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 integral 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 (Madrid)
🏢 GxPeople Global
📍 Madrid