Director, Regional Distribution & Logistics Lead, EUMEA

Director, Regional Distribution & Logistics Lead, EUMEA

Hybrid - Dublin or Cork

Closing Date: 30th October 2026

The Director, Regional Distribution & Logistics Leader, EUMEA is the accountable leader for the design, performance and transformation of the end-to-end distribution network serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The role sits on the Global Distribution & Trade leadership team and holds regional accountability across clinical, commercial and development-science product flows, from release at the manufacturing or contract site through to delivery at the customer, patient-facing provider or clinical site.

The scope of the role extends beyond hub operations. The Director owns the regional logistics service provider (LSP) network as a portfolio — and is accountable for how that network is structured, governed, contracted and continuously improved. The Director is expected to lead a multi-year transformation of the EUMEA distribution operating model and network design in support of the company's growth, portfolio expansion and new-market entry agenda, and to act as the single senior distribution partner to Regional Supply Chain, Commercial, Market Access, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Trade Compliance and Technical Operations leadership in the region.

This is a leadership role in a highly regulated environment where decisions directly affect the continuity of supply of life-saving therapies. The Director is expected to set direction rather than execute to direction, to resolve issues at peer-leadership level without escalation, and to build the regional organisation and capability required for the future-state model.

Note that individual responsibilities may include all or part of the responsibilities defined below depending on individual experience and abilities, and may change to best support ongoing business needs.

Responsibilities

• Network Design, Strategy & Business Model Transformation

• Own the EUMEA distribution network strategy: define the future-state footprint, flow paths, inventory positioning, service tiers and channel model required to support portfolio growth, new launches, new market entry and evolving customer and patient-delivery models.

• Lead the transformation of the regional distribution operating model — including make-versus-buy decisions, hub and satellite structure, direct-to-customer and direct-to-patient flows, and the transition from a hub-operations model to a governed multi-partner network.

• Build and own the multi-year regional distribution roadmap, with a clearly articulated business case, benefit profile, investment requirement and delivery plan; secure endorsement through the appropriate governance forums.

• Sponsor and direct network design analytics and scenario modelling (cost-to-serve, service, working capital, risk, carbon) to underpin design decisions, and translate the output into executable change.

• Represent EUMEA in the design of the global distribution model, ensuring the region's requirements shape global standards, systems and processes rather than being managed as exceptions.

• Lead the distribution workstream for regional business development activity, in-licensing, divestments and integrations, and for country entry and exit.

• Logistics Service Provider (LSP) & Third-Party Network Ownership

• Hold end-to-end accountability for the current regional 3PL, LSP and TSP network, as well as including new partnerships: strategy, segmentation, sourcing, selection, onboarding, qualification, performance governance, remediation and exit.

• Lead the design and stand-up of the governance framework for the expanded partner network — tiered operating reviews, quarterly and annual business reviews, executive steering, escalation pathways and decision rights — and chair the senior-level forums.

• Own the commercial relationship with regional partners in close collaboration with Regional Supply Chain, Procurement and Legal: negotiate and steward contracts, rate cards, service level agreements, quality agreements, incentive and remedy mechanisms, and manage the contract lifecycle.

• Ensure clear articulation of Good Distribution Practice responsibilities, quality agreements, escalation routes and performance metrics across every external partner, in partnership with Supply Chain Quality.

• Drive value from the partner base: cost-to-serve reduction, service improvement, network consolidation where appropriate, dual-sourcing and resilience, and joint continuous-improvement and innovation programmes.

• Lead onboarding and integration of new partners and new flows into the network without disruption to supply, including validated shipping lanes, systems integration, data flows and business continuity provisions.

• Enterprise Partnership & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the senior distribution leader and single point of accountability for the EUMEA region, partnering directly with Commercial, Market Access, Medical, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Trade Compliance, Regional Supply Chain and Clinical Supply Chain leadership.

• Sit on the relevant regional and functional leadership teams; bring distribution insight into commercial planning, launch readiness, S&OP and long-range planning, and shape those plans rather than react to them.

• Own distribution launch readiness for the region: represent Distribution on launch and country-entry teams, define the fulfilment model per market, and commit to and deliver the readiness plan.

• Build senior external relationships with logistics partners, carriers, wholesalers, distributors, customers and, where relevant, regulators and industry bodies; represent the company externally on regional distribution matters.

• Influence and secure alignment across the enterprise without direct authority, resolving competing priorities at peer level and escalating only genuine trade-off decisions.

• Communicate the distribution vision, strategy and performance narrative credibly to executive audiences, including Executive Committee / regional leadership team level.

• Operational, Quality & Compliance Accountability

• Retain ultimate regional accountability for distribution and order fulfilment performance: order-to-delivery cycle time, on-time in-full, shipment integrity, temperature excursion rate, complaint and deviation performance, and customer service outcomes.

• Ensure the network operates in full compliance with GDP, applicable national licensing and wholesale dealer requirements, trade and customs regulation, dangerous goods and cold-chain requirements, health and safety standards and internal policy.

• Own the distribution risk profile for the region: risk identification and mitigation, business continuity and contingency planning, serialisation and traceability, product security and anti-diversion, and readiness for regulatory inspection and internal audit.

• Act as regional escalation point and decision-maker for supply-critical events, temperature excursions, product holds, recalls and mock recalls, in partnership with Quality and Regulatory.

• Oversee Dis