Job description

Strategic Procurement Lead

Oxford, UK

Job Title: Strategic Procurement Lead

Employment Status: Full Time, Permanent (Hybrid)

Practice: Supply Chain

Location: Oxford

Salary: Competitive

Company:

Do you want to make a difference while advancing your career? Come join Osler.

We are a UK diagnostics company whose purpose is to enable anyone, anywhere, to access, understand, and act on their health, to live healthier, happier, and longer lives.

We are realising this through the development of the Osler Origin – a 'portable lab' capable of performing a wide range of testing, with lab-quality performance, in a portable, rapid, low-cost, and easy-to-use manner. The Osler Origin will offer a wide portfolio of diagnostic tests and serve all major healthcare settings, globally.

The Osler Origin is powered by a portfolio of novel techniques and approaches for sample addition, microfluidic sample preparation, and electrochemical biosensing, and Osler was formed out of the University of Oxford in 2017, following decades of research.

Having recently completed an $85m Series C fundraise, we are now entering a growth phase, where we are scaling our team as we take the Osler Origin product through regulatory activities, and towards market launch.

Join us and help build a better future.

 

About the role
We are recruiting for an Strategic Procurement Lead based in Oxford, to build and develop our
procurement function and strategic partner capabilities and support design verification / validation,
clinical and commercial scale up manufacturing activities.
This role is a critical position in the Supply Chain function within Osler, reporting into the Head of
Supply Chain. The role will be accountable for developing and sustaining a world class procurement
function capable of supporting development, design, clinical and commercial requirements across
the business both internally and externally.
Initially, the focus for the incumbent will be on the development and implementation of core
strategic procurement processes, procedures and disciplines throughout the supply chain to instil
structure, standardisation and control so that risk is mitigated and continuity of high-quality supply is
achieved, within the parameters of stringent regulatory requirements.
This role will be responsible for Procurement activities for all goods and services to support Osler
Diagnostic’s needs through design activities, clinical builds, commercial launch and scale up.
The role will have immediate line management responsibilities of a procurement specialist but as the
business grows and the demand on supply chain expands, the team will also need to evolve to
support such growth so team / individual development will be a key element to the role.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Support the Head of Supply Chain in the development and deployment of category /subcontract / supplier strategies, providing a clear vision and strategic framework. Work collaboratively, as part of a highly skilled cross functional teams to ensure that strategies meet the needs of current and future programmes of activity.
  • Lead the execution of sourcing and commercial activities to maximise the value proposition across designated product & service categories and/or packages. Develop a fact-based understanding of current supply base, supplier economics and major trends in relevant markets.
  • Lead the commercial and technical oversight of all Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs), including performance management, contract compliance, technical governance, and cross-functional alignment to ensure reliable supply, quality, and cost efficiency.
  • Work with suppliers & stakeholders to proactively identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities in line with agreed contracts, with deployment of relevant cost models.
  • Build & nurture effective relationships with multiple key stakeholders, both internal and external, in order to build support & drive organisational priorities.
  • Play a key role in supporting the Head of Supply Chain in developing & implementing the Procurement strategy.
  • Lead day-to-day management activities of suppliers and service providers ensuring service levels are maintained, risks are mitigated, issues are resolved, and customer deliveries are not compromised. Engage and leverage technical and quality resources as required.
  • Develop collaborative relationships with suppliers to explore available opportunities that will yield long term benefits in support of supply chain strategy and business goals.
  • Provide leadership and direction to all individuals within the Procurement function ensuring personal development plans and succession planning pipelines are in place and regularly reviewed and that a culture of continuous learning is promoted and maintained.
  • Continually promote and facilitate the use of Lean / Six Sigma thinking and tools to develop world class culture of continuous improvement within the function.
  • Develop, maintain and leverage collaborative internal (including cross-functional) and external networks/relationships to drive effective business deliverables and results.
  • Develop, implement, maintain, and continually enhance a suite of performance metrics monitoring the ongoing performance, and facilitating the continuous improvement, of the Procurement function and its associated business processes, QMS/regulatory controls, and Health & Safety obligations.
  • Produce relevant and appropriate reports providing data, commentary, and narrative as required to customers, key stakeholders, and accountable functions (internal and external).
  • Working closely with suppliers / internal stakeholders to ensure ‘on time / in-full’ order delivery schedules to enable demand requirements (internally and externally) are met with minimal disruption.
  • Develop and initiate co-ordinated processes and procedures to support supplier selection, supplier management, order management, contract management, cost down initiatives, supplier development activities and supply risk / risk mitigation.
  • Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders to highlight anticipated supply / supplier issues and robust mitigations proactively.
  • Ensure that the material purchasing plan meets the requirements of product development, pilot line production requirements and off-site development / validation / production activities with Osler’s CMO partners.
  • Identify and implement SAP system practices and processes so that the organisation is utilising increased system capabilities

Skills & Experience:

Essential:

  • Experience of using SAP ByDesign and/or relevant ERP systems.
  • Demonstrable strategic sourcing experience – assess the market, source, evaluate, negotiate, award & contract
  • Highly competent in Contract Negotiation and Contract Management
  • Knowledge of application of Supplier Relationship Management process & techniques
  • Significant relevant experience in Procurement & Supply Chain within a related sector/industry
  • Excellent communicator who leverages well-developed interpersonal, influencing and networking skills to build effective relationships and drive business results.
  • Strong verbal and written communications capabilities. Ability to drive positive change throughout the organisation.
  • Strong analytical skillset with the ability to identify risks to business performance and/or opportunities for performance improvement.
  • Driven and resilient, with the ability to work effectively within a fast-paced changing environment while continually growing and developing own self. 
  • Effective planning, organizational and communication skills.
  • Experience of working in a highly regulated environment.
  • Understanding of health and safety requirements in a medical device manufacturing environment.
  • Proactive attitude and ability to work autonomously.
  •  IT Skills – good working knowledge of MS Office

Desirable:

  • Knowledge of IVD and/or Medical Device manufacturing in relation with ISO 13485.
  • Formally trained in Lean/Six Sigma philosophies and tool kits.
  • Professional Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (C.I.P.S.)

Join us and build a better future.