Position Summary:The Associate Director Commercial Packaging and 3PL Inventory Management will lead strategic operational oversight of pharmaceutical finished goods drug product packaging design, CMO management, global serialization track and trace compliance, and 3PL inventory control as well as assist with artwork governance.
This is a hands-on role that reports into the Head of Supply Chain.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities include the following:- Packaging and artwork leadership. Direct packaging design, label controls, and component qualifications. Collaborate with CMO on packaging specifications. Manage requests for proposals (RFPs) and statements of work (SOW's)
- Actively manage packaging optimization strategy for primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging components (pouches, cartons, inserts, labels, shipping cases)
- Coordinate governance meetings and track packaging performance of packaging suppliers via KPIs
- Lead cross functional execution of packaging production. Work closely with Supply Chain Planning, Quality, Regulator Affairs, Validation, and Commercial teams on launch readiness plans and any ongoing changes to commercial packaging design
- Management and Distribution of Finished Goods Inventory at 3PL
- Plan and execute a build and launch strategy which is aligned to product expiry and product insert approvals.
- Oversee inventory build and control at CMO's and align external partners resources with goals and objectives with Ocular business requirements
- Lead and own global serialization strategies and system integrations between CMO's and 3PL
- Lead the investigation and resolution of supply disruptions caused by packaging deviations and change controls generated at packaging locations
- Facilitate technology transfers, validations, and scale-ups to external partners
- Lead weekly production meetings and quarterly business review meetings with contract packagers
- Work closely with Ocular Procurement on overall requirements for packaging CMO's
- Contract & Packaging Budget Management
- Collaborate with Validation team in shipping validations, site acceptance testing, user requirements specifications, and line performance qualifications
Qualification Requirements:- Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Life Sciences
- Experience: 8+ years in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical supply chain, with significant focus on cGMP packaging, serialization platforms, and packaging line validation
- Compliance Knowledge: Fluency in cGMP/FDA packaging regulations and extensive experience managing packaging design and qualification
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and serialization software
- Exceptional problem-solving skills in high-ambiguity, fast-paced environments
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization without direct authority
- Proven track record translating commercial business needs into CMO resource requirements
- Enhanced knowledge of Supply Chain processes and workflows
- Experience with packaging of drug devices a plus
- Ability to think strategically about how packaging design integrates the protection of product with the overall end customer experience
- Travel (~25%): Position will require periodic travel to external partners
Salary Range
$160,000-$175,000 USD
