Customer Operations Manager

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

Customer Service, Operations
Barcelona, Spain
Posted on Monday, February 12, 2024

Position Summary

An experienced Manager directly responsible to represent Global Supply Chain (GSC) within assigned Regions and primary link in the relevant market affiliate/s with direct impact on alignment of commercial growth and Supply Chain Operations long and short-term strategy.

The role will be focused on product demand, strategic projects lead and execution, customer experience and operational improvement.

Responsible for building and creating effective communication flow between the affiliate and Global Operations acting as the link between Global Supply Chain and the assigned region/market developing strong business links, relationships and influence at many levels (Marketing , Finance , QA, Legal, Commercial, Patient Advocacy, Government Affairs, Market Access and Regulatory leads) and is integrated in the affiliates’ governance, actively participating in regular meetings and business reviews (leadership teams, country business reviews, integrated business plan).

Highly focused on demand, works with the Affiliate and Demand planners on leveraging commercial strategies to optimize demand and supply resources and operational capabilities. Provides continuous business insights by proactively working with Commercial and Finance to balance demand and supply. Fully integrated in the demand management governance, leads demand prioritization and develops a solid demand communication scheme by challenging forecast and monitoring consumption trends.

Fully integrated in the Global Supply Chain function, participates in defining the strategy and process improvements focused on the Customer Experience. Project manages cross functional international projects, including deployment of digital solutions as well as enhancing current operational and strategic capabilities.

Leads all local initiatives and projects related to products such as early Access Programs (EAP), new product introductions (NPI), product transfers and retirement, product donations and compassionate use programs.

Works closely with Global Distribution by sharing market specific requirements and trends and coordinate mitigation and preventive action plans

Works independently on addressing, analyzing, and solving problems in various business areas selecting the most appropriate methods and practices, balancing business, and customer benefits and ensures Service Level Agreement and regulatory requirements are communicated efficiently and embedded in the Global Supply Chian end-to-end process (such as Controlled Distribution).

Represent Customer Operations in major product related projects within Global Supply Chain and plays a key role in leading business continuity plans and new product launch /product retirement.

Closely supports initiatives related to product enhancement and safety, such as serialization.

Contributes to expanding solutions driven by cost and process efficiency to broader business offerings such as introduction of a wholesaler or patient services, working closely with Commercial and Market Access in Customer accounting, segmentation and deploys most appropriate solution based on customer needs.

Leads Customer Experience initiatives and ensures market intelligence is clearly gathered and documented. Fully understand all the customer associated processes and consistently seek out areas and opportunities to improve overall team efficiency in alignment with local requirements and the International Customer Operations’ initiatives.

Supports the strategy of driving towards Carbon neutrality through innovation and collaboration.

Support the Senior Director and Director Customer Operations Management EMEA to Drive process and key organizational improvements plus Customer Operations Management specific projects and initiatives.

Principal Responsibilities

Ensures correct product inventory is always available implementing preventive measures to avoid out of stocks and root-cause analysis

Analyzes major stock issues proposing resolutions and coordinating hyper cares

Drive the demand planning process in the markets together with the demand planners and ensures demand is understood and validated

Primary contact for new product launches, Early Access Programs (EAP) and all product supply related initiatives

Support the Demand Planner on highlighting step changes / major deviations to the volumes, coupled with the market intelligence

Ensure transparency on issues, challenges and opportunities

Develop and deliver optimal solutions for the Customers and patients.

Ensure all customer requirements are met from order to delivery of therapies and ensure full end-to-end supply chain service provisions supports same.

Provide follow-up and solutions to customers and sales team regarding order status, product availability, shipping information, damaged or lost product.

Develop close working relationships with commercial leadership within assigned region/market

Build excellent working relationships and regular contact with stakeholders such as Commercial, Sales, Finance, Credit Management, Distribution, QA, Regulatory and Contracts.

Work to facilitate strong and efficient points of contact between affiliate, GSC and all the existing and new Customers.

Drive the necessary processes to ensure 100% compliance with all regulatory requirements and be a key support for internal and external audits and inspections to enable affiliate certification.

Report any quality issues promptly to the designated person and initiate mitigation plan or appropriate actions, follow up on closure of action

Provide regular reporting and feedback on the key challenges and take the initiative to proactively solve issues or reach out to other Depts. for support required.

Ensure decisions made on acceptance or denial of returns, credits, and rebills meet Alexion’s policies in coordination with the Finance team.

Ensure the relevant Customer Business Reviews and Business Performance metrics drive best-in-class Supply Chain service to Alexion customers.

Works closely with Global Distribution by assessing service level impacts, sharing market specific requirements and trends and coordinate mitigation and preventive action plans

Working closely with the Business Intelligence and Reporting function, actively track, measure, and analyze key activity within the affiliate and feed into the regional and international reporting requirements

Drive a strong culture of Customer Centricity within the team and in line with key Business objectives

Effectively and efficiently manage key Business Projects, locally, regionally, and globally, as assigned by the Senior Director and Director Customer Account Management EMEA and deliver on timelines and tasks as required and in accordance with project dates.

Support the implementation of solid professional and collaborative relationships with other Regional and Global peers, various field personnel and other internal departments, with regular meetings and operational updates.

Parallel to main responsibilities, the role also seeks to achieve continuous enhancement of the local and regional Customer Operations team through implementing best practices, improving compliance, consistency, and communication, in conjunction with the Global Customer Operations Team.

Qualifications

A solid experience in customer operations management is mandatory, with experience in the pharmaceutical industry and of leading Key Projects and continuous improvement methodologies would be a strong plus

Experience of hospital business, preferably in highly specialized markets/orphan drugs, would be a benefit

Clear understanding of local regional and international order to invoice processing for pharmaceutical

products

Demonstrated relationship management (both face-to-face and remotely)

Good knowledge of business controlling and accounting principles

Strong knowledge of SAP SD and MM

Experience of leading or supporting the implementation of an EDI platform would be a strong plus

High sense of ethics and responsibility, highly reliable

Leadership and management skills, previous people management responsibilities are a requirement

Excellent communication and relationship building skills

Strong process improvement and project management focus

Ability to lead and take initiatives, and to drive change

Rigorous, organized and process oriented

Analytical, curious, and dynamic mindset

Well experienced to deal with sales team and customer inquiries, with exceptional oral and written communication skills a must

Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing priorities

Knowledge of Supply Chain Operations

Computer literate, with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Fluency in English both written and oral; fluency in other European languages is desirable.

Education

University Degree in Business Related or Supply Chain preferred

Date Posted

12-feb-2024

Closing Date

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact accommodations@Alexion.com. Alexion participates in E-Verify.