

We’re Teva, a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company enabled by a world‑class generics business. Whether it’s innovating in neuroscience, immunology or delivering high‑quality medicine worldwide, we’re dedicated to addressing patients’ needs now and in the future.

Position Summary

The Head of Procurement Direct Materials will lead the Category Strategy, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management of all direct materials valued at about $1.5B per year globally. This role drives innovation, cost efficiency, and supply assurance across global operations with a strong emphasis on leveraging AI and advanced analytics to transform procurement strategies, risk management, and supplier performance. The leader will manage a team of 45+ professionals and partner with SVPs of Quality, Engineering, R&D, and Manufacturing to ensure execution of supply strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead an organization of ~45 direct team members that manage over $1.5B in annual spend.
• Deliver year over year cost saving/PPV of an estimated 5% to achieve world class results.
• Transform the organization in alignment with the broader Global Procurement strategy, driving a digital first mindset, strategic capabilities, simplified processes and improved service and outcomes to Teva.
• Serve as an executive sponsor for critical supplier partnerships in collaboration with other Teva Senior executives.
• Lead team responsible for New Product Launch in collaboration with Supply Chain, R&D and Manufacturing.
• Business partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain and R&D leaders to manage security of supply and supplier performance.
• Develop multiyear category strategies to deliver cost competitiveness, innovation, risk mitigation and sustainability.
• Lead New Product Introduction Sourcing team to ensure right‑first‑time sourcing selection for new product launches, second sourcing, risk identification and competitive costing.
• Align procurement goals for direct materials and new products with corporate objectives including sustainability, innovation and compliance.
• Expert negotiation skillsets to manage complex relationships and outcomes with a supply base of over 500 suppliers.
• Champion the integration and use of AI tools for spend analysis, demand forecasting, supplier risk modeling and contract intelligence across the direct materials procurement team.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key suppliers to ensure quality, reliability and innovation.
• Lead supplier segmentation and performance management using AI‑enabled dashboards and KPIs.
• Monitor and implement proactive risk mitigation strategies as appropriate for each category.
• Ensure compliance with global regulatory standards (FDA, EMA, ICH, etc.).
• Build and lead a high‑performing global procurement team.
• Champion appropriate capability building, learning experiences and training for the team.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, R&D and Finance to ensure alignment and transparency in prioritization, planning and reporting.
• Strong critical thinking/problem‑solving skills to navigate ambiguous situations.
• Strategic thinking, excellent storytelling and presentation skills, cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Effective communication and strong relationship and senior stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong leadership, change management and influencing skills; decision‑making under uncertainty; proven talent management and people development capabilities (incl. coaching and mentoring); ability to create an engaging and inclusive work climate.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced and complex matrix environment.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Life Sciences or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 20+ years of progressive experience in direct materials sourcing, contracting and procurement with at least 5 years within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Proven track record of leading global sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations leading to best‑in‑class outcomes.
• Competent in using and learning Procurement or business AI platforms (e.g., Autonomous sourcing, Orchestration, contract lifecycle management, co‑pilot).
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical supply chains, processes and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and/or utilizing AI/ML tools in procurement or supply chain functions.
• Expert negotiation; experience with ESG and sustainability initiatives in supplier networks.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave, reward plans, flexible working schedules (dependent on role).
• Access to tailored health support and meaningful ways to give back to the community.
• Career development platform providing learning programs, short‑term projects and opportunities for internal growth.
• Culture that empowers you to reach your goals and prioritize wellbeing.

Teva’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commitment

Teva Pharmaceuticals is committed to equal opportunity in employment. It is Teva's global policy that equal employment opportunity be provided without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran status, national or ethnic origin or any other legally recognized status entitled to protection under applicable laws. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace for all. If you are contacted for a job opportunity, please advise us of any accommodations needed to support you throughout the recruitment and selection process. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of providing an accessible candidate experience.