Introduction to Role:

The Associate Director Global Brand Planner plays a key role in the Alexion Supply Chain, driving the optimization and supply oversight of the end-to-end (E2E) supply planning process within the tactical horizon for identified brands.

This role is accountable for the comprehensive E2E tactical brand plan (0-3yrs) across all Supply Chain nodes, leading the brand's top-line performance, including key metrics such as service levels, cost efficiency, and inventory management.

This role leads the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process for the brand, driving cross-functional collaboration to review and align E2E demand, supply, and inventory plans. This includes making strategic trade-off decisions to address any existing imbalances and ensuring alignment with overarching business objectives.

Additionally, this role will be the functions super user for advanced planning systems (OMP), setting the strategic direction for system design and requirements to enable an integrated planning model. The role will interact with IT, Business Process Owners and delivery partners, aligning enhancements to business priorities and compliance requirements adopting best-practice standards, and enablement to drive adoption and performance.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, life cycle management and process improvement in the pharmaceutical industry.

Key Responsibilities:

· E2E brand supply ownership: Lead the end-to-end supply chain design and execution for assigned brands.

· Tactical horizon planning (0–3 years): Own the E-E supply plan in the tactical horizon (0-3yrs) across all supply nodes (internal sites and external manufacturing), balancing service, cost, and inventory while safeguarding continuity of supply for patients.

· Brand S&OP leadership: Manage the brand’s global S&OP cycle, integrating demand, supply, and inventory plans. Drive cross-functional consensus and make data-backed trade-off decisions to resolve imbalances across demand, capacity, and supply.

· S&OE and scenario management: Oversee brand-specific S&OE forums and deploying scenario planning to anticipate and mitigate risk (e.g., yield variability, batch release timelines, regulatory events).

· Inventory strategy and policy governance: Define Brand inventory strategies (safety stock, target MOH) considering lead times, batch sizes, shelf-life, and QA/QC release etc.

· Issue resolution and continuity of supply: Lead cross-functional rapid response to supply disruptions, quality events, or forecast volatility, coordinating with QA, Regulatory, EMs, and Logistics to implement root-cause actions and recovery plans.

· Budgeting and financial integration: Own the brand global supply plan for annual budgeting and LRP, aligning volume plans, sourcing strategies, and inventory design with financial targets and cost-to-serve objectives.

· Brand performance management: Establish and report on critical brand KPIs—service level, backlog, OTIF, inventory value/MOH, write-offs,with clear governance, analytics, and continuous improvement actions.

· Lifecycle and portfolio management: Integrate LCM Activities into supply strategies, including dual sourcing, tech transfers etc. to protect patient supply.

· Stakeholder leadership: Build and influence strong relationships across Commercial Supply chain, Finance, Product Management, Quality, Regulatory, Tech Ops, External Manufacturing, and Global Logistics to enable optimal supply execution.

· Representation in product teams: Serve as the supply planning voice within the Global Operations Product Team, linking product strategy, network capability, and regulatory constraints to deliver resilient supply.

· Advanced Planning system - Release Management and Testing: Leads planning execution of APS enhancement releases, including testing, UAT and sign off. Ensures cutover readiness, coordinates critical issue resolution, manages defect and change logs, and communicates release impacts to key stakeholders.

· Advanced Planning system - Training and Capability Building: Designs and delivers role-based training, quick reference materials. Establishes a super-user community, provides ongoing coaching, and tracks adoption and proficiency to embed best practices.

· Advanced Planning system - Process Design and Implementation Deployment: Defines and documents end-to-end supply planning processes linked to OMP (e.g., S&OE/S&OP, inventory, constrained planning, allocation, scenario planning). Translates business requirements into solution design; partners with IT and integrators to plan and execute deployments across regions.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor's degree in business, operations management, or a related field.

· 10+ years of experience in supply chain management.

· 5+ years in APS release management and testing, with hands-on UAT leadership and exposure to validated environments; familiarity with OMP or Kinaxis preferred.

· Required experience: 3–5+ years developing and delivering training for supply planning tools; proven change management experience and facilitation skills across global user groups.

· Proven track record in pharmaceutical supply chain, Pharmaceutical Brand Planning, Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), demand and supply planning.

· Strong understanding of pharmaceutical supply chain, inventory management principles, regulatory requirements.

· Experience in implementing and optimizing supply chain technologies and planning systems (e.g., ERP, advanced planning systems)

· Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.

· Advanced problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, with a data-driven approach to operational excellence.

Date Posted

02-Mar-2026

Closing Date

15-Mar-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

Associate Director Global Brand Planner

Job Description