Direct Materials Buyer
Corden Pharma - A Full-Service CDMO, Boulder, CO, United States
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
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 and 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) manufactures in accordance with FDA, ICH Q7, and other applicable global regulations. 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 incorporates cGMP and is designed to deliver this quality objective. Adherence to clearly defined procedures, in compliance with the principles of cGMP, is required when performing operations across CPC.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Data/Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field
Master’s Degree (MBA, Data Analytics, or related scientific field) preferred
Five years of Procurement/Sourcing experience in mid-to large multinational companies. Category or business engagement experience preferred, with at least 3 years in a GMP‑compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing or life sciences environment
Strong data analytics capabilities, including the ability to interpret complex procurement data and extract actionable procurement insights
Familiarity with FDA, EMA, ICH Q10, and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements
Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English; and present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to leadership and other employees
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, and percent; and draw and interpret bar graphs
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; deal with problems involving several concrete variables; and apply logical principles as they apply to analytics and business requests
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)
Strong background in business intelligence, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, and a thorough understanding of GMP and regulatory compliance frameworks
Proficient with BI and data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, QlikView, Smartsheet)
Advanced SQL and data modeling capabilities
Experience with data extraction from GMP systems such as SAP, Oracle, LabWare, Sample Manager, TrackWise, MasterControl, Veeva
Familiarity with KPIs (DIO, OTIF, OEE, yield, lead time, release time)
Experience supporting regulatory inspections and responding to data‑related audit findings
Strong organizational, project management, and leadership skills; experience managing cross‑functional projects and/or leading technical teams
Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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
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 and 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) manufactures in accordance with FDA, ICH Q7, and other applicable global regulations. 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 incorporates cGMP and is designed to deliver this quality objective. Adherence to clearly defined procedures, in compliance with the principles of cGMP, is required when performing operations across CPC.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Data/Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field
Master’s Degree (MBA, Data Analytics, or related scientific field) preferred
Five years of Procurement/Sourcing experience in mid-to large multinational companies. Category or business engagement experience preferred, with at least 3 years in a GMP‑compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing or life sciences environment
Strong data analytics capabilities, including the ability to interpret complex procurement data and extract actionable procurement insights
Familiarity with FDA, EMA, ICH Q10, and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements
Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English; and present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to leadership and other employees
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rate, ratio, and percent; and draw and interpret bar graphs
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; deal with problems involving several concrete variables; and apply logical principles as they apply to analytics and business requests
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)
Strong background in business intelligence, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, and a thorough understanding of GMP and regulatory compliance frameworks
Proficient with BI and data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, QlikView, Smartsheet)
Advanced SQL and data modeling capabilities
Experience with data extraction from GMP systems such as SAP, Oracle, LabWare, Sample Manager, TrackWise, MasterControl, Veeva
Familiarity with KPIs (DIO, OTIF, OEE, yield, lead time, release time)
Experience supporting regulatory inspections and responding to data‑related audit findings
Strong organizational, project management, and leadership skills; experience managing cross‑functional projects and/or leading technical teams
Excellent computer skills (Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr