Procurement Opella External Manufacturing, Head of Strategic Sourcing

About the job

At Opella, we have one overarching mission - to work passionately, challenging ourselves and our industry every day, to drive what we believe is the next health revolution: evolving from simply serving consumers, to helping people help themselves - bringing “Health in Your Hands”.

We are building trusted & loved brands that connect with hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide, enabling better self-care for individuals and communities, while also contributing to a healthier planet. To fulfill this mission, we are embarking our consumers, our customers, healthcare professionals, and our employees in this journey because this is what will make us become the “Best Fast Moving Consumer Healthcare (FMCH) Company In & For the World”.

Consumers at the heart of everything we do and we want to make a difference where it counts, driving leadership in the categories we play in: Allergy, Digestive Wellness, Pain, Physical & Mental Wellness, and Cough, Cold & Flu.

To achieve this, we need strong talents who will help us shape the future of our Consumer Healthcare business and challenge our industry. We aspire to create a work environment where people can thrive, grow, and be at their best every day. We believe in operating with integrity and prioritizing the health and well-being of people and communities where we operate, working towards making a positive impact in the world.

More recently, Sanofi announced in October 2023 its intention to separate its CHC business. Sanofi is reviewing potential separation scenarios but believes that the most likely path would be through a capital markets transaction, at the earliest in Q4 2024, and by creating a listed entity headquartered in France.

Our Team:

Opella Global procurement team is a key contributor to Opella’s financial results, bringing savings year on year and improving the working capital with driving the cash journey.

Opella External Manufacturing Procurement is a key contributor to top line while sourcing externally complementary products in line with brands expectations and innovation ambition. Meanwhile and as part of the Financial Leadership Team, EM procurement goal is to create VALUE across the board for the organisation optimizing the Total Cost of Ownership and improving the bottom up with an End-to-End view.

At Opella,we are currently in search of a Head of Global Strategic Sourcing – External Manufacturing Procurement, who will be accountable for building our global EM sourcing strategy with internal stakeholders and leading operations that build value driven vendor partnerships focusing on risk management, reliability & cost effectiveness to support our priority brands.

Within Opella Global Procurement Leadership Team – Head of Global Procurement for External Manufacturing leverage IN and OUT while driving sustainable & profitable growth, fostering collaborative relationship and optimizing sourcing options.

Head of Global Strategic Sourcing – External Manufacturing Procurement reports to Head of Global Procurement for External Manufacturing.

Main responsibilities:

Acting as Procurement, means driving End to End efficiency not limited to savings and contract negotiation but also including innovation from external partners to bring competitive advantage to Opella.

Head of Global Strategic Sourcing – External Manufacturing Procurement is responsible for setting and executing our global procurement network sourcing strategy.

It involves utilizing a variety of different strategies, contributing, and driving Make versus Buy decisions for Opella to create a powerful network of partners that can help businesses reach their goals more efficiently and cost-effectively.

He/she has a key role in SRM with building and driving CMO & CDMO performance tracking with scorecards measuring performance on different pillars such as service, quality, innovation, and sustainability. Ensure that global performance meets expectations on fundamentals while carrying out transversal initiatives / projects like directed buy, sustainability, Preferred partner list selection, Master Supply Agreement with a strong internal stakeholder connection enabling Excellence in Execution.

He/she leads an experienced team with 2 direct reports. Travels: 10 to 20% globally.

He/she works in close collaboration with M&S Function Heads (Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering/Maintenance & Energy, External Manufacturing, Manufacturing Excellence, HSE…), Science Hub (upstream innovation & development centers), Growth Hub (marketing & sales) and Legal.

In addition, to ensure consistency and to support overall EM procurement performance and transformation journey, Head of Global Strategic Sourcing – External Manufacturing Procurement works closely with his peers from the EM procurement Region Heads in charge of supporting regional & local Brands, helping on CMO & CDMO panel rationalization and portfolio optimization as well as supporting Global Negotiations.

Main responsibilities include the following:

Define our EM procurement sourcing strategy, in collaboration with M&S and Science Hub / Growth Hub

• develop and maintain an aligned strategic CMO, CDMO and licensor panel fit for purpose.

• closely work with Science Hub and Growth Hub to collect business need.

• closely work with M&S (EM Head, strategy & Project Head) to define the right manufacturing site in line with Make or Buy assessment, make sure the execution is adopted and tracked.

• Propose e2e procurement relevant strategy to support Opella brands growth and gross margin improvement as a strategic objective.

• lead strategic decisions and strategic projects as needed (site network, regionalization, M&A, new product launch for global brands).

• Get the endorsement from CPO and Senior Leadership team on sourcing strategy defined and its execution plan.

CMO CDMO Performance management

• Build and coordinate CMO / CDMO scorecard for the 3 regions: EULA , NA , AMEA

• Build & Drive Executive Business Reviews for global players.

• Track contract terms adherence

Financial performance management

• Drive Make or Buy analysis based on strategy defined and find opportunities on existing portfolio and new launches.

• Optimize COGs and Gross Margin with transversal initiatives such as 2nd tier suppliers spend management, design to value..

Own and drive EM procurement SRM program

• Define the right preferred Partner List to support innovation and M&S in close relationship with Science Hub and M&S

• Make sure the PPL is shared and used by all Regions according to their needs

• closely partner with, M&S Functions (External Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, HSE) and Regulatory/CMC to ensure timely roadmap execution on sustainability journey as defined by Opella with CMO – CDMO

• Drive the development of new market opportunities (scouting new suppliers, technologies, substitution products, etc.) and support the global brands INNOVATION pipeline

• ensure implementation of standard ways of working, with main stakeholders in order to bring efficiency and up to speed in execution.

Define & execute our scope 3 sustainability roadmap

• oversee the definition of our sustainability roadmap for EM, relying on robust reduction levers both on the short and the long term

• foster a collaborative relationship with Growth Hub, Science Hub, EM , other procurement domain to support Opella ambitions, leverage external benchmark and jointly prepare and present key directions for endorsement by management,

• ensure governance/metrics in place to monitor execution at suppliers, timely identify risks & mitigation plans.

Contract & Relationship management

• Lead key and strategic negotiations

• Ensure compliance with master service agreements and/or specific contracts in place.

• Ensure that terms and conditions of master service agreements and/or specific contracts,

• including the Quality Technical agreement (QTA) and sustainability requirements (BCorp) are met by all parties in the contract

• Monitor the contract life cycle and proactively manage negotiation phases with involved operational teams (i) in the set-up of a contract or (ii) request of quotation (RFQ) related to a strategic supplier

• Ensure that risk management assessment and risk mitigation strategies are in place in close collaboration with the Business 

• Set-Up and Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) program for the key CMOs globally managed

• Lead vendor innovation management

Business collaboration and partnering

• Build and ensure collaborative Business Partnering across M&S and across the Supplier/CMO network

• Ensure implementation of standard ways of working and metrics in place to bring efficiency in the organization between EM – procurement – Business development and finance.

• Build and maintain strong interfaces and collaborations with other departments like Sciences Hub, Growth Hub, Finance, Legal, Regulatory, business development, licensing, and alliances & partnerships on top of main stakeholder management (EM in M&S)

About you

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sciences, Engineering or Business or another relevant field. An MBA is preferred.

Experience:

• 10-15 years in FMCG or FMCH or Pharma

• Experience in matrixial management or Transversal role with proven record in term of change management and result delivery

Technical skills:

• Solid understanding of both Procurement and Operations; a combination of functional experiences in both Manufacturing and SCM as well as Procurement would be ideal.

• Knowledge of pharmaceutical processes (manufacturing, technology, GMPs, quality, regulatory, manufacturing technology transfers, end to end supply chain…)

• Managerial experience with extensive industry knowledge and an eye towards the future

• Experience on supply network design

• Business and finance acumen

Soft skills:

•           Leadership skills/experience with proven track record in building and leading cross functional teams

•           Strong capability to manage business and interact with executive level: internal stakeholders, Suppliers and complex environment

•           Strong business acumen and strategic thinking

•           Solid understanding in Cost management, budgeting and controlling - ability to understand and explain an Industrial P&L to pilot financial performance

•           Highly effective communication & leadership skills to engage / motivate / lead teams

•           Strongly continuous improvement oriented

•           Strong business acumen and ability to build sustainable business connectivity 

•           Solid listening and communication skills

•           Capability to manage business at executive level: internal stakeholders and suppliers

•           Prioritization skills

• Ability to analyse complex processes, excellent problem-solving skills,

• Analytical and data driven,

• Ability to cultivate effective relationships, to influence and collaborate in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment,

• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills

• Strong presentation skills

• Eager to develop a high performing team and offer opportunities to grow.

Languages & Cultural :

• Fluent in English

• Plus: French and any other language

• International and multi-cultural mindset

Opella, the Consumer Healthcare business unit of Sanofi, is the purest and third-largest player globally in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market.  

We have an unshakable belief in the power of self-care and the role it can play in creating a healthier society and a healthier planet.

That’s why we want to make self-care as simple as it should be by being consumer-led always, with science at our core. 

Through our unique and balanced portfolio of more than 100 loved brands, including 15 global and local high-growth challengers such as Allegra, Dulcolax and Buscopan, we deliver our mission: helping more than half a billion consumers worldwide take their health in their hands.  

This mission is brought to life by an 11,000-strong team, 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites, and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers. 

We are also proud to be the first major fast-moving consumer healthcare company to achieve B Corp certification. 

Join us on our mission. Health. In your hands.