!*Supply Base Project Lead - Global MedTech - Germany!*
Location: Kelberg, Germany
Start date: ASAP
Work Arrangement: Permanent
Job Description
Planet Pharma are working with a global medical technology company focused on advancing healthcare by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care. The organisation develops technologies, devices, laboratory solutions, and clinical systems that support healthcare professionals in diagnosing disease, administering treatments, and enhancing patient and clinician safety. They work closely with hospitals, laboratories, and research institutions to address major health challenges, improve clinical outcomes, increase efficiency, and expand access to care.
Role:
The Supply Base Project Lead is responsible for driving supplier‑related projects that shape, stabilise and optimise the supply base, with a strong emphasis on supplier transfers, industrialisation activities and the ramp‑up to serial production. The role oversees end‑to‑end coordination of supply base initiatives, ensuring cost competitiveness, supply continuity, quality compliance and on‑time industrialisation. It also serves as a key interface between Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality and the wider Project Organisation, operating with significant commercial responsibility and influence within a regulated manufacturing environment.
A career in this role means working alongside passionate colleagues committed to innovation, continuous improvement and meaningful impact. It offers the opportunity to contribute to transformative projects, collaborate across diverse functions and help shape the future of high‑quality manufacturing and supply excellence. The environment encourages growth, learning and the pursuit of solutions that make a real difference.
Scope of Responsibilities
Supply Base Project Leadership
* Lead cross‑functional supply base projects, including supplier transfers, industrialisation programmes and ramp‑ups from development to serial production.
* Define project scope, milestones, timelines and deliverables related to supplier readiness, capacity and supply continuity.
* Act as the central coordination point between SCM, Purchasing, Engineering, Quality, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, EHS and Project Management.
Sourcing & Supplier Nomination Support
* Develop and execute sourcing strategies for complex components or assemblies in alignment with cross‑functional stakeholders.
* Lead RFQ/RFP processes, including technical, commercial, capacity and risk assessments.• Support supplier nomination decisions based on total cost of ownership, supply risk and long‑term sustainability.
Commercial & Contractual Accountability
* Lead or support commercial negotiations covering pricing, cost models, volume assumptions and cost breakdowns.
* Ensure contractual frameworks are in place, including Incoterms, payment terms, tooling ownership, investment agreements and change‑management clauses.
* Manage commercial topics throughout the project lifecycle, including claims, price adjustments and contract amendments.
Supplier Transfer & Industrialisation
* Coordinate supplier onboarding and manage transfer milestones from prototype and pre‑series through to ramp‑up and serial production.
* Ensure supplier capabilities align with quality, capacity, logistics and compliance requirements before SOP.
* Support sourcing of subcomponents and critical materials, including dual‑sourcing or parallel production strategies during transitions.
Cost & Value Management
* Monitor cost development during supplier transfer and ramp‑up phases.
* Manage commercial impacts of engineering or process changes.
* Drive value engineering and cost‑reduction initiatives with suppliers and internal teams
* Ensure transparency of key cost drivers such as materials, labour, overhead and logistics.
Supply Risk & Continuity Management
* Identify and assess supply risks, including capacity constraints, single‑source dependencies and financial or geopolitical exposures.
* Implement mitigation measures such as safety stock strategies, alternative suppliers or phased ramp‑ups.
* Support escalation management to safeguard serial supply in case of performance or delivery issues.
Supplier Performance & Relationship Management
* Define, track and review supplier KPIs related to cost, delivery, responsiveness and ramp‑up performance.
* Support supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Foster strong, collaborative supplier relationships, particularly during ramp‑up and early serial production.
* Support structured business reviews and escalation processes.
Requirements:
* Degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, Engineering, or a comparable field.
* Several years of experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, Supplier Development, or Project Management within a manufacturing or regulated industry.
* Proven experience leading supplier related projects, ideally including supplier transfers or industrialization.
* Solid commercial and contractual understanding, including negotiation exposure.
* Experience working in cross-functional, matrix organizations.
If this role isn’t suitable for you, please let us know if you can refer anyone – any recommendations are much appreciated! Planet Pharma offers a competitive referral scheme so you will be rewarded for your help!
About Planet Pharma
Planet Pharma is an American parented Employment Business/Agency that provides global staffing services with its head-quarters in Chicago and our EMEA regional office located in Central London. We have invested significantly in creating a robust international platform that enables us to work compliantly in 30+ countries with a current network of 2500+ active contractors globally as well as a very strong permanent / direct hire recruitment offering.
Our specialist knowledge and close relationships with our clients and the wider industry really makes us unique in our field. Just recently we were recognized by FORBES as the 17th best professional staffing firm, and have won multiple awards from industry accredited bodies for our commitment to excellence and service delivery. We have extensive functional expertise including: Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, QA, QC, Submissions experts, Clinical development, Quality, Biostatistics, and Medical Affairs / Writing.
We are an equal opportunities Recruitment Business and Agency.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.