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Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.
Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us .
The Vice President, External Manufacturing is a bold, transformative enterprise leader responsible for the strategic direction and operational execution of BMS's global external manufacturing network — spanning the full portfolio across Product Development and Supply (PDS).
This role oversees a large and complex network of Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) and CDMOs that collectively underpin over $10 billion in annual BMS revenue. A defining mandate is to build and scale a fully integrated, seamless and efficient external network spanning clinical development through to commercial manufacturing, encompassing clinical manufacturing, tech transfer, process validation, and commercial readiness across a portfolio of strategically aligned CMO/CDMO partners.
With accountability for a matrixed organization of 600+ employees across the US, Europe, and Asia, this leader sets and drives the external manufacturing strategy to ensure reliable, high-quality, cost-competitive supply of Biologics, Pharmaceutical, and Cell Therapy products in full alignment with BMS's enterprise supply chain goals, cGMP standards, and patient-first mission.
- Define and drive the long-term global external manufacturing strategy across BMS' portfolios, aligned with BMS's broader supply chain and enterprise priorities.
- Create a clinical development through commercial manufacturing operating model, integrating CDMOs for early-phase through to CMOs for late-stage and commercial production — strategically investing in partner excellence.
- Partner with Business Development, Portfolio Strategy, and Finance to align external manufacturing capacity to pipeline progression and commercial demand forecasts.
- Think 3–5 years ahead, developing contingency plans and strategic optionality in an increasingly complex global environment.
- Create integrated, long-term strategies with the potential to transform BMS and the broader biopharma and cell therapy industry.
- Digital Transformation - Own and drive the AI and digital strategy for the external manufacturing network – establishing BMS as an industry leader in AI-enabled partner orchestration and supply chain intelligence,
- Enable real-time, bidirectional data exchange with CMO/CDMO partners; leverage AI and advanced analytics to generate predictive insights on supply risk, quality trends, and operational performance across the network, with human-in-the-loop governance at critical decision gates.
- Establish an AI governance framework for the external manufacturing ecosystem – defining standards for model validation, data sharing agreements, IP protection, algorithmic transparency, and regulatory acceptability of AI-augmented decisions in GMP environments.
- Build the digital infrastructure and data architecture required to scale AI capabilities across 75+ external partners with varying levels of digital maturity.
- Provide comprehensive business, relationship, and operational oversight of 75+ external partners globally across Product Development and Supply.
- Build and sustain a world-class, flexible, and agile external manufacturing network with a relentless focus on quality, reliable supply, digital integration, compliance, and operational excellence.
- Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) models, including virtual plant team structures, to ensure appropriate oversight, controls, and partner accountability.
- Develop, negotiate, implement, and enforce supply contracts with external parties in collaboration with Business Development, Procurement, Finance, and Legal.
- Hold ultimate accountability for GMP compliance across the external network, ensuring health authority inspection readiness and sustained performance standards.
- Proactively identify risks across the network; ensure appropriate escalation and stakeholder communication when program goals or timelines are at risk.
- Ensure reliable, on-time, and predictable delivery of products across a global network.
- Set and track financial goals for external manufacturing partners, ensuring ROI is maximized and budget/spend managed effectively.
- Drive continuous improvement programs; identify and resolve complex issues impacting external sites to meet cost, quality, delivery, and technology objectives.
- Champion network resilience, business continuity, and COGS reduction initiatives across the external manufacturing ecosystem.
- Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing, inclusive organization of 600+ professionals globally; actively identify future talent and workforce needs.
- Hire and develop change agents; foster a culture that welcomes challenges, encourages innovation, and supports learning.
- Identify transformative opportunities that drive higher organizational performance; lead with data and rationale to build broad support for bold change.
- Partner with Quality, Regulatory, MS&T, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development and Finance to deliver optimal outcomes from strategy through execution.
- Serve as the primary enterprise voice for External Manufacturing at the senior leadership level, advising the EVP, Chief Supply Chain & Operations Officer.
- Collaborate with and participate on matrix leadership teams as a trusted and proactive partner.
- 15+ years of biopharmaceutical manufacturing/operations experience in a complex, global environment with a demonstrated track record of building productive internal and external relationships.
- Proven External Manufacturing experience working with CMO/CDMO networks and multi-modal supply delivery at scale.
- Demonstrated leadership across clinical development through to commercial manufacturing environments.
- Deep expertise in GMP compliance and regulatory frameworks across multiple geographies.
- Track record as a lead change agent in large-scale organizational and operational transformations.
- Business-savvy, commercially minded leader with strong financial acumen and ability to manage significant budget and spend.
- Proven ability to develop, negotiate, and enforce supply contracts with external parties.
- Experience leading large, distributed, cross-functional teams in matrix, multi-location environments.
- BS/BA in a Scientific Field (Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Life Sciences, or Engineering); advanced technical degree, needed MBA, or equivalent experience strongly preferred.
- Ability to travel up to 40% of the time, including spending at least one week per month (25% of working time) based in Boudry, Switzerland to support business operations and decision-making.
#LI-Hybrid
If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.
Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.
On-site Protocol
BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:
Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.
Supporting People with Disabilities
BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [email protected] . Visit careers.bms.com/ eeo -accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.
Candidate Rights
BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.
If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/
Data Protection
We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection .
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If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at [email protected] . Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.
R1604895 : Vice President, External Manufacturing
