Director, Supplier Development

AstraZeneca; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 145,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentives

Equity-based awards

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Qualified retirement programs

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking a Director, Supplier Development to elevate supplier performance for cell therapy initiatives in Gaithersburg, MD (or Santa Monica, CA). You will lead supplier evaluations, develop improvement plans, and collaborate with Technical, Quality & Regulatory teams to ensure quality, delivery, and cost targets.

The role requires extensive experience in supply chain, CMC, and manufacturing within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with leadership responsibilities and strong

Qualifications

• Minimum of combined 7 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain management, and process development in pharma/biotech.
• Degree in Science, Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree highly desirable.
• Experience in CMC, process development, and/or manufacturing required.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a risk model to reduce supply disruptions ahead of launch and forecast demand for cell therapy portfolio.
• Conduct supplier evaluations against quality, delivery, cost, sustainability, and compliance metrics.
• Develop customized improvement plans for suppliers with goals, timelines, and actions to address quality and cost issues.
• Monitor supplier performance and take corrective actions to maintain targets.
• Collaborate with Technical, Quality & Regulatory teams to identify priority supplier development needs.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean/Six Sigma or similar programs.
• Identify and mitigate risks in the supplier base, including geopolitical and quality issues.
• Maintain communication with Senior Leadership to align supplier development strategies.

Skills

Supply chain management

Supplier development

CMC

Quality control

Data analysis

Project management

Communication

Regulatory knowledge

Education

BA/BS in Science, Business, or related

MA/MS in related field

PhD (advantageous)

Tools

Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Cell Therapy is one of the key areas of the business where AstraZeneca's is investing significantly to achieve its bold ambition to become a $80B organization. The Director, Supplier Development will be responsible for strategically improving the performance and capabilities of a company's supplier base by identifying areas for improvement, implementing development plans, and monitoring progress to ensure consistent quality, delivery, and cost efficiency across all suppliers, often collaborating closely with procurement teams to achieve optimal supply chain results. You will report to the Senior Director, Sourcing & Procurement and may be based in Gaithersburg, MD, or Santa Monica, CA.

Essential Functions And Accountabilities

• Design and implement a risk model that will reduce any potential supply disruption ahead of launch and demand forecast for the Cell Therapy Portfolio. Strategically evaluate N-2 Supply Chain suppliers to be incorporated at the portfolio risk profile.
• Supplier Evaluation and Assessment: Conduct thorough evaluations of existing suppliers, assessing their performance against key metrics like quality, delivery time, cost, sustainability and compliance with company standards to identify areas for improvement.
• Development Plans Creation: Develop customized improvement plans for individual suppliers based on their identified weaknesses, including specific goals, timelines, and action steps to address quality issues, cost reduction opportunities, and process optimization.
• Supplier Performance Monitoring: Regularly track supplier performance against established metrics, identifying trends and potential risks, and taking corrective actions when necessary to maintain desired performance levels.
• Collaboration with Technical, Quality & regulatory teams: Work closely with these teams to identify priority segments/categories where suppliers will need to be developed to ensure continuous supply and better COGS.
• Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Lead and participate in continuous improvement activities within the supplier base, such as implementing Lean methodologies, Six Sigma practices, or other quality improvement program.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with the supplier base, including supply chain disruptions, geopolitical instability, and quality issues.
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain effective communication with internal stakeholders, including Senior Leadership to ensure alignment on supplier development strategies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Support leadership and change management of a growing supply chain organization. Other responsibilities as needed.
• Build and lead a high-performing supplier development, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to drive individual and collective success.

Education And Experience

• A minimum of 7 years' experience with BA/BS, or 5 years with MA/MS, or 3 years with PhD.
• Degree in Science, Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree highly desirable.
• Minimum of combined 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain management, and process development preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. Specific experience in cell therapy highly desirable.
• Experience in CMC, process development, and/or manufacturing required.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong understanding of supply chain management principles and best practices
• Proven experience in supplier development, performance management, CMC and quality control
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to identify root causes of supplier issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Project management skills to develop and execute supplier improvement plans.
• Knowledge of relevant quality standards and regulations
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting to track supplier performance.

CellTherapy

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $145K to $218K. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Date Posted

23-Sep-2026

Closing Date

30-Sep-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.