Spare part & Storage engineer

About the job

Sanofi has decided to invest into a new large state-of-the art facility for Insulin Drug Substance in Beijing, China. For this green field operation, we’re enhancing our legacy of excellence and build on decades of expertise on the whole value chain of insulin manufacturing. The new facility will be designed as a fully automated, green, modern, and state-of-the-art biologics facility. A large global and highly cross-functional program organization will be established to lead and execute the program until commercial routine manufacturing.As a Spare Part & storage engineer, you will be responsible for optimizing our spare parts operations to support uninterrupted production of essential pharmaceutical products. This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on patient care by ensuring our manufacturing equipment operates at peak efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of pharmaceutical compliance. After project phase the position will move into local organization.

Meet Katrin, our Global Program Leader, and discover how we’re transforming insulin production. Watch now!

Main Responsibilities

Inventory Management

• Establish, maintain and optimize spare parts inventory for each equipment regarding spare part strategy

• Define minimum/maximum stock levels based on criticality, usage history, lead time and risk assessment

• Ensure accurate inventory records in CMMS/ERP system (SAP)

• Monitor obsolete, slow moving and expired spare parts and recommend disposition strategies

Storage Strategy & Warehousing

• Design and implement storage strategies ensuring efficient space utilization and easy access

• Ensure proper storage conditions in compliance with GMP and supplier recommendations

• Define labelling, shelving, binning and segregation standards for spare parts

• Implement FIFO/FEFO principles where applicable

• Ensure ESD, corrosion prevention and special storage requirements for sensitive components

• Ensure digital incoming goods registration with QR-coding or bar coding

​Compliance & Quality

• Ensure spare parts storage and handling comply with GMP, GDP, EHS and internal quality standards

• Support audits and inspections (internal, regulatory and supplier) related to spare parts management

• Develop and maintain SOPs, work instructions and documentation related to inventory and storage

• Close collaboration with QA on change control, deviation management and risk assessments related to spare parts

• Collaborate with automation and digital teams for integration of Smart Instrumentation and IoT devices

• Contribute to site historian parameterization

Supplier & Procurement Coordination

• Work closely with procurement to optimize supplier selection

• Support qualification of spare parts suppliers

• Identify opportunities for vendor-managed inventory or consignment stock

• Review technical specifications to ensure spare parts meet equipment and regulatory requirements

• Continuous Improvement & Cost Optimization

• Identify opportunities to reduce inventory carrying costs without compromising equipment reliability

• Standardize spare parts across equipment where feasible

• Support maintenance reliability initiatives by ensuring availability of critical spare parts

• Use KPIs (stock turnover, service level, stock-outs, inventory value) to drive continuous improvement

About you

Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or related field) or Supply Chain Management

• Experience: Minimum 5-7 years of experience in spare parts management, inventory control, or maintenance operations in pharmaceutical manufacturing environments

• GMP/GDP Knowledge: Essential understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Distribution Practices in pharmaceutical industry

• Regulatory Compliance: Proven experience with regulatory compliance requirements in pharmaceutical manufacturing

• ERP Systems: Strong proficiency in SAP for inventory and procurement management (SAP experience specifically required)

• EHS Standards: Knowledge of Environmental, Health & Safety standards and their application in pharmaceutical operations

• Digital Systems: Experience with digital systems integration and IoT device implementation

• Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of industrial equipment, mechanical systems, and maintenance practices in regulated environments

• Analytical Skills: Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities with experience in data analysis and reporting tools

Desired Skills & Competencies:

• Project Management: Experience leading cross-functional projects and process improvement initiatives

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to influence stakeholders at all levels

• Negotiation: Strong negotiation skills for vendor management and contract optimization

• Problem-Solving: Proactive approach to identifying and resolving operational challenges

• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners

• Continuous Improvement: Mindset focused on operational excellence and process optimization

• Languages: English (Project language), Chinese, German is a plus