Director of Global Supply Chain / Site Head, Valencia

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

Director, Global Supply Chain / Site Head, Valencia

Build locally. Lead globally.

New Clinical Trial Kit Assembly & Global Supply Facility | Valencia, Spain | Onsite five days per week

At ICON, we're investing in the future of clinical trial supply and laboratory services by establishing a new clinical trial kit assembly, packaging and global supply facility in Valencia.

The Valencia site will play a critical role in ICON's global clinical trial network. It will assemble and distribute protocol-specific sample collection kits to clinical trial sites around the world, enabling patient specimens to be collected correctly and then transported safely and efficiently to ICON's laboratories for testing.

We're looking for an experienced senior operations and supply chain leader to build and lead this new operation from the ground up, establishing the people, processes, quality systems, operational disciplines and high-performance culture needed to deliver a reliable and scalable service globally.

But this opportunity extends well beyond Valencia.

As Director, Global Supply Chain / Site Head, you will also provide strategic direction across Global Logistics and Kit Supply for ICON Laboratory Services, leading and developing teams across multiple global locations and helping shape how we scale and optimise our global kit supply and logistics network.

This is an opportunity to combine site leadership, operational excellence, global supply chain strategy and commercial impact, while building something new within one of the world's leading clinical research organisations.

What You'll Do

Build and lead our new Valencia operation

• Serve as the accountable Site Head, with end-to-end responsibility for safety, quality, compliance, people, service, cost and operational delivery.
• Build the Valencia organisation from the ground up, recruiting and developing a strong leadership team and creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Establish a predictable, scalable kit assembly and packaging operation capable of handling variable demand, changing protocol requirements, product mix and short lead times.
• Ensure clinical trial kits are assembled accurately, to the required quality standards, and supplied to clinical trial sites around the world on time.
• Build robust planning, capacity, labour and inventory processes to ensure materials and resources are available when required.

Create operational excellence

• Apply Lean and Six Sigma principles including value-stream mapping, Kaizen, 5S, standard work, visual management and structured root-cause problem solving.
• Design efficient assembly and packaging workflows, including line balancing, workstation design, standard work, material flow and capacity modelling.
• Establish meaningful operational KPIs covering on-time performance, schedule attainment, throughput, turnaround time, productivity, capacity, backlog, quality, waste and cost.
• Implement structured daily management, tiered performance reviews, escalation processes and corrective-action routines.
• Identify opportunities to simplify and automate manual processes, partnering with Engineering, IT and external specialists to implement appropriate technology and automation.
• Lead the operation through growth, changing demand, process redesign, new technology and future expansion.

Lead global logistics and kit supply

• Provide strategic direction for Global Logistics and Kit Supply across ICON Laboratory Services.
• Recruit, lead, develop and mentor teams across multiple global locations.
• Help shape a scalable global operating model that connects kit assembly and supply with the onward movement of patient specimens from clinical trial sites to ICON laboratories.
• Provide governance across global courier and kit-supply vendors, driving quality, service, cost and performance.
• Strengthen supply chain resilience and develop solutions to complex operational and logistics challenges.
• Work across Planning, Kit Production, Supply Chain, Logistics, Laboratory Operations, Quality and other functions to deliver an integrated global service.

Deliver commercial and client impact

• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Understand client requirements and contribute to the development of client-focused supply and logistics solutions.
• Support the development and sale of solutions that strengthen ICON's laboratory services offering.
• Manage budgets, vendor performance and costs while contributing meaningfully to revenue and margin performance.
• Balance quality, client service, operational performance and commercial outcomes when making decisions.

Quality and compliance

• Establish a strong quality culture with clear accountability, disciplined processes and effective governance.
• Ensure appropriate SOPs, quality systems, corrective actions, risk management and inspection readiness are embedded throughout the operation.
• Lead in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and internationally recognised quality standards.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for someone who combines hands-on operational leadership with the ability to think strategically and globally.

• Significant progressive leadership experience within assembly, packaging, kitting, production, fulfilment or another complex physical operation.
• Previous accountability for a site or substantial operation, including people, safety, quality, service, cost and performance.
• Proven experience applying Lean, Six Sigma and continuous-improvement methodologies to deliver measurable improvements in flow, productivity, quality, turnaround time and service.
• Strong experience in capacity planning, resource planning and managing variable demand and short lead times.
• Experience establishing performance-management systems, operational KPIs and tiered daily-management routines.
• Experience working within a regulated or strongly quality-controlled environment, with knowledge of SOPs, quality systems, CAPA, audits and inspection readiness.
• Strong supply-chain and logistics understanding, ideally including materials, inventory, distribution, external vendors and international logistics.
• Experience leading teams internationally and, ideally, across multiple locations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budgets, vendor management and an understanding of revenue and margin.
• The ability to build effective client relationships and translate customer needs into practical operational solutions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate a complex global organisation to achieve results.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Fluency in English.

Particularly valuable experience

Experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, CROs, clinical supplies, diagnostics, medical devices, healthcare, regulated packaging or other quality-critical operations would be highly advantageous.

Practical Lean/Six Sigma certification such as Green Belt or Black Belt, and experience with internationally recognised standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 13485, would also be valuable.

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Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.

Rewards & Benefits

ICON offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and career development.

Benefits may include:

• Competitive base salary and performance related incentives
• Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable
• Retirement and pension plans
• Life assurance and disability coverage
• Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources
• Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways

Benefits may vary depending on role and location.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

Inclusion and Accessibility

ICON is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

If you require reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know or submit a request here.

Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply