Associate Director, Distribution Buyer/Planner

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We're looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

The Clinical Trial (CT) Supply Planning Organization is accountable for the development of molecule/study demand forecasts in partnership with the clinical team and the subsequent implementation of the supply plans. Additionally the Supply Planning organization is accountable for the timely supply of New Drug Product and Finished Goods to internal and external partners. This will be accomplished by planning and scheduling via an MRP system (SAP).

CT Distribution has the responsibility to ensure that CT Materials are moved from the packager all the way to the sites in a FFU condition and on-time. In order for this to happen you must have a global network of qualified hubs and depots with good processes, quality oversight, solid management and oversight, continuous improvements, sustainable cost structure and responsive to environmental changes. Additionally, you must have people managing the large number of transactions that are flowing through the systems and ensuring flawless daily execution. Distribution will have two groups of staff for each zone that will manage these different variable and fixed components. The Distribution Buyer/Planner(s) and the Distribution Material Coordinator(s) will work together to manage the daily transaction piece (variable work) and the exception management processes that flow from more than 1200 annual bulk shipment orders and 60,000 to 80,000 site shipment orders. The Distribution Buyer Planner in cooperation with the Distribution Material Coordinator (DMC) will manage the infrastructure (fixed components) of the operations to ensure that the transactions can occur flawlessly each day.

The Distribution Buyer Planner will supervise the DMC will is accountable for the movement of finished goods from the packaging plant to the hub(s) as well as hub to hub and hub to depot movement. The DMC will also be responsible for general oversight of all material movement to sites from Hubs and Depots. Our outsource partners generally manage this well but exceptions occur regularly requiring immediate intervention and decision making that have patient and CT material implications. In addition, they will be required to lead or participate in special projects supporting the development and implementation of distribution strategies related to products and capacities.

The Distribution Buyer Planner will supervise the DMC will is accountable for the movement of finished goods from the packaging plant (CP) to the hubs(s). For CP to Hub movement, the DMC will receive a communication from the Molecule Planner with information on what P-reqs to convert into Stock Transfer Orders (STO). The DMC will convert Preq into STOs. The Packaging Material Coordinator (PMC) will create the Outbound Delivery (OBD), assign batches to the OBD, and process the OBD. The DMC will also be accountable for the movement of finished goods from the hub to hub and hub to depot. The Clinical Supply Coordinator (CSC) will communicate to the DMC which Preqs to convert into STOs. The DMC will convert the Preq into STOs. The DMC will create the Outbound Delivery, the CSC will assign batches to the OBD and the DMC will process the OBD.

The Distribution Buyer/Planner will be accountable for managing and overseeing all plants that they are assigned within a zone. They will also have responsibility to work with the other buyer/planners to ensure harmonization within and between zones and plants across the globe. They will be responsible for all activities for their plants including: strategy, staff, budgets, communications, Hub and Depot networks, processes in and between zones, relationship with vendors and overall quality. The Distribution Buyer / Planners have a staff Distribution Material Coordinator (s).

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop zone strategy and plant strategies that are aligned with the overall distribution strategy.
• Develop budgets for zone and plants and manage to budgets.
• Lead and/or ensure that all quality related activities are accomplished for hub/depot networks within zone and between zones including: audits, audit follow-ups, due diligence visits, TPO performance to contracts, quality agreements, SSI, and process compliance.
• Ensure that zone hubs and depots are fully operational, cost effective, and efficient, prepared to perform work, trained, and delivering.
• Consistent with strategy – work with zone hubs and depots to implement process improvement and/or meet regulatory changes impacting the storage and delivery of products
• Develop zone staff and ensure that staff is adequately trained to perform operations.
• Accountable to ensure core capabilities (fixed) and daily transactions (variable) are working in harmony within and between zones.
• First level of escalation within distribution for all zone related issues.
• Build and maintain relationships with warehouse partner companies – specifically the site head over warehouse and distribution operations, project management, and manager over floor operations.
• Ensure that metric and key performance data for hubs/depots are accurately collected, reviewed and analyzed and CAPA plans are developed
• GMP & GDP Compliance

o Must be knowledgeable on how to apply GMPs and GDPs in a clinical trial environment and review and follow procedures applicable to the CT business. In addition, individual training plans must be kept up to date.

• Proactively identifies ways to improve day-to-day activities and practices. Support efforts to improve productivity, efficiency, product quality and reduction of risk through the use of the Six Sigma methodology
• Direct the execution of purchase requisitions and purchase orders to move material / in and out of hubs and depots including planning, scheduling, preparation, managing scheduling conflicts, order prioritization, across all hubs and depots in zone and plant. Also collaborate across zones when material is moving between zones.
• Work with Distribution Material Coordinator to communicate readiness for purchase requisition to Stock Transport Order conversion
• Direct the execution of purchase requisitions and purchase orders for FING materials being transferred from a packaging plant and for non-modified commercial materials being purchased from a vendor
• Work closely with Molecule Planner to understand the upcoming shipments to and from assigned hubs/depots and any constraints/issues that have implications for your plants
• Communicate to and work with Molecule Planner on capacity/scheduling constraints and issues that require an adjustment to the plan
• Ensure item set up in IT systems such as purchasing info/source list data
• Obtain quotes, make sourcing decisions; assess capacity/ability of vendor to meet upcoming short term plan - specifically related to the receiving of bulk orders, management of site orders, and extension stickering orders.
• Lead hot list meetings and manage day to day order capacity issues with vendors
• Maintenance of metric and key performance data for hubs/depots as it relates to movement of material (S&OP)
• Participate in S&OP (schedule and metrics) and monthly publishing of plans to stakeholders
• Monitor and insure that messages are being sent and there are no system failures

Requirements:

• Bachelor degree, preferably in health care or supply chain/logistics field or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Clinical Trial Distribution required
• Ability to understand and apply global GDP requirements
• Ability to understand and apply global regulatory requirements
• Exceptional organization and time management skills
• Strong partnership and communication skills – internal and external(hubs/depots/external vendors)
• Global shipping expertise
• Strategic planning execution capabilities
• Proficient in computer technology used in office and supply chain environments:

o Word, advanced knowledge of EXCEL

o Inventory management software

o Material requirements planning/ERP software

• Demonstrated ability to work in and be challenged by a team-based environment, which places a high degree of emphasis on accountability for customer service levels, inventory management, cost reduction and quality/GMP compliance
• Demonstrated project management expertise
• Strong problem solving skills
• Critical thinking and decision making skills
• Knowledge and learned SAP planning process
• APICS certification or equivalent work experience
• Must speak and write fluent English
• Clinical research/study expertise
• Prior SAP planning experience
• Project Management certification

Additional Information:

• Work outside of core hours may be required to support the portfolio across the globe
• Modest travel may be required, both domestic and international

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