What are the responsibilities and job description for the Materials Planning & Supplier Operations Manager position at Novartis?
:::Please note: This is a temporary contractor opportunity at Novartis :::
Novartis touches the lives of a tenth of the world’s population. Every role here, regardless of contract type, makes an impact on human life!
Novartis US partners with external managed service provider Magnit Global to offer engaging temporary contractor opportunities like this, to those who are looking for flexibility in their career while looking to gain new skills and experiences providing services to an inclusive global medicines company. Click here to learn more about Magnit www.magnitglobal.com
Ready to work with/through Magnit at Novartis? Please read on...
Materials Planning & Supplier Operations Manager
Job Purpose:
The Manager, Materials Planning & Supplier Operations is accountable for ensuring end‑to‑end material and service availability required to support safe, compliant, and uninterrupted manufacturing operations at the Indianapolis manufacturing campus.
This role integrates material planning, purchasing execution, supplier performance management, and site procurement for services and capital investments (CAPEX). The position plays a critical role in translating demand and investment needs into executable supply and sourcing strategies, improving planning stability, safeguarding production continuity, and enabling disciplined capital deployment across the site.
The role is designed to operate effectively in a complex, multi‑technology manufacturing environment and to scale with evolving operational scope.
Materials Planning & MRP Governance
Own site‑level materials planning execution, ensuring effective use of MRP logic, parameters, and planning calendars across operations.
Drive time‑phased, exception‑based material planning to reduce replanning, manual overrides, and reactive purchasing.
Lead root‑cause analysis for material‑driven production disruptions, including shortages, supplier constraints, and planning inaccuracies.
Partner with Production Planning to ensure material feasibility is embedded in executable production schedules.
Procurement Execution – Materials, Services & CAPEX
Own end‑to‑end procurement execution for Direct and indirect production materials, Site‑based services supporting manufacturing operations, Capital equipment and infrastructure (CAPEX).
Ensure purchasing activities are compliant with global sourcing strategies, financial controls, and procurement policies.
Provide governance and prioritization for CAPEX sourcing activities, ensuring alignment with project timelines, technical requirements, and budget constraints.
Directly manage a dedicated CAPEX buyer, providing oversight, prioritization, and development.
Supplier Performance & Risk Management
Own site‑level supplier performance for materials, services, and CAPEX, including delivery reliability, responsiveness, and issue resolution.
Proactively identify and escalate supply, capacity, or commercial risks impacting production continuity or capital delivery.
Drive corrective actions with suppliers, Engineering, Quality, and Global Procurement partners.
Inventory Health & Asset Protection
Actively manage inventory risk, including excess, expired, blocked, slow‑moving, and obsolete materials.
Define coverage strategies and safety stocks aligned with criticality, lead times, and operational risk profiles.
Support working capital optimization while protecting operational continuity.
Cross Functional & Governance Leadership
Serve as the site owner for material readiness and procurement performance discussions in execution and escalation forums.
Provide credible inputs into site S&OP processes, including material, supplier, and capacity risk scenarios.
Establish and continuously improve planning, procurement, and supplier governance standards, KPIs, and ways of working across the site.
Act as a capability builder for planners and buyers, reinforcing planning discipline, structured problem solving, and accountability.
Compliance & Data Integrity
Ensure full compliance with GMP, SOX, financial controls, and procurement governance, including documentation and audit readiness.
Maintain high data quality in ERP systems (D365, SAP), including material masters, purchasing info records, lead times, and planning parameters.
Technical / Functional Requirements
Strong mastery of MRP, materials planning, and purchasing execution
Pharmaceutical industry and GMP environment knowledge
Proven experience managing services procurement and capital sourcing
Supplier performance and risk management in regulated manufacturing
SAP MM / PP proficiency; strong data discipline
Leadership & Operating Model
Ability to operate across multiple operational interfaces (Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance)
Structured decision‑making under operational pressure
Experience managing direct reports with distinct execution scopes (e.g., CAPEX)
Behavioral
Ownership mindset with bias for prevention over reaction
Clear, concise communication with technical and senior stakeholders
Continuous improvement and standardization orientation
Analytic thinker and problem solver.
Sense of priorities and capacity to work under pressure
Requirements:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field. Professional certification (CPIM, CSCP, PMP), or MBA is preferred
Experience:
5 years progressive experience in materials planning and procurement, in pharmaceutical manufacturing supply operations. Knowledge of nuclear medicine industry, including industry-specific supply chain challenges is a plus.
Proven experience in driving Operational Excellence initiatives, including implementing systems and processes that enhance efficiency, quality, and cost optimization.
Demonstrated ownership of end‑to‑end procurement execution, including suppliers, services, and/or capital equipment
Proven ability to scale processes, governance, and teams as operational scope increases
Highly proficient in organizational skills, with a strong orientation toward process management and project management to ensure seamless execution of supply chain activities.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Preferred
Exposure to capital project environments
Experience supporting multiple manufacturing technologies or processes
Participation in site transformation or growth initiatives
Location: Indianapolis, IN (Onsite)
Pay Rate: $55/hour-$62.50/hour based on experience and qualifications (W2 Only)
Contract: 18-month
Health, dental, vision, 401k (provided minimum eligibility hours are met)
Why Novartis:
Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?
EEO Statement:
The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Accommodation:
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Magnit at directsourceproteam@prounlimited.com.
Novartis touches the lives of a tenth of the world’s population. Every role here, regardless of contract type, makes an impact on human life!
Novartis US partners with external managed service provider Magnit Global to offer engaging temporary contractor opportunities like this, to those who are looking for flexibility in their career while looking to gain new skills and experiences providing services to an inclusive global medicines company. Click here to learn more about Magnit www.magnitglobal.com
Ready to work with/through Magnit at Novartis? Please read on...
Materials Planning & Supplier Operations Manager
Job Purpose:
The Manager, Materials Planning & Supplier Operations is accountable for ensuring end‑to‑end material and service availability required to support safe, compliant, and uninterrupted manufacturing operations at the Indianapolis manufacturing campus.
This role integrates material planning, purchasing execution, supplier performance management, and site procurement for services and capital investments (CAPEX). The position plays a critical role in translating demand and investment needs into executable supply and sourcing strategies, improving planning stability, safeguarding production continuity, and enabling disciplined capital deployment across the site.
The role is designed to operate effectively in a complex, multi‑technology manufacturing environment and to scale with evolving operational scope.
Materials Planning & MRP Governance
Own site‑level materials planning execution, ensuring effective use of MRP logic, parameters, and planning calendars across operations.
Drive time‑phased, exception‑based material planning to reduce replanning, manual overrides, and reactive purchasing.
Lead root‑cause analysis for material‑driven production disruptions, including shortages, supplier constraints, and planning inaccuracies.
Partner with Production Planning to ensure material feasibility is embedded in executable production schedules.
Procurement Execution – Materials, Services & CAPEX
Own end‑to‑end procurement execution for Direct and indirect production materials, Site‑based services supporting manufacturing operations, Capital equipment and infrastructure (CAPEX).
Ensure purchasing activities are compliant with global sourcing strategies, financial controls, and procurement policies.
Provide governance and prioritization for CAPEX sourcing activities, ensuring alignment with project timelines, technical requirements, and budget constraints.
Directly manage a dedicated CAPEX buyer, providing oversight, prioritization, and development.
Supplier Performance & Risk Management
Own site‑level supplier performance for materials, services, and CAPEX, including delivery reliability, responsiveness, and issue resolution.
Proactively identify and escalate supply, capacity, or commercial risks impacting production continuity or capital delivery.
Drive corrective actions with suppliers, Engineering, Quality, and Global Procurement partners.
Inventory Health & Asset Protection
Actively manage inventory risk, including excess, expired, blocked, slow‑moving, and obsolete materials.
Define coverage strategies and safety stocks aligned with criticality, lead times, and operational risk profiles.
Support working capital optimization while protecting operational continuity.
Cross Functional & Governance Leadership
Serve as the site owner for material readiness and procurement performance discussions in execution and escalation forums.
Provide credible inputs into site S&OP processes, including material, supplier, and capacity risk scenarios.
Establish and continuously improve planning, procurement, and supplier governance standards, KPIs, and ways of working across the site.
Act as a capability builder for planners and buyers, reinforcing planning discipline, structured problem solving, and accountability.
Compliance & Data Integrity
Ensure full compliance with GMP, SOX, financial controls, and procurement governance, including documentation and audit readiness.
Maintain high data quality in ERP systems (D365, SAP), including material masters, purchasing info records, lead times, and planning parameters.
Technical / Functional Requirements
Strong mastery of MRP, materials planning, and purchasing execution
Pharmaceutical industry and GMP environment knowledge
Proven experience managing services procurement and capital sourcing
Supplier performance and risk management in regulated manufacturing
SAP MM / PP proficiency; strong data discipline
Leadership & Operating Model
Ability to operate across multiple operational interfaces (Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance)
Structured decision‑making under operational pressure
Experience managing direct reports with distinct execution scopes (e.g., CAPEX)
Behavioral
Ownership mindset with bias for prevention over reaction
Clear, concise communication with technical and senior stakeholders
Continuous improvement and standardization orientation
Analytic thinker and problem solver.
Sense of priorities and capacity to work under pressure
Requirements:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field. Professional certification (CPIM, CSCP, PMP), or MBA is preferred
Experience:
5 years progressive experience in materials planning and procurement, in pharmaceutical manufacturing supply operations. Knowledge of nuclear medicine industry, including industry-specific supply chain challenges is a plus.
Proven experience in driving Operational Excellence initiatives, including implementing systems and processes that enhance efficiency, quality, and cost optimization.
Demonstrated ownership of end‑to‑end procurement execution, including suppliers, services, and/or capital equipment
Proven ability to scale processes, governance, and teams as operational scope increases
Highly proficient in organizational skills, with a strong orientation toward process management and project management to ensure seamless execution of supply chain activities.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Preferred
Exposure to capital project environments
Experience supporting multiple manufacturing technologies or processes
Participation in site transformation or growth initiatives
Location: Indianapolis, IN (Onsite)
Pay Rate: $55/hour-$62.50/hour based on experience and qualifications (W2 Only)
Contract: 18-month
Health, dental, vision, 401k (provided minimum eligibility hours are met)
Why Novartis:
Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?
EEO Statement:
The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Accommodation:
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Magnit at directsourceproteam@prounlimited.com.
Salary : $55 - $63