Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Manager Cold Chain Pharma

Intuitive Surgical, Inc$120K — $150K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Engineering, or Business
  • 8+ years of experience in pharma supply chain management
  • Experience with domestic and international pharmaceutical shipments requiring strict temperature control
  • Proven track record in lane qualification and packaging validation activities
  • Strong collaboration with Quality in deviation reporting and CAPA tracking
  • Proficient in carrier performance monitoring and temperature data analysis
  • Established relationships with pharmaceutical wholesalers and specialty distributors
  • GDP/GMP training; APICS CPIM/CSCP preferred; Six Sigma Green Belt optional

Responsibilities

  • Manage end-to-end cold chain distribution for temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals
  • Oversee validated shipping lanes and packaging solutions ensuring product integrity
  • Lead investigations for temperature excursions including CAPA development
  • Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to maintain audit readiness
  • Ensure compliance and accuracy in shipment documentation
  • Manage operations across distribution centers, 3PLs, and carriers
  • Support network changes and product launches through validation and risk assessments

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Professional development programs
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Employee wellness programs
Full Job Description
Job Description

Strategic pharmaceutical trade and distribution professional with expertise in compliant commercialization and distribution operations for temperature-sensitive drug products. Proven ability to establish and manage state licensing, DSCSA and trade compliance requirements, and operational distribution networks across wholesalers, specialty distributors, and 3PL partners. Strong cross-functional partner to Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Product Launch, and Supply Planning teams in highly regulated pharmaceutical environments, ensuring compliant, reliable, and scalable product distribution across markets.

Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Expertise
  • GDP / GMP / GxP Compliance
  • Cold Chain Distribution (2-8°C, CRT, Frozen)
  • Temperature Excursion Management & CAPA
  • Validated Lanes & Packaging Systems
  • Pharmaceutical DC Operations
  • Audit Readiness & Regulatory Inspections
  • Deviation Documentation & QA Collaboration
  • 3PL / Freight Forwarder Oversight
  • Change Control & Network Transitions
  • Product Integrity & Patient Safety Focus
  • Support establishing and maintaining state licensing

Essential Job Duties
  • Manage end-to-end pharmaceutical cold chain distribution, ensuring compliance with GDP and GMP requirements for temperature-controlled drug products.
  • Oversee validated shipping lanes and packaging solutions (passive and active), ensuring product integrity from release through patient delivery.
  • Lead temperature excursion investigations, including deviation documentation, root cause analysis, CAPA development, and Quality approvals.
  • Partner closely with Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs to maintain audit readiness and support internal and external inspections.
  • Ensure accurate and complete shipment documentation, traceability, and data integrity in accordance with regulatory expectations.
  • Manage day-to-day operations across distribution centers, 3PLs, and carriers, resolving issues while maintaining compliance.
  • Support network changes, product launches, and fulfillment transitions through risk assessments, validation activities, and change control.
  • Monitor carrier and 3PL KPIs related to temperature performance, OTIF, and deviation trends.
  • DSCA, state distribution licenses, wholesale distribution authorization
  • Trade Compliance Import/Export

Success Metrics
  • Maintain reportable temperature deviations below 1% through improved monitoring and SOP enhancements.
  • Maintained zero critical audit findings across GDP inspections.
  • Supported commercial and clinical product launches with 100% cold chain compliance.
  • Improved cold chain OTIF performance to >99% while maintaining validated conditions.


Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience
  • Bachelor's Degree - Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Engineering, or Business
  • 8+ years of experience in pharma supply chain management
  • Coordinated domestic and international pharmaceutical shipments require strict temperature control.
  • Assisted in lane qualification and packaging validation activities.
  • Supported Quality in deviation reporting, CAPA tracking, and audit preparation.
  • Tracked carrier performance and temperature data to identify risk trends.
  • Maintained SOPs and work instructions aligned to GDP requirements.
  • Build and maintain relationships with pharmaceutical wholesalers and specialty distributors.
  • GDP (Good Distribution Practice) Training
  • GMP Training
  • APICS CPIM / CSCP (Preferred)
  • Six Sigma Green Belt (Optional)

Pharmaceutical Systems & Tools
  • Temperature Monitoring & Data Logger Platforms
  • Deviation & CAPA Management Systems
  • Validated Passive & Active Shipper Systems
  • TMS / WMS (SAP, Oracle, Manhattan, etc.)
  • Carrier, Distributor and Wholesaler Platforms (DHL Life Sciences, UPS Healthcare, FedEx, K+N, Cardinal, McKesson, Cencora)


Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate's experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate's qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.

About Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is an American corporation that develops, manufactures, and markets robotic products designed to improve clinical outcomes of patients through minimally invasive surgery, most notably with the da Vinci Surgical System. The company is part of the NASDAQ-100 and S&P 500. Intuitive Surgical has installed more than 5,000 surgical systems worldwide, and has more than 4,000 employees.
Learn more about Intuitive Surgical, Inc
Size
9,793 employees
Market Cap
$93.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1 billion
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+16.1%
Revenue
$4.3 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Intuitive Surgical, Inc

More Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Jobs

Find similar Manager Cold Chain Pharma jobs: