Job Description

Who We Are

BioMarin is a leading rare disease biotechnology company focused on genetically defined conditions.

Guided by our purpose to develop medicines that make a profound impact on people’s lives, our global teams have delivered a portfolio of therapies since our founding in 1997. Our revolutionary treatments for conditions like achondroplasia (the most common form of dwarfism), PKU (phenylketonuria), CLN2, a form of Batten disease, and a number of forms of MPS (mucopolysaccharidosis) offer new possibilities for patients and families who previously had few, if any, available options. More recently, with the close of the Amicus acquisition, our portfolio has expanded to include therapies for Fabry disease and Pompe disease, expanding our ability to reach more people living with rare genetic conditions.

Our success comes from our unwavering commitment to excellence, our deep understanding of patient needs, our scientific expertise, and our world-class manufacturing capabilities. At the heart of BioMarin is a dedicated team of the brightest minds in the industry working together to deliver innovative therapies to patients and families around the world.

About Corporate Groups

It takes a village, and at BioMarin, our general and admin teams are the village behind our success. From the IT experts who manage our technology to the human resources professionals who hire the people who make it all possible, these teams support our organization and span all areas of operations.

Location: Ireland, EU, US, or Remote | Work Style: Hybrid or Remote

This Director-level position will have accountability for Strategic Sourcing and Category Management for BioMarin's external contract development and manufacturing network, including partnerships with Contract Manufacturing Organizations. In this strategic and operational focused role, you will lead development of sourcing strategies for one of the most complex and impactful categories in pharmaceutical operations.

You and your team will be responsible for developing category strategies and executing complex sourcing initiatives for external manufacturing suppliers. This position requires both sourcing and technical knowledge to challenge CMO capabilities, help navigate complex regulatory landscapes, and align Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain teams from strategy inception through execution.

You will lead and develop a high-performing sourcing team, providing coaching, direction, and capability building to drive best-in-class procurement practices.

The role offers the opportunity to help shape BioMarin's external manufacturing network strategy, deliver cost efficiencies, and strengthen strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing Leadership

Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives for BioMarin's external contract manufacturing network, including CMO selection and API sourcing. Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies to deliver savings on total procurement spend while ensuring quality, compliance, and supply continuity.

Team Leadership and Capability Building

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of sourcing professionals, fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Define clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans for team members while strengthening bench strength for future growth.

CMO Vendor Management and Due Diligence

Conduct rigorous CMO selection due diligence covering technical capabilities, regulatory compliance, quality systems, IP ownership structures, and capacity planning. Evaluate CMO partners on specialized capabilities including biologics manufacturing, sterile injectables, and advanced modalities, ensuring alignment with BioMarin's pipeline requirements and key partner organizations within BioMarin including Global External Operations and External Quality.

Contract Negotiations and Commercial Terms

Lead complex contract negotiations with commercial CMO partners, establishing commercial terms, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Quality Agreements, technology transfer protocols, and IP protections. Structure risk-adjusted governance frameworks that protect BioMarin's interests while enabling collaborative partnerships.

Stakeholder Partnership

Serve as a trusted business partner to senior stakeholders, proactively shaping decisions, influencing outcomes, and driving alignment across complex, matrixed teams.Partner closely with External Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Technical Development Services, and Regulatory teams to ensure category strategies align with technical requirements, regulatory standards, and business objectives. Bridge the gap between strategic sourcing and operational reality, ensuring identified savings reach the bottom line.

Supply Chain Resilience and Risk Mitigation

Build diversified and resilient supplier networks that mitigate geopolitical risks, capacity constraints, and supply disruptions. Implement dual-sourcing strategies, strategic inventory buffers, and supply chain regionalization to reduce single-market dependencies while maintaining lean operations.

Market Intelligence and Category Expertise

Maintain deep market knowledge of the CMO landscape, including emerging technologies, capacity availability, pricing trends, and competitive dynamics. Monitor regulatory changes, sustainability requirements , and compliance demands to ensure procurement strategies remain ahead of industry shifts.

Stakeholder Management and Executive Reporting

Present sourcing strategies, supplier performance metrics, cost savings achievements, and risk assessments to executive leadership. Serve as the strategic thought-partner for BioMarin's Global External Operations and Network Strategy organizations.

Required Skills and Experience

• 10+ years progressive experience in sourcing, category management, and contract negotiations for contract manufacturing in the biopharma industry
• Demonstrated expertise managing CMO relationships with deep understanding of biologics and small molecule manufacturing processes
• Proven experience leading and developing sourcing teams, including direct management of managers and building high-performing organizations
• Demonstrated ability to build or scale sourcing/procurement teams, preferably within the contract manufacturing or CMO ecosystem
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills with a track record of partnering effectively with cross-functional and executive stakeholders
• Proven ability executing complex sourcing strategies for pharmaceutical manufacturing services (upstream/downstream processing, fill-finish, analytical testing) [9]
• Excellent negotiation skills with proven success structuring commercial agreements, SLAs, Quality Agreements, IP protections, and technology transfer protocols [5]
• Direct responsibility for strategic sourcing decisions balancing cost optimization, quality assurance, regulatory compliance (FDA cGMP, EMA EU GMP, ICH), and supply chain resilience.
• Strong track record delivering measurable cost savings while maintaining or improving quality and service levels
• Expertise in CMO market landscape
• Experience navigating pharmaceutical supply chain challenges: API/excipient sourcing, extended lead times, dual-sourcing strategies, geopolitical supply risks
• Demonstrated ability leading cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders across Manufacturing, Quality, Technical Development, Regulatory, and Finance

Success and Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking: Translate complex market dynamics into actionable sourcing strategies driving both short-term savings and long-term competitive advantage

• Analytical capabilities: Conduct sophisticated spend analysis, establish performance baselines, identify value opportunities, and track savings realization from contract signature through P&L impact

• Relationship management excellence: Build trust-based partnerships with internal stakeholders (Quality, Ops, Supply Chain, R&D) and external CMO partners as strategic thought-partners

• Change management leadership: Implement new sourcing strategies by shifting organizational behaviors, processes, and mindsets; embed sustainable category management practices [6]

• Ability to thrive in ambiguity: Navigate consensus-heavy biopharma culture, balancing thoroughness with appropriate urgency

• Risk management acumen: Identify and mitigate supplier risks, anticipate market shifts, build contingency plans protecting supply continuity for life-saving therapies

• Intellectual curiosity and continuous learning: Stay ahead of rapidly evolving CMO landscape with new modalities, technologies, and regulatory requirements

• Resilience and patience: Handle sustained workload intensity and navigate complex approval processes while maintaining focus on delivering value [10]

Education and Technical Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field required;
• MBA or advanced degree (MS, PhD) in relevant discipline strongly preferred.
• Professional procurement certifications such as MCIPS (Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply), CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), or CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager) are highly desirable.
• Technical expertise must include deep knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes for both small molecules and biologics, including familiarity with cGMP requirements, regulatory frameworks (FDA, EMA, ICH), quality systems (ISO standards), and pharmaceutical supply chain complexity.
• Proficiency in strategic sourcing methodologies, category management frameworks, supplier relationship management (SRM) systems, and spend analysis tools is required.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management, e-sourcing platforms, and procurement analytics is essential.
• Strong project management capabilities with ability to manage multiple complex sourcing initiatives simultaneously while meeting aggressive timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to present complex sourcing strategies and recommendations to executive audiences.
• Experience working in global, matrixed organizations with proven ability to influence without direct authority.

Note: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.