Location: Europe – Hybrid or Remote from Selected Countries with up to 30% travel

Sector: Generic Pharmaceuticals

We are partnering with a leading international pharmaceutical organisation to appoint a Global Head of API Procurement with significant experience managing large-scale API spend within a global generics environment.

This is a high-impact leadership role with responsibility for global API strategy, supplier performance, savings delivery, alternate-source implementation and leadership of senior procurement professionals.

It is also a great time to join: there is real scope to build, shape and strengthen the function, improve supply resilience and deliver commercial value that ultimately supports the availability and affordability of medicines for patients.

Location & Working Model

- Hybrid (3 days onsite) from the European headquarters, with relocation support available; or
- Remote from selected European countries, with up to 30% travel to HQ and other business/supplier locations.

Key Responsibilities

- Own a significant global finished API portfolio, ideally around €100m+ annually.
- Develop and execute API sourcing and supplier strategies across Europe and Asia.
- Lead major negotiations, supplier allocation and Finance-validated savings delivery.
- Drive alternate-source programmes end to end through qualification, implementation and realised P&L; benefit.




- Lead and develop senior procurement professionals while remaining hands‑on in key commercial decisions.
- Help shape the future capability and operating model of the global API procurement function.

Candidate Profile

- Recent Head-level or equivalent ownership of a major API procurement portfolio.
- Personal responsibility for approximately €100m+ annual API spend, with strong candidates from around €80m+ also considered.
- Strong experience purchasing finished APIs, ideally within generic pharmaceuticals.
- Direct supplier experience across Europe, India and China.
- Proven delivery of recurring, implemented and Finance-validated savings.
- End‑to‑end experience implementing alternate API sources, beyond supplier scouting alone.
- Formal leadership of senior procurement/category professionals across geographies.
- Strong commercial understanding of areas such as PPV, EBITDA, Budget, forecasting, working capital and savings pipelines.
- Able to operate strategically while remaining hands‑on in a lean organisation.

Particularly Relevant Backgrounds

Candidates are likely to come from generic or established pharmaceutical manufacturers with substantial small‑molecule API portfolios.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a strategically critical integral category, build something meaningful and leave a lasting impact on cost competitiveness, supply resilience and patient access to affordable medicines.

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📌 Global Head, API Procurement (España)
🏢 GxPeople Global
📍 España