Head of Drug Substance & New Modalities Procurement

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

Healthcare is evolving, and Global Procurement is responding by continuously striving for the highest possible performance, taking innovative and strategic approaches to business and supplier partnerships. Global Procurement proactively manages the entire supplier ecosystem, making a vital contribution to improving health outcomes, reducing costs for patients and global healthcare systems, and ensuring that Roche continues doing now what patients need next.

The Opportunity

The Delivery capability covers the core procurement activities from category management, strategic and operational sourcing, supplier management, contracting, content strategy definition, and execution.

This position is part of the Materials, Manufacturing & Capex (MMC) Procurement leadership team reporting into the Chapter Lead of Materials, Manufacturing & Capex Procurement in Global Procurement (GP).

As the Head of Drug Substance & New Modalities Procurement, you will work in a dynamic global environment where you will meet the challenge to bring vision, guidance, prioritization, and focus to the Procurement Delivery capability area such as team vision, capability development, performance and strategic category management (in line with functional objectives and business needs).

You will lead and guide a team of Procurement Category Experts and Procurement Category Specialists, working closely with them to develop the team vision, prioritize and focus efforts, and provide coaching and guidance to support your team’s development and growth both as individuals and as a team.

You are accountable for the best allocation of your people to ensure flexibility, excellence in execution, delivery and performance, and talent development. Your scope includes

• Portfolio Leadership: Strategic management of a diverse portfolio of Drug Substance and New Modalities manufacturing partnerships, encompassing a significant commercial and development footprint

• Global Reach: Driving procurement strategy across an international landscape, working with cross-functional teams and external partners spanning Europe, North America, and Asia.

• Strategic Complexity: Balancing the management of established commercial partnerships with the unique requirements of high-growth technology platforms and new pipeline assets.

• Value Creation: Leading the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for this critical network, from strategic outsourcing and site selection to long-term supplier relationship management

The Head of Drug Substance & New Modalities Procurement will play a variety of roles according to your experience, knowledge, and the general business/team requirements, including, but not limited to, these core responsibilities:

• You utilise your in depth knowledge and expertise in External Manufacturing to act as a Delivery domain lead providing thought leadership, advice, and know-how on delivery capability topics, strategies, and best practices, and shaping and defining the Category area vision and priorities.

• You driver performance and category strategies for the Roche Pharma global spend within your category areas. You are accountable for achieving the GP Balanced Score Card targets, translating the GP strategy (including ongoing effectiveness, automation and AI utilisation) and delivering the business specific needs and targets.

• You work within the capability teams, networks, and squads/project teams to ensure prioritization and focus on delivering or supporting both project and foundational work.

• You collaborate directly with the Head of Drug Product Global Procurement on standardised strategies, processes and suppliers to deliver the best value for Roche.

• You are accountable for the performance and development of your team acting as a role model, demonstrating curiosity, passion, an entrepreneurial spirit, enterprise thinking, inclusive collaboration, and desire for continuous learning that underpin our culture and ways of working.

Who you are

• Education & Experience: University degree (preferably in Business or Life Sciences) with 10+ years of procurement experience (strategic and operational), ideally within a global matrix organization.

• Team Leadership: Proven success in building, managing, and cultivating medium-to-large global teams, backed by strong leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of external manufacturing and end-to-end procurement operations, alongside solid experience managing complex project/organizational change.

• Strategic & Enterprise Thinking: Ability to look at the bigger picture, connect the dots across the organization, and proactively collaborate to create solutions for business customers.

• Mindset & Driving Action: Action-oriented decision-maker who values continuous learning, active listening, and a willingness to test new ideas rather than always starting from scratch.

• Cultural & Language Fit: Open-minded and inclusive team player who handles feedback well, with business-level fluency in English.

Note: Relocation benefits are not available for this posting.

Join our Global Procurement team in Basel, apply now !

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.