Associate Director, Raw Material Planning

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is dedicated people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that s the kind of work we want you to be part of!

This position is based full time in our Portsmouth, NH location.

The Associate Director, Raw Material Planning is responsible for the end-to-end planning, procurement, and inventory management of raw materials to ensure uninterrupted production while optimizing costs. This role requires strong vendor relationship management, collaboration with Global buyers, and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The ideal candidate will lead a team of 7-10 professionals, drive Lean methodologies, and champion continuous improvement initiatives, fostering alignment with quality, production, and other supply chain partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Vendor Relationship Management & Global Collaboration:

• Drive continuous improvement in material availability by collaborating with strategic suppliers to address bottlenecks, forecast accuracy gaps, and lead time variability.
• Develop and implement supplier performance scorecards with metrics focused on OTIF, quality, and responsiveness; lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to address gaps and align improvement plans.

GMP Compliance & Cross-Functional Coordination:

• Ensure all raw material planning activities align with GMP, FDA (or equivalent), and safety regulations.
• Ensure all company processes are managed to ensure we are in compliance.

Lean Leadership & Continuous Improvement:

• Lead Lean Six Sigma projects to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance supply chain agility.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, problem-solving workshops (e.g., Kaizen), and data-driven decision-making.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of 7-10 planners, fostering accountability and professional growth.
• Conduct performance evaluations, set clear objectives, and provide ongoing feedback.

Systems & Analytics:

• Use SAP (preferred) or equivalent ERP systems for material requirements planning (MRP), inventory optimization, and demand-supply alignment.
• Analyze supplier lead times, and demand variability to proactively address supply chain disruptions.

Key Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in supply chain planning, procurement, or inventory management, with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills, with a track record of building long-term supplier relationships.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green/Black Belt) or demonstrated experience in Lean methodologies.
• Proficiency in SAP (MM/PP modules) or similar ERP systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Bachelor s degree preferred in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, or related field.
• Experience in GMP-regulated environments (pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, or similar industries) preferred
• Experience working with multicultural teams and global supply networks.
• APICS/CPIM certification or equivalent.
• Advanced Excel/data analytics skills (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).

Every day, Lonza s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.