Distribution Lead, Ireland Marketing Company

Location: Dublin, Ireland (Office based)

Competitive salary & excellent company benefits

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

Business Area

We’re the global team that helps to make excellence and breakthroughs possible. Here, you can apply your skills and abilities to genuinely impact patients’ lives. Join at an exciting time of growth through innovation for AstraZeneca. Shape this journey by reimagining the way we work, at every turn we’re innovating and taking intelligent risks. We do this to steer the enterprise – powering every function to run faster, more efficiently, and achieve more.

Every single person plays a part in our story – speak up, take the initiative and make it yours.

What you’ll do

You will lead the distribution function in the Ireland Marketing Company, ensuring delivery of key scorecard objectives, in compliance to Good Distribution Practice (GDP) / Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. You will work closely with all areas of the business to ensure forecast accuracy with brand teams, operations and finance. You will also develop and manage relationships with third-party distributors, key internal and external stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and value to the business. As well as ensure quality assurance requirements are considered and met.

Your accountabilities will include:

Distribution / Supply Chain Management

• Key point of contact and liaison with external distributors on product supply and managing the stock ordering process, stock cover and queries which arise, ensuring distributors are authorised to conduct business with AZ products.

• Support to business with stock accuracy ambition and stock forecasting KPI’s in order to drive continuous improvements for scorecard objectives. Gather and share market intelligence with business counterparts. Ensure high forecast accuracy which involves strong collaboration with internal AZ stakeholders.

• Manage the Quota Management System (QMS) for Ireland working closely with Commercial Supply Chain team and understanding and communicating changes to parallel trade dynamics in the market.

• Product range management including close involvement in new product launches, lead for acquisitions/divestments, product shortages, switches or discontinuations as well as planning for how we handle v4cast forecasting and supply when generic competition enters the market.

• Continuous improvements of supply processes with AZ operations to minimise stock write offs, ensure product availability and ensure a strong communication strategy.  

• Play a key role in supporting teams during S&OP / Demand planning / V4Cast and other meetings.

• Reviewing and finalising quality assurance agreements with manufacturing sites as required. Responsible for driving the review of and finalisation of quality assurance agreement(s) in place with external distributor including liaising with internal colleagues as applicable.

• Ensuring correct and accurate completion and supply of documentation to external distributor to ensure new products and existing products with amendments are received without delay.

• Working cross-functionally with internal colleagues in AstraZeneca Sweden to ensure quality assurance requirements are met, ensuring license compliance.

GDP / GMP Lead

• Designs and implements systems and processes to ensure compliance to current Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Distribution Practices and ensuring that problems are dealt with as they arise.

• Managing information management taking into account packaging – provision of market approved artwork/label.

• Managing product supply and distribution activities including, qualification of customers, change management, product shortages and physician samples.

• Responsible to handle post marketing surveillance establishing process for recalls and issue management team (IMT), returned materials/goods, destruction of obsolete goods, product quality review and regulatory reviews.

• Ensure and monitor compliance by team members and third parties by; 

  • Positively reinforcing the Code of Conduct and all relevant AstraZeneca Policies and SOPs

  • Ensuring completion of all required training

  • Fostering a culture of openness in which employees are comfortable raising Quality questions or concerns and take action to bridge GDP/GMP quality gaps

  • Immediately addressing and reporting in the quality system, as appropriate, instances of non-compliance & Implement (CAPA) Corrective action & preventive actions

• Conduct regular meetings with GXP lead and/or other quality leads where appropriate to discuss GDP/GMP quality issues & agree on corrective actions and ensure this is discussed in management review meetings.

• Lead quality risk management activities including identification of compliance gaps and development of plans to resolve and mitigate risks, escalating where necessary.

• Support audits and inspections as required.

• Monitoring internal/external factors such as emerging regulations, legislation changes etc.

Essential for the role

• Degree or equivalent professional level qualification in business / operations

• Comprehensive understanding of and experience in corporate governance, risk management and compliance

• Experience in quality assurance within the pharmaceutical sector

• Proven leadership and project management / implementation experience record.

• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills are required

• Results & process oriented, focusing on process improvements to drive higher levels of performance

• Significant cross-functional leadership capabilities - ability to lead, collaborate and influence without authority; uses informal structure, dynamics, and culture to get things done

Desirable for the role

• Educational qualification / certification in supply chain management

• Managerial experience in supply chain management of a pharmaceutical company

• Managerial experience of working with a health authority / regulatory body

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you. Please apply by submitting your CV by 10th September 2021.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram  

Date Posted

27-Aug-2021

Closing Date

10-Sep-2021

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.