Head of Supply Chain

As the Head of Supply Chain, you will hold enterprise-wide accountability for the strategic design, optimisation, and execution of our end-to-end supply chain. Operating in a highly regulated and rapidly evolving market, this senior leadership role requires a rare balance of strategic vision and operational discipline. You will be responsible for transforming our current planning frameworks into a mature, data-driven Integrated Business Planning (IBP) model, ensuring seamless alignment between commercial demand, manufacturing capacity, and financial objectives. By establishing robust data governance, scaling our logistics infrastructure, and building a resilient, compliant operational spine, you will directly enable the business to maintain cost-competitiveness and expand its market reach.

In vaccine manufacturing, supply chain efficiency directly influences patient outcomes. Managing lead times, securing raw materials, and eliminating production bottlenecks are the mechanisms that prevent shortages. If you are looking for a leadership opportunity where you can combine rigorous operational mastery with a clear, tangible sense of mission, this role provides the platform to do both.

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Life Sciences or Business,
• Relevant business management qualification.

NECESSARY EXPERIENCE & INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

• Minimum of 8 - 10 years in a senior supply chain or operational role specifically within a GMP-regulated (Good Manufacturing Practice) pharmaceutical environment
• At least 5 years’ experience at senior management level.
• Operational experience within a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility (preferred/ advantageous)
• Experience in quality and regulatory compliance within a cGMP facility.
• Business and operational planning including experience with an ERP system
• Experience in managing strategic suppliers/partners
• Experience in having faced successfully local and/ or international quality audits.
• Experience in developing a departmental budget and monitoring expenditures for multiple projects & funding sources.

Experience

IBP / S&OP Implementation

• Proven track record of designing, standing up, or significantly maturing an Integrated Business Planning (IBP) framework that successfully linked commercial volumes to financial values.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Direct experience managing the supply chain mechanics of drug launches, post-approval variations, and artwork transitions under regulatory oversight.

Turnaround & Scaling

• Experience in building supply chain teams, mapping process improvements, and scaling infrastructure in a high-growth or high change environment.

ERP Planning Execution

• Direct & proven experience in a core planning or scheduling role utilising an enterprise ERP system. You must have personal experience managing material requirements planning (MRP), production scheduling, or demand forecasting within a structured system, rather than just overseeing teams who use them.

Skills

Supply Chain Finance

• A strong grasp of supply chain financial dynamics, including the ability to confidently manage operational budgets, balance inventory targets against working capital constraints, and translate physical volumes into financial value projections.

Costed Scenario Development

• The ability to construct dynamic alternative scenarios (e.g., supply disruptions, sudden demand spikes, or margin fluctuations) and quantify their financial impacts to provide clear, actionable business recommendations.

Regulatory Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of local and international pharmaceutical regulatory frameworks as they apply to sourcing, cold chain logistics, and quality preferred

Decision-Driven Systems Procurement

• The ability to map specific enterprise business decisions to IT requirements, evaluating ERP and planning software based on functional fit rather than vendor features.

Cross-Functional Influence

• Exceptional leadership capability to drive horizontal collaboration across traditionally siloed departments (Commercial, Operations, and Finance) under a single set of numbers.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

Strategic Supply Chain Leadership

• Develop and implement supply chain strategies aligned with business goals and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, Lead and optimise the Integrated Business Planning processes to ensure alignment between demand, supply, and financial planning.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to ensure seamless product flow.

Planning and Forecasting

• Oversee demand forecasting and production planning for 5–10 sterile pharmaceutical products.
• Ensure optimal inventory levels across both manufacturing sites and distribution channels.

Procurement and Supplier Management

• Manage strategic sourcing and supplier relationships for raw materials, packaging, and services.
• Ensure supplier compliance with GMP and quality standards.

Warehousing and Logistics

• Oversee warehousing operations at both manufacturing sites, ensuring GMP compliance and inventory accuracy.
• Manage distribution logistics across African markets, including cold chain and controlled substances where applicable.

Launch and Change Management

• Launch readiness & pipeline visibility.
• Sourcing and raw/bulk material De-risking.
• Inventory run-down / Phase-in optimization.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure supply chain operations comply with regulatory requirements (e.g., SAHPRA, WHO, FDA).
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks including disruptions, shortages, and regulatory changes.

Technology and Process Improvement

• Drive digital transformation and automation initiatives across the supply chain.

Application Deadline: 14 August 2026

If you do not receive a response from us within three weeks of submitting your application, please understand that your application was not successful.