Product Sourcing and Supply Specialist
Clinigen · Irene
The Sourcing & Supply Specialist is responsible for identifying, securing, and enabling robust supply routes for Global Access products, ensuring medicines can be reliably and compliantly supplied to patients at optimal total landed cost. The role focuses on market access, supplier strategy, and sourcing decision-making, while remaining actively engaged through the end-to-end supply journey to ensure sourcing decisions translate into executable, efficient supply. The role works in close partnership with Supply Planning & Inventory Buyers to support supply continuity, mitigate risk, and optimise the route to shelf from point of sourcing.
Key Responsibilities:
Global Access Sourcing Strategy & Execution
- Source Global Access pharmaceutical products in response to commercial and patient demand, ensuring compliant, ethical, and secure supply routes.
- Proactively identify and assess the most advantageous sourcing territories and suppliers, balancing availability, quality, lead time, and cost.
- Lead supplier engagement, commercial negotiation, and contract discussions for sourced products.
- Support tenders and sourcing activities for stock and non-stock requirements, ensuring sourcing decisions align with wider supply and inventory strategies.
Total Landed Cost & Route-to-Shelf Optimisation
- Move beyond unit price evaluation by assessing and optimising total landed cost, including product price, inbound logistics, duties, handling, warehousing, and working capital impact.
- Evaluate and factor shipping methods, temperature control requirements (ambient, cold chain, controlled), and logistical complexity into sourcing decisions.
- Design and recommend the most efficient route to shelf, considering supplier location, logistics pathways, regulatory requirements, and operational handoffs.
- Work collaboratively with Logistics, Quality, and Supply Planning colleagues at the point of sourcing to ensure chosen routes are operationally and commercially viable.
Supplier & Market Management
- Develop, maintain, and expand a global supplier base aligned to Global Access requirements, including both manufacturers and authorised distributors.
- Conduct ongoing review of supplier performance, market dynamics, pricing trends, and emerging risks or opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to increase direct manufacturer sourcing, exclusivity, or preferred supply arrangements where beneficial.
- Support Business Development and Commercial teams by identifying new product or partnership opportunities.
Supply Risk & Continuity Support
- Proactively identify supply risks at the point of sourcing, including availability constraints, single-source exposure, regulatory risk, or complex logistics.
- Act as a key enabler for the sourcing of products in shortage situations and Priority 1 life-saving cases, responding with urgency and flexibility to support patient-critical supply.
- Leverage international supplier networks and alternative sourcing routes to secure supply for urgent, constrained, or high-impact patient needs.
- Support identification of alternative suppliers or supply routes to mitigate current or potential supply disruptions.
- Remain engaged post-sourcing to support resolution of supply issues, recognising that sourcing accountability extends beyond contract award.
- Act as an escalation point for supplier-related commercial or availability issues, working closely with Buyers to drive resolution.
Cross-Functional Sourcing & Procurement Support
- Work in close partnership with Supply Planning & Inventory Buyers to ensure seamless handover from sourcing to procurement execution.
- Support procurement activities where required, including supplier communication, expedition support, and issue resolution during periods of complexity or disruption.
- Contribute sourcing insight into supply planning discussions, particularly for constrained, high-risk, or strategically important products.
- Operate as part of an integrated Sourcing & Procurement team, recognising shared accountability for patient supply outcomes.
Compliance, Quality, Process & Master Data Excellence
- Ensure all sourcing activities comply with regulatory, quality, and ethical standards, including GDP and anti-counterfeit controls.
- Follow, promote, and continuously improve sourcing and procurement SOPs, job aids, and governance processes.
- Utilise procurement systems, data, and analytics to support decision-making, improve efficiency, and drive compliance.
- Drive new SKU setup arising from sourcing activities, ensuring all required commercial, supplier, product, regulatory, logistics, and pricing master data is complete and accurate to enable seamless SKU creation in the Oracle ERP system.
- Work cross-functionally with Procurement, Quality, Finance, Logistics, and Master Data teams to progress SKU setup through to completion, proactively resolving gaps or delays that could impact product availability.
Personal Effectiveness
- Achievement of agreed individual and project KPIs
- Working collaboratively and cross functionally within Clinigen and partners to ensure all teams contribute to the excellence of service delivery
- Acting as an escalation point for issues with suppliers and supporting the business in the resolution of issues
Personal Development
- Develop and maintain effective business relationships at senior level client and with major relevant organizations, societies, networks
- Ensure knowledge of trends and developments in Global Access spaces are kept up to date and relevant and translated for the benefit of the team
- Develop and maintain effective business relationships with key Clinigen Group staff.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 re-enacts the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which places responsibilities on the employer and employees alike. In connection to this, the Company reminds employees of their duties under Section 7 of the act:
To take care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Additionally, employees must also co-operate with the company to enable it to discharge its own responsibilities successfully.
Furthermore, all employees must: -
- Carry out assigned tasks and duties in a safe manner, in accordance with instructions, and to comply with safety rules/procedures, regulations and codes of practice
- If aware of any unsafe practice or condition, or if in any doubt about the safety of any situation, consult their Line Manager
- Obtain and use the correct tools/equipment for the work and not to use any that are unsafe or damaged. All tools, equipment and personal protective equipment must be stored in the approved place after use
- Ensure that all guards are securely fixed and that all safety equipment and personal protective clothing/equipment provided are used
- Not to operate any plant or equipment unless authorised
- To report any accident, near-miss, dangerous occurrence or dangerous condition to their Line Manager
- To switch off and secure unattended plant or equipment
- To avoid improvised arrangements and suggest safe ways of eliminating hazards
- Not to participate in horseplay or place fellow employees in danger by their actions
General Responsibilities:
- Champion the Clinigen Way principles which underpin everything we do, living those values in daily Clinigen life
- Know Clinigen’s strategy and ensure what you do on a day-to-day basis is in line with those strategic objectives
- Ensure the work you do is of high quality and that Clinigen standards, procedures and policies are followed at all times.
- Engage in personal professional development and attend mandatory training
- Present the Company in a positive way at all times with internal and external clients, customers and staff
- Comply with the Company’s HR policies and the Health and Safety policy at all times
- Work flexibly and efficiently in order to meet internal and external customer needs, whilst maintaining the highest possible professional standards
- Bring new ideas and approaches with an open mind
- Maintain confidentiality and security at all times
Additional Duties/Responsibilities:
The list of duties/responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive, but gives a general indication of the tasks involved. It is the nature of the company that tasks and responsibilities are, in many circumstances, unpredictable and varied. All employees are, therefore, expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises and acknowledge that tasks not specifically covered in their job description are not excluded.
Requirements
Role Requirements
- Self-motivated to drive projects forward.
- Well organised and pro-active.
- Logical and process-minded with a keen eye for detail.
- Inquisitive and unafraid to challenge the status quo or key internal and external stakeholders (who may be more senior).
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to develop relationships with all parts of the business including the Senior Leadership Team.
- An individual who takes a common-sense approach in their day-to-day work and has the confidence to make well balanced and informed decisions with practical benefits.
- Excellent IT skills, including use of Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Benefits
- Company Contribution towards Medical Aid
- AlexForbes Pension Fund
- Group Life
- Representative Sales Incentive Schemes
LOCATIONS
- Irene, Pretoria, Route 21 Corporate Park