Supply Chain Director (m/f/d/)

Job Title: Supply Chain Director/ Senior Lead - Life Sciences
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Industry: Life Sciences
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Position Overview:
This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for a senior supply chain professional with a strong record of delivering results across highly regulated, fast-paced life sciences environments. The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in end-to-end (E2E) supply chain management, with demonstrated success implementing global S&OP frameworks, managing complex product launches, and leading large-scale change and transformation initiatives. In addition to functional expertise, this individual must bring exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, as well as the ability to operate seamlessly across global, cross-functional teams.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted strategic advisor and integrator, helping harmonize supply chain processes across geographies, optimize performance using Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, and deliver resilient, scalable solutions to meet the organization's current and future needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of a fully integrated, globally aligned Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, ensuring end-to-end alignment between demand planning, supply, inventory, finance, and commercial operations.

• Oversee all aspects of new product introduction (NPI) from a supply chain readiness perspective, coordinating seamlessly across regulatory, quality, manufacturing, logistics, and commercial teams to ensure operational excellence and on-time product availability in global markets.

• Play a central role in the harmonization and standardization of supply chain processes, systems, and data flows, reducing complexity and enabling scalability across regions and business units.

• Identify, lead, and embed Lean Management and/or Six Sigma initiatives to drive continuous improvement, eliminate waste, reduce variability, and enhance both service levels and cost efficiency throughout the supply chain.

• Champion and deliver change management programs, ensuring the successful adoption of new systems, tools, and processes through structured approaches to communication, training, and engagement.

• Serve as a highly effective liaison and influencer across diverse functional and geographic stakeholders, ensuring alignment of supply chain objectives with broader business priorities, and fostering an open, collaborative, and solutions-oriented culture.

• Use advanced analytics and data-driven insights to bring visibility and control to supply chain performance and risks, empowering proactive and informed decision-making at both strategic and tactical levels.

• Represent the supply chain function as a trusted voice and advisor at the executive level, contributing to enterprise-wide initiatives and shaping future-state supply chain capabilities aligned with long-term business strategy.

Candidate Profile:

• A minimum of 10 years' progressive experience in senior supply chain roles within the life sciences industry (pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or medical devices), with direct exposure to global operations and regulatory environments.

• Deep functional expertise across the end-to-end supply chain, including demand planning, procurement, production, inventory management, logistics, distribution, and supply risk mitigation.

• Proven success in designing and implementing S&OP processes across complex, matrix organizations with global footprints.

• Substantial experience leading product launch supply chain readiness, with the ability to anticipate operational challenges and deliver compliant, agile, and commercially aligned solutions.

• Demonstrated ability to lead global harmonization initiatives, streamlining processes, technology platforms, and data to improve consistency, scalability, and governance.

• Hands-on experience applying Lean Management and/or Six Sigma methodologies to optimize operations and deliver measurable improvements; certification strongly preferred.

• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate, and engage effectively with senior stakeholders across commercial, technical, regulatory, and operational domains.

• Highly collaborative and adaptable, with the confidence and emotional intelligence to navigate ambiguity, manage multiple priorities, and build trust across global, cross-functional teams.

• Strong academic background with a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MSc) or professional certification (APICS, Six Sigma, PMP) is a distinct advantage.

What the Company Offers:

• A highly visible and strategically critical role within a mission-led company committed to improving human health through innovation and science.

• The opportunity to lead global transformation in a high-growth environment, shaping the future of supply chain capability for a dynamic and purpose-driven business.

• A collaborative, empowering culture that values agility, creativity, and continuous improvement.

• A competitive base salary and bonus structure, alongside comprehensive benefits, long-term incentive opportunities, and clear pathways for personal and professional development.