Director, Supply Chain, Global Demand Planning

Are you ready to lead and innovate in the realm of demand planning for rare diseases?
Lead a team at AstraZeneca's Alexion Rare Disease unit, shaping demand planning direction.
Your leadership will be pivotal in aligning demand planning processes with commercial, supply chain, and financial goals, ensuring that life-changing therapies reach patients efficiently.
With a focus on advanced analytics and cross-functional collaboration, you will enhance forecast accuracy and responsiveness to market dynamics, supporting long-term business growth.
This role calls for a transformative leader with exceptional analytical skills and collaborator management expertise.
Accountabilities:
Strategic Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and develop a team of Demand Planners focused on rare disease therapies, fostering deep domain expertise and a patient-centric attitude.
- Build a high-performance culture that emphasizes agility, precision, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Define and communicate a clear vision for demand planning excellence aligned with the unique dynamics of rare disease markets.
Forecasting & Demand Planning Excellence
- Coordinate the creation and refinement of demand forecasts for rare disease products, incorporating epidemiological data, patient journey insights, and market access considerations.
- Ensure forecasts reflect the nuances of low-volume, high-value therapies and are responsive to shifts in regulatory, clinical, and commercial landscapes.
- Drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy and bias reduction through advanced analytics and scenario modeling.
S&OP and Cross-Functional Integration
- Own the integration of demand planning into the global S&OP process, ensuring alignment with supply, finance, and commercial strategies.
- Facilitate consensus-building across Commercial, Finance, Market Access, and Regulatory teams to ensure demand plans reflect real-world dynamics.
- Present demand scenarios and risk assessments to senior leadership to support strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
Data, Systems & Analytics
- Champion the use of advanced forecasting tools, patient-level data, and AI-driven analytics to enhance planning precision.
- Collaborate with data analytics and IT teams to ensure systems are fit-for-purpose and scalable across rare disease portfolios.
- Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as forecast accuracy, demand variability, and planning cycle efficiency.
Collaborator Engagement & Influence
- Act as a strategic partner to global and regional commercial leaders, providing insights that shape launch planning, lifecycle management, and market expansion strategies.
- Communicate complex demand dynamics clearly and persuasively to executive collaborators.
- Influence cross-functional priorities by translating demand signals into actionable business strategies.
Governance & Continuous Improvement
- Establish governance frameworks and standard operating procedures tailored to rare disease demand planning.
- Lead initiatives to enhance planning agility, especially in response to clinical trial outcomes, regulatory approvals, and competitive shifts.
- Drive innovation in planning processes to support early pipeline forecasting and launch readiness.
Essential Skills/Experience:
Education:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Life Sciences, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Data Science, or a related field.
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience (e.g., MBA, MSc in Supply Chain, Data Analytics, or Health Economics) a strong plus.
Experience:
- 10–15 years of progressive experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain management.
- Consistent record of leading demand planning teams and integrating planning processes within global S&OP/IBP frameworks.
- Experience influencing cross-functional collaborators and driving alignment across Supply Chain, Commercial & Finance functions.
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in advanced demand planning platforms (e.g., OMP, Anaplan, SAP IBP, Kinaxis) and business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
- Strong command of statistical forecasting methods and scenario planning techniques.
Soft Skills:
- Exceptional leadership and team development capabilities, with a focus on coaching, mentoring, and building high-performing teams.
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills, able to translate complex data into actionable insights for senior collaborators.
- Strategic problem solver with strong problem-solving abilities.
Desirable Skills/Experience:
As the Global Demand Planning Director for the Alexion Rare Disease business unit, you will be at the forefront of strategic demand planning initiatives within a critical and rewarding area of AstraZeneca.
Your expertise and leadership will play a vital role in ensuring that life-changing therapies reach the patients who need them most, effectively balancing supply capabilities and patient demand in the rare disease arena.
When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines.
In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions.
That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office.
But that doesn't mean we're not flexible.
We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility.
Join us in our unique and ambitious world.
AstraZeneca offers an environment where innovation thrives
Our commitment to patients drives us to continuously push boundaries in research and development.
Here you'll find a culture that celebrates diversity and encourages collaboration across teams.
With tailored development programs designed to enhance your skills while fostering empathy for patient journeys, you'll be empowered to make a real impact.
Join us as we redefine what's possible in healthcare
Ready to take on this exciting challenge?
Apply now to become part of our transformative journey
Date Posted
08-Aug-2025
Closing Date
11-Sep-2025Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment.
We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process.
We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics.
We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best.
If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
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