Principal, Strategic Advisory Consulting (Life Sciences Supply Chain & Operations)

DTAS Strategic Advisory Consulting (Life Sciences Supply Chain & Operations)

IQVIA™ is The Human Data Science Company™, focused on using data and science to help healthcare clients find better solutions for their patients. IQVIA offers a broad range of solutions that harness advances in healthcare information, technology, analytics and human ingenuity to drive healthcare forward. 

DTAS (Data, technology and Advisory Services) Strategic Advisory team, you will work directly with life sciences clients as a trusted partner, helping them navigate complex strategic, technological, and operational challenges. You will shape and deliver high‑impact consulting engagements for VP+ stakeholders, building deep client intimacy through insight‑driven dialogue, proactive partnership, and consistent delivery excellence.

You will be accountable for driving client satisfaction, identifying new opportunities, and achieving or exceeding assigned revenue targets.

IQVIA Global Advisory Services, EMEA Cluster is expanding its Life Sciences Supply Chain & Operations practice to support pharmaceutical and biotech clients in Europe. We are hiring for two key positions: a Principal/Sr. Principal and an Associate Principal/Manager – to lead and deliver projects that extend our clinical and commercial consulting offerings into supply chain and operations.

Both roles will be based in Germany or Switzerland with pan-European responsibilities. Prior experience in strategy consulting within pharmaceutical/biotech supply chain is strongly preferred, and the focus will be on commercial supply chains (manufacturing and distribution for marketed products, rather than clinical trial logistics).

Role

The Principal/Sr. Principal will contribute to further expanding IQVIA’s supply chain and operations consulting initiatives in Europe, acting as the client engagement lead and subject matter expert. This is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping strategy, driving business development, and ensuring high-quality project delivery. You will help pharma and biotech clients optimize their end-to-end value chain – from manufacturing through distribution – to improve resilience, efficiency, and market success.

In this role, you will expand IQVIA’s consulting offerings by developing innovative solutions that integrate world-class data assets with deep industry expertise. You’ll address complex challenges with a holistic value chain perspective, advising clients on how to enhance each step of the product lifecycle to ultimately advance patient health.

Responsibilities

• Practice Leadership: Build and lead a regional consulting team focused on supply chain & operations. Define go-to-market strategy and new service offerings that complement IQVIA’s existing clinical and commercial consulting. Provide thought leadership on industry trends (e.g. supply chain digitalization, advanced analytics).

• Client Engagement & Delivery: Act as principal owner of consulting engagements, ensuring client satisfaction and high-quality, value-added deliverables. Lead project teams to solve critical operations challenges such as:
  • Manufacturing Network Strategy: Advise on manufacturing footprint optimization and localization vs. globalization decisions to boost resilience. (For example, evaluate regionalizing/localizing production or nearshoring to improve supply chain agility, while balancing trade-offs in cost and scale.) Help clients realize efficiency gains / cost reduction through network optimization.
  • End to end Value Chain Planning & Operational Excellence: Oversee holistic value chain transformations that secure seamless sales and operations planning, eliminate waste and improve productivity / cost to serve. Implement S&OP processes, lean manufacturing or continuous improvement programs across client networks.
  • S&OP and Supply Planning: Implement or improve Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to align demand forecasting with production and inventory planning. Use S&OP to proactively identify potential drug shortages and adjust plans before patients are impacted. Ensure cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance) are collaborating to balance supply and demand and maintain service levels.
  • Commercial Distribution Strategy: Design distribution and logistics strategies for Europe, including pharma distribution network optimization and pharmacy delivery models. Ensure compliance with Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and robust cold-chain management.  Select the right distribution partnerships and 3PL solutions to maintain product integrity and reach patients efficiently.
  • Biotech Expansion & Operating Model: Advise emerging biotech clients (often US-based) on establishing European operations and supply chains. Develop target operating models covering regulatory compliance, distribution setup, and outsourced vs. in-house functions. Emphasize a robust supply chain & distribution strategy early in EU market entry, accounting for cold-chain needs and local regulations.
  • Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT) Scaling: Provide expertise in scaling supply chains for cell and gene therapies. Ensure clients’ CGT products have robust, reliable supply chain plans, addressing challenges like ultra-cold storage, vein-to-vein tracking, and rapid turnaround. Develop strategies to scale up supply capabilities while maintaining the personalized handling these therapies require.

• Business Development: Drive growth of the practice by identifying client needs and developing proposals. Lead sales efforts for supply chain consulting engagements, leveraging IQVIA’s data and analytics capabilities as differentiators. Build senior client relationships as a trusted advisor in operational strategy.

• Thought Leadership: Stay abreast of industry trends in pharma operations, such as digital supply chain innovations, advanced therapies logistics, and regulatory changes. Publish white papers or present at industry forums to raise IQVIA’s profile in supply chain consulting.

• Team Development: Mentor and develop a team of consultants and managers. Foster a collaborative environment that encourages cross-functional problem solving and continuous learning. Coordinate with IQVIA’s global experts and data science teams to bring the best solutions to clients.

Skills & Experience

• Client Network: You bring a well-established network and a proven ability to cultivate high-value client engagements. You have a proven track record of building and leveraging a large network of clients and relationships. You bring strong relationships with C-level executives and decision-makers in the life sciences industries.

• Experience: 12+ years in management consulting or relevant industry roles, with a strong focus on pharmaceutical/biotech supply chain and operations. A track record of leading complex projects in areas such as manufacturing strategy, supply chain transformation, or operational excellence for life science companies is required. Prior consulting experience at Principal/Director level or similar (e.g. engagement leader) is highly desirable.

• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of pharma supply chain trends and best practices, including manufacturing network design, outsourced/virtual manufacturing models, distribution channels, and regulatory requirements in Europe. Familiarity with cell & gene therapy logistics and biotech expansion challenges (EU product launches, regulatory and distribution setup) is a plus. Up-to-date understanding of supply chain resilience strategies (localization, dual sourcing, inventory buffers) and trade-offs in cost vs. agility.

• Commercial Focus: Strong understanding of commercial supply chains for launched products, e.g. demand forecasting, inventory management, product launch supply planning, and life-cycle cost management. (Knowledge of clinical trial supply is advantageous but the role’s emphasis is on commercial operations.)

• Leadership & Client Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead consulting engagements and multidisciplinary teams to deliver results. Excellent client relationship skills, with experience acting as a trusted advisor to senior executives. Proven capability in business development (identifying opportunities, shaping proposals, closing deals).

• Analytical & Data Skills: Proficiency in using data-driven approaches to solve problems. Comfortable leveraging advanced analytics or modeling in network optimization, scenario planning, and risk analysis. (Experience with relevant tools or methodologies in supply chain modeling or S&OP planning is a plus.)

• Education: MBA or advanced degree in a relevant field (Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Life Sciences) strongly preferred. APICS or other supply chain certifications are a bonus.

• Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills. Able to distill complex operational issues into clear, actionable strategies for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Language & Travel: Fluency in English required; proficiency in German and/or other European languages is a plus. Willingness to travel across Europe (~30% expected, variably) to support client projects and business development.

Whatever your career goals, we are here to ensure you get there!

Benefits

We work hard to prioritise the things that matter most to you. Visit our benefits page for information on everything from perks to well-being initiatives and career enhancement.

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