Senior Director Centralized 3d Party Manufacturing & Relationship Management, HNC

About the role

As Senior Director Centralized 3rd Party Manufacturing & Relationship Management, HNC, you will ensure that the right capabilities, resources, and processes are in place to effectively manage the external manufacturing landscape and support the successful industrialization of new products.

You will lead the C3PM team and play a key role in stakeholder management, both within HNC and across business units, ensuring seamless collaboration and operational excellence across the third-party manufacturing portfolio.

The Health, Nutrition & Care (HNC) Centralized 3rd Party Manufacturing (C3PM) Team of dsm-firmenich is responsible for the operational management of HNC’s externally manufactured product portfolio, produced through a global network of contract manufacturers and tolling partners. These products are brought to market under the dsm-firmenich brand, reflecting high standards of quality and service. The team’s scope also includes Global MRS (Market Ready Solutions) products launched via the Innovation team.

The C3PM portfolio comprises more than 120 products, including over 30 pharmaceutical products, delivered through approximately 20 external partners worldwide. Primarily focused on dietary supplement and pharmaceutical markets, this portfolio is dynamic and continuously evolving. Several products operate within highly regulated environments, requiring strict compliance with applicable regulations and licensing requirements, such as pharmaceuticals and controlled substances.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and improve performance (cost, quality, service) of HNC’s third-party manufacturers, including escalation and crisis handling.
• Lead strategic supplier relationships with selected suppliers, aligning operational performance and commercial agreements with business needs.
• Ensure supply reliability, strong governance, and effective issue resolution.
• Implement new third-party manufacturing flows to support innovation and strategic priorities.
• Maintain and develop the external manufacturing network to optimize cost and enable future growth.
• Ensure quality and regulatory compliance across the C3PM portfolio; manage deviations, complaints, and recalls.
• Act as key interface for customers on product documentation, changes, and quality topics.
• Maintain compliance of quality systems with food safety and pharma regulations.
• Lead and develop a team of approximately 20 employees, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and customer focus.

We bring

• Unique career paths across health, nutrition and beauty.
• A chance to impact millions of consumers every day, with sustainability embedded in all we do.
• A science-led company with cutting-edge research and creativity everywhere.
• Growth that keeps up with you through development of your expertise and leadership.
• A collaborative culture with shared wins and supportive teams.
• A community where your voice matters and is essential to serving customers well.

You bring

• Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in senior roles within operations, supply chain, product management, or similar functions in the food, pharma, or related industries, including expertise in process and technology, quality and regulatory compliance, product and asset strategy, operations and external manufacturing management, and contracting and supplier management.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, with solid commercial acumen.
• Proven ability to lead and collaborate across multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Excellent communication skills, strategic mindset, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Leadership capabilities including coaching, mentoring, and stakeholder management.
• Customer-focused, results-driven, and pragmatic, with the ability to make risk-based decisions.
• High level of self-awareness, adaptability, and prioritization skills.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.

About dsm-firmenich

dsm-firmenich is a global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

While you’re making a difference, you’ll keep growing too, with learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up, and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here, and your ideas are essential to the future.