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.

📌 Global Head, Api Procurement (La Mancha)
🏢 GxPeople Global
📍 La Mancha