Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com .
This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.
Purpose and Scope:
The Director GCO MSP Program Manager is a key advisor within the GCO responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of in-scope contracting services by the GCO on a global basis in support of Astellas’ engagement of certain third-party strategic suppliers, including Research, Preclinical, Clinical, Medical Affairs, Manufacturing, Commercial, Marketing, Professional Services, Other Indirect, and IS and Data.
This is a strategic position and is accountable for balancing development and commercial opportunities with associated legal and compliance risks in a complex and fast-evolving regulatory environment. This position is also accountable for proactively identifying and mitigating risks to the Company’s ability to achieve its corporate objectives under the Corporate Strategic Plan (“CSP”).
Essential Job Responsibilities:
Overseeing and being accountable for the overall performance, day-to-day activities, and deliverables provided by the third-party managed services provider.
Serving as a key strategic partner to business clients with respect to the delivery of the GCO’s services to help drive innovation and to further business objectives in a risk-balanced manner, taking into account the organization’s global objectives, the CSP, and all applicable legal requirements, as well as coordinating with key stakeholders as appropriate.
Developing and leading a program of strategic objectives for the GCO to help improve efficiency and productivity (the “GCO Program”) and establishing and overseeing delivery on annual roadmaps to achieve synergies across multiple GCO initiatives and to accomplish the GCO Program, and providing timely, proactive, strategic, best-in-class advice and support to ensure the GCO delivers on its objectives, utilizing knowledge of industry best practices and technology trends.
Utilizing project management best practices to provide management oversight for and successfully deliver the GCO Program, including program governance, identifying, listing, prioritizing, resourcing, and scheduling Program components, tracking progress to ensure delivery of GCO objectives and improve resourcing/resource utilization, risk and schedule management, and planned program communications.
Developing and executing on change management and transition plans to support changes delivered by the GCO Program, including changes to or expansions of the GCO’s processes or operating model.
Providing thought leadership on the use of strategic suppliers and the alternative legal service provider (ALSP) industry and maintaining an in-depth understanding of procedures and methodologies to effectively work with certain strategic suppliers.
Building and maintaining long term relationships with certain strategic suppliers, including designing and driving consistent and organized processes for working with certain strategic suppliers to support the delivery of the GCO Program, and developing a supplier rationalization plan and strategy to optimize utilization of suppliers, which may include quality, capacity, systems, and responsiveness.
Overseeing the provision of services by certain strategic suppliers, including defining scopes of work, evaluating cost/benefit analyses, identifying opportunities for savings and cost avoidance, managing budgets, handling invoices, managing change orders, keeping accurate documentation, and updating applicable tracking systems.
Utilizing leadership and management skills to oversee and monitor the work of internal and external GCO staff to ensure services are provided in a timely manner that meets high standards of quality, engaging in day-to-day communication with certain strategic suppliers and acting as the primary liaison and contact point between the certain strategic suppliers and internal team members and stakeholders, working with internal stakeholders and outsourcing partners to identify bottlenecks and drive solutions, ensuring suppliers meet communicated deadlines and quality standards and adhere to Company’s policies, and monitoring the overall success of the GCO’s programs.
Designing, managing, monitoring, and analyzing performance and developing analytical and financial reporting of suppliers including routine scorecards of agreed-upon key performance indicators and continually challenging and managing suppliers to achieve exceptional levels of performance, drive continuous improvement, and achieve cost and services improvement opportunities.
Identifying and analyzing complex issues, insights, and concepts that define the impact of the work and effectiveness of the supplier relationships and GCO operating model and developing balanced solutions, recommendations, and action plans to continuously improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Identifying, tracking, managing, and resolving issues with certain strategic suppliers, conducting performance evaluations of external suppliers to ensure they are meeting Company standards, and proactively identifying issues and emerging risks and taking swift action to resolve or escalate as appropriate.
Performing analysis of business processes, performance audits, service level agreements, and internal controls to identify and manage risks inherent in business processes and technology systems, and assessing, monitoring, documenting, and communicating regarding costs, risks and key learnings.
Devising strategies to optimize services and coordinating with analysts to identify new/improved business process opportunities.
Facilitating internal governance processes and committees, including ensuring the regular delivery of performance reports to steering committee.
Facilitating supplier governance processes and committees, including preparing for and leading business review meetings, and effectively managing supplier controls and steering as per best practices including strategic use of key performance indicators, service level agreements, and audit rights.
Communicating internally with members of the GCO and clients and stakeholders using strong communication skills to convey information clearly and in a timely manner and to answer questions effectively, including the ability to work closely with senior executives, as well as proactively listening for and following up on indirect or unspoken signals that require follow up for resolution.
Bringing responsibility and ownership to ensure that conflict resolutions and solutions are sustainable and embedded thoroughly in the GCO organization and in certain strategic suppliers who are part of the GCO operating model.
Developing a culture of engagement and collaboration between Company and certain strategic suppliers to create a positive environment where employees and external staff feel valued and motivated to work hard, including implementation of programs and initiatives that encourage collaboration and communication among team members
Regularly communicating with business clients to understand current business priorities and projects in the pipeline and to resolve issues in a timely manner.
Regularly communicating with Procurement Sourcing Category Managers to understand Procurement’s category management strategy, anticipated challenges, and to ensure the GCO and Procurement effectively collaborate to accomplish joint objectives.
Engaging with certain strategic suppliers and internal subject matter experts on escalations of specific contracting issues and ensuring the GCO captures knowledge to continuously improve templates and playbooks and to minimize future escalations.
Serving as key point of escalation for business clients on matters relating to the provision of services by certain strategic suppliers and as a key representative for the GCO in the wider business, building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
Supporting a culture of continuous improvement across the end-to-end process from Source to Contract to Purchase via effective collaboration with Procurement, GBS and Finance.
Leading a legal culture of excellence in his/her team, which includes driving and fostering: (1) an agile, adaptive culture; (2) a value-based organization based on Legal’s Mission and objectives; (3) a culture of innovation, transparency and trust; (4) proactive identification/mitigation of risk in a balanced approach; (5) empowerment and engagement of the team members; (6) a collaborative culture with close coordination with other members of Legal and IP as appropriate to leverage synergies and efficiencies; (7) a culture of compliance and good corporate governance; and (8) a continuous expectation of high performance, where “ok” is not good enough.
Leading other projects as may be requested by GCO Lead, Legal Governance, Corporate Strategy and Administration Head or General Counsel.
Overnight travel, including international travel, as needed.
Organizational Context:
GCO Program Manager reports to the GCO Lead.
Provides the full range of supplier and program management support for the Global Contracting Office (“GCO”) globally.
Works closely, collaborates and coordinates with Global Procurement, including Procurement Operations Excellence and Procurement category leaders.
Qualifications:
Required
Legal background or contracting expertise.
Bachelor’s Degree is required, preferred if in business administration, management or a related field or a healthcare-related discipline, life sciences, or law.
At least 7-10 years of experience successfully managing suppliers, external teams, or outsourced projects, preferably in the pharmaceutical industry.
Solid experience and knowledge of best practices relating to the contracting source-to-pay process and contract negotiation matters.
Strong ability to grasp issues quickly, exhibit strong analytical problem solving and decision-making skills, exercise sound judgment and provide practical and constructive advice.
Strong negotiation and communication skills (both oral and written). Ability to communicate issues in a clear and understandable manner. Inspires trust and confidence through effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong work ethic and ability to manage large workload, multi-task and focus on critical priorities and otherwise effectively meet client needs. Ability to produce high-quality work under deadline pressures.
Passionate about achieving quality results and comfortable in a dynamic work environment where there are many changes and iterations for continuous improvement.
Team player and able to build relationships both internally and externally.
Strong organizational and teamwork skills. Detail-oriented, self-motivated and able to motivate others.
A strong commitment to integrity and professionalism and demonstrated passion for excellence.
Fluent communication capability in English.
Benefits:
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks
401(k) match and annual company contribution
Company paid life insurance
Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
Referral bonus program
Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans.
*LI-CH1
Category Legal Governance, Corporate Strategy and Administration
Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.
EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans