Direct Materials Buyer

CordenPharma is a leading full-service Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients, drug products (DPs), and packaging. With around 3,000 employees worldwide, we help pharmaceutical and biotech companies manufacture medicines with the ultimate goal of improving people’s lives.

Our network, spanning Europe and the U.S., provides flexible and specialized solutions across six technology platforms: Peptides, Lipids & Carbohydrates, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, Small Molecules, and Oligonucleotides. We strive for excellence in supporting this network and are committed to delivering the highest quality products for patient well-being.

Our People Vision

We strive for excellence. We share our passion. Together, we make a difference in patients' lives.

SUMMARY

The Direct Materials Buyer is responsible for leading end-to-end procurement and category management activities for direct materials used in GMP manufacturing. Operating within a CDMO and regulated pharma environment, this role supports drug development and commercial manufacturing by driving strategic sourcing, supplier lifecycle management, contract execution, and cost optimization while ensuring uninterrupted supply, product quality, and full regulatory compliance. The position executes sourcing initiatives and procurement transactions in accordance with FDA, EMA, ICH, and GxP requirements, maintaining complete, accurate, and audit-ready documentation. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve category strategies for direct materials aligned with manufacturing demand, product lifecycle needs, and GMP regulatory requirements
• Own the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for assigned direct material categories, including sourcing events, supplier selection, qualification, contracting, and purchase execution
• Lead supplier identification, onboarding, qualification, and requalification in partnership with Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing teams
• Conduct commercial negotiations covering pricing, lead times, capacity commitments, quality agreements, contractual terms, and risk mitigation strategies
• Ensure continuity of supply through dual sourcing, capacity planning, safety stock strategies, and proactive risk and contingency management
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, and Finance to translate material specifications, forecasts, and compliance requirements into effective sourcing strategies
• Perform market intelligence, cost modeling, and benchmarking for pharmaceutical raw materials and packaging to identify cost reduction, value creation, and supply resilience opportunities
• Manage direct material spend, budgets, and cost-saving initiatives, including tracking, validating, and reporting procurement KPIs
• Monitor supplier performance related to quality, delivery, service, and compliance; address non-conformances, deviations, and supply disruptions, and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs)
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with GMP, GxP, data integrity standards, and internal quality systems
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready procurement records, including material specifications, quality agreements, supplier documentation, contracts, and purchasing data within ERP and procurement systems
• Support regulatory inspections and customer audits by providing procurement- and supplier-related documentation and responses
• Contribute to broader strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier risk management programs, and continuous improvement projects across the direct materials supply chain

LEADERSHIP & BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides guidance and leadership where appropriate. Participates in the expense budget process by developing, tracking, and reporting data related to teams and projects.

SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Every individual is personally responsible for the safety and environmental aspects of their activities in the workplace. Each employee is expected to perform their job duties in a safe manner utilizing all their knowledge, training, ability, and experience.

QUALITY RESPONSIBILITIES

Corden Pharma Colorado (CPC) is a manufacturer of a variety of pharmaceutical products. In following Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Corden Pharma Colorado manufactures in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Council for Harmonisation Q7 (ICH), and other global regulations as applicable. This is critical as it is our mission to not place patients at risk due to inadequate safety, quality, or efficacy. CPC’s Quality Management System, which incorporates cGMP, is designed to deliver this quality objective. Attainment is produced through the requisite participation and commitment of all staff across departments and at all levels within the company. 

cGMP is the part of Quality Management System ensuring products are consistently produced to accurate quality standards. Adherence to clearly defined procedures, in compliance with the principles of cGMP, is required when performing operations across Corden Pharma Colorado.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English.  Ability to read, write, and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to leadership and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. 

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to apply and understand logical principles as they apply to analytics and business requests.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Microsoft Certified preferred: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP), GAMP 5 or equivalent GxP training certification , PMP or Agile/Scrum certification (for project-based work).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; work with hands; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach above shoulder height; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and noise typical of an office environment.

CORE COMPETENCIES  

These are the specific areas of knowledge, skill and ability that are important for successful job performance. They must be job related and consistent with business necessity.

• Strong background in business intelligence, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, and a thorough understanding of GMP and regulatory compliance frameworks

• Technical & Analytical Skills

o   Proficient with BI and data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, QlikView, Smartsheet)

o   Advanced SQL and data modeling capabilities

o   Experience with data extraction from a variety of GMP systems such as: SAP, Oracle, LabWare, Sample Manager, TrackWise, MasterControl, Veeva

o   Familiarity with KPIs (DIO, OTIF, OEE, yield, lead time, release time)

o   Understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and data integrity principles

o   Knowledge of validation processes (CSV) and when/how BI tools are qualified in a regulated environment

o   Experience supporting regulatory inspections and responding to data-related audit findings

o   Ability to communicate technical data to non-technical GMP stakeholders

o   Strong organizational, project management, and leadership skills

o   Experience managing cross-functional projects and/or leading technical teams

SALARY

Actual pay will be based on your skills and experience.

BENEFITS

• 401(k) matching - Corden Pharma will contribute 100% of the first 6% - 100% vested after 2 years of service 
• Accident Plan
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Insurance PPO/HSA
• Hospital Indemnity Plan
• ID Theft Protection
• Life Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness Program
• Vacation – Three Weeks 1st Year
• Vision Insurance

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Corden Pharma provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Corden Pharma embraces fair hiring practices.

 This post will expire March 5, 2026