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Job Description

Role Summary

The Associate Director, Master Production Planning is responsible for translating global supply strategies into an integrated, feasible, and optimized master production schedule (MPS) across the internal and external manufacturing network. This role acts as the primary conduit between Global Network Planning and Site Supply Chain Planning, ensuring that long‑range strategies and demand signals convert into executable and stable production plans.

The role governs planning outside and inside the 4‑month planning time fence, driving proactive risk mitigation in the 6–24‑month horizon and protecting execution stability within the frozen window.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global‑to‑Site Planning Integration

Translate global demand signals, inventory policies, and supply network strategies into feasible, detailed site‑level production schedules.
Lead integration between Global Network Planning and Site Planning teams to ensure alignment on feasibility, constraints, and assumptions.
Reconcile the Global Supply Plan (GSP) with Site Rough‑Cut Capacity Plans (RCCP), resolving discrepancies prior to execution.

2. Master Production Scheduling (MPS) Leadership

Own and govern the 24‑month master production schedule for DS, DP, and FG across internal and external manufacturing nodes.
Build batch sequences, production cycles, campaign structures, and capacity allocations.
Ensure MPS stability within the 4‑month frozen window while enabling appropriate agility outside it.
Lead scenario modeling and recommend adjustments in response to supply risks, capacity shifts, regulatory changes, and demand variability.

3. Planning Outside the 4‑Month Time Fence (Owning the 6–24‑Month Horizon)

The Associate Director governs all planning activities beyond the 4‑month frozen/planning time fence, ensuring feasibility and alignment well ahead of execution.

Responsibilities include:

Owning the 6–24‑month unconstrained planning horizon, translating global strategies into forward‑looking production plans.
Conducting advanced long‑range capacity modeling to identify constraints, maintenance windows, QC load, labor availability, and network balancing needs.
Running structured scenario analyses for launch acceleration, demand shifts, supply disruptions, regulatory changes, and market expansions.
Driving early alignment between Global Network Planners and Site Planners to validate assumptions and address issues before the frozen zone.
Partnering with Procurement and Materials teams to confirm long‑lead material readiness and supplier feasibility.
Validating feasibility for lifecycle initiatives such as tech transfers, new SKUs, artwork/label updates, and new market entries.
Leading long‑range planning forums with Global Planning, Site Planning, External Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Technical Operations.
Identifying long‑range risks and establishing mitigation strategies ahead of the 4‑month window.

4. Planning Time Fence Governance (4‑Month Frozen Window)

Maintain governance for all plan changes within the 4‑month frozen window.
Ensure major planning decisions (campaign timing, capacity adjustments, material commitments) are resolved before entering the frozen horizon.
Protect execution stability by minimizing late changes and deviations within the fixed window.
Manage any required exceptions through established supply governance forums.

5. Internal Manufacturing & Network Coordination

Serve as the central planning interface to internal manufacturing sites, ensuring alignment between global supply strategies and site‑level operational plans.
Partner closely with internal Site Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, and Master Scheduling teams to confirm production feasibility, capacity availability, and alignment with maintenance, labor, and equipment constraints.
Coordinate with internal network governance to ensure synchronized DS, DP, and FG flows across internal nodes.
Monitor schedule adherence at internal sites, capturing deviations, understanding drivers, and ensuring timely corrective actions.
Provide internal manufacturing sites with 6–24‑month long‑range visibility to support staffing plans, capital/asset planning, material readiness, and QA/QC workload forecasting.

6. External Manufacturing & Network Coordination

Serve as the central planning interface to the Global External Manufacturing (GEM) organization, ensuring aligned communication of production needs, capacity requirements, and schedule assumptions.
Partner with GEM to validate slot reservations, campaign timing, yield expectations, testing sequences, and release timelines across the external network.
Collaborate with GEM to maintain synchronized production calendars and ensure visibility across DS, DP, and FG flows.
Monitor schedule adherence and network performance through GEM, supporting proactive escalation and issue resolution.
Provide GEM with 6–24‑month long‑range visibility to enable proactive contracting, supplier readiness, and risk mitigation.

7. Inventory, Materials, and Lifecycle Integration

Align MPS with material availability, safety stock policies, and procurement strategies.
Support lifecycle readiness including artwork changes, regulatory updates, tech transfers, and market expansions.
Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support service targets while minimizing E&O exposure and working capital.

8. Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

Track and report KPIs including:
- MPS attainment
- Schedule adherence across internal and external nodes
- Capacity utilization
- Supply reliability / OTIF
- Inventory health
Ensure adherence to Plan Stability and Performance‑to‑Plan metrics, and manage any exceptions diligently through established governance processes.
Partner with Digital/IT teams to improve planning tool capabilities (SAP, IBP, OMP, Kinaxis) and data quality.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning discipline, cycle time reduction, and cross‑functional integration.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field.
Extensive experience in biopharmaceutical supply chain planning experience, with strong exposure to network and site planning.
Deep understanding of GMP operations, internal and external manufacturing, batch‑based production, and global distribution flows.
Proficiency with ERP and advanced planning systems (SAP, IBP, OMP, Kinaxis).
Strong influencing skills across global, matrixed organizations.

Preferred

APICS CPIM/CSCP certification or MBA.
Experience with commercial biologics or sterile injectables.
Experience with S&OP/S&OE processes and supply governance frameworks.

Key Capabilities

Strong ability to translate strategy into executable plans.
Excellent communication, alignment, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Highly analytical with advanced scenario planning capability.
Effective at navigating complex networks and competing priorities.
Calm, structured, and decisive during supply escalations.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

It is the policy of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "Gilead" or the "Company") to recruit select and employ the most qualified persons available for positions throughout the Company. Except if otherwise provided by applicable law, all employment actions relating to issues such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, returns from layoffs, company-sponsored training, education assistance, social and recreational programs are administered on a non-discriminatory basis (i.e. without regard to protected characteristics or prohibited grounds, which may include an individual’s gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, veteran status, and age, unless such protection is prohibited by federal, state, municipal, provincial, local or other applicable laws). Gilead also prohibits discrimination based on any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.

Assoc Director, Master Production Planner

Job Description