Global Supplier Quality Head

Date: 5 Aug 2026

Department: Corporate Quality Operations

Business Area: Quality

Job Type: Direct Employee

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Parma, IT

About us

Chiesi is an international research-focused biopharmaceutical group with 90 years’ experience, operating in more than 30 countries, with its Headquarter in Parma, Italy. More than 8,000 employees across the group are united by a singular purpose: promoting a healthier world for our people, patients, and the planet. This is what drives us as we research, develop, and market innovative drugs across our main therapeutic areas. Discover more here.

At Chiesi we are thinking generations ahead, driving sustainable innovation with purpose. This fosters a culture of reliability, transparency, and ethical behaviour at every level. As a Benefit Corporation and a certified B Corp, we have embedded sustainability in our bylaws and continuously measure our impact.

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of who we are. We believe our differences make us stronger. We are a vibrant ecosystem of passionate, talented individuals united by strong values, each bringing unique perspectives that help us to continuously challenge the status quo for the better.

Global Technical Operations & Supply

Global Technical Operations & Supply (Global TechOp&S) is Chiesi’s global manufacturing and supply area, responsible for ensuring consistent, outstanding quality, service and value across our end‑to‑end supply chain. Global TechOp&S oversees the entire lifecycle of the drug: from process optimization and industrialization, to manufacturing, engineering, quality oversight, and supply chain management. Throughout this journey, Operational Excellence drives continuous improvement. This end‑to‑end model is powered by our four manufacturing sites - Parma (IT), Blois (FR), Santana de Parnaíba (BR), and Nerviano (IT) - together with our Virtual Plant network of external partners.

This is what you will do

We are looking for an experienced quality leader to drive the global oversight and lifecycle management of suppliers supporting Chiesi's pharmaceutical network. The position reports directly to the Global Quality Operations VP and leads a small team of Quality Subject matter experts.

The role is responsible for defining and implementing the global supplier quality strategy across Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), excipients, primary and secondary packaging materials, Device Constituent Parts (DCPs) used in inhalation products, and other critical GxP suppliers supporting both sterile and non-sterile products.

Acting as the global quality owner for supplier management, the position ensures a harmonized qualification, performance monitoring, risk management and governance framework across the manufacturing sites of Chiesi Farmaceutici SPA.

The role works in close collaboration with Global Procurement, Manufacturing Sites, Regulatory Affairs, Technical Development, External Quality and Supplier Audit functions to ensure consistent supplier quality oversight throughout the supply chain.

As this is a newly established global function, the role will require strong commitment, senior leadership engagement and the ability to promote, embed and lead a new approach across the organization.

You will be responsible for

Global Supplier Qualification & Lifecycle Management

• Defining the global supplier qualification and requalification strategy for APIs, excipients, packaging materials, Device Constituent Parts and critical GxP suppliers.

• Ensuring consistent supplier qualification standards and processes across all manufacturing sites.

• Governing supplier approval, conditional approval, probation and disqualification decisions.

• Maintaining oversight of the Approved Supplier List and supplier lifecycle status.

• Ensuring supplier qualification activities support business continuity and long-term supply strategies.

Supplier Quality Governance

• Establishing and maintaining the global supplier quality governance framework.

• Defining global standards, policies and procedures for supplier quality management.

• Providing supplier quality metrics to senior leadership and Leading escalation forums

• Driving harmonization of supplier quality processes across sites.

Supplier Performance Management

• Defining and monitoring supplier quality KPIs and performance indicators.

• Overseeing supplier scorecards, performance trending and quality reviews.

• Identifying recurring quality issues and driving effective improvement plans with suppliers.

• Supporting procurement and business stakeholders in supplier performance evaluations.

• Escalating critical supplier quality concerns and ensuring appropriate mitigation actions.

Supplier Quality Risk Management

• Implementing a risk-based framework for supplier oversight to define a risk mitigation strategy and supporting business continuity plans.

• Leading supplier risk and criticality assessments.

Supplier Quality Events Management

• Providing quality oversight for supplier-related deviations, investigations, complaints, SCARs and CAPAs.

• Ensuring timely escalation and resolution of critical supplier quality events.

• Monitoring effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions implemented by suppliers.

Supplier Change Management

• Governing supplier-initiated changes impacting materials, components, processes or services.

• Ensuring appropriate quality and regulatory impact evaluations.

• Supporting implementation and effectiveness monitoring of supplier changes.

• Ensuring adequate communication and alignment across impacted functions and sites.

Quality Agreements Management

• Defining the global strategy and standards for Supplier Quality Technical Agreements.

• Overseeing approval, maintenance and periodic review of quality agreements.

• Managing escalations related to supplier obligations and compliance commitments.

You will need to have

• University degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Engineering or other relevant scientific disciplines.

• Significant experience (not less than 10 years) in pharmaceutical quality management and supplier quality oversight.

• Strong knowledge of GMP requirements applicable to APIs, excipients, packaging materials and combination products.

• Proven experience managing global supplier qualification and governance programs.

• Strong knowledge of supplier quality risk management, change management and quality systems.

• Fluent English, both written and spoken.

• Demonstrated leadership experience in complex global and cross-functional environments.

We would prefer for you to have

• Experience with inhalation products and Device Constituent Parts.

• Experience managing global supplier networks supporting multiple manufacturing sites.

• Knowledge of FDA, EMA and international regulatory expectations for supplier oversight.

• Experience in business continuity and supply chain risk management.

Soft Skills

• Strategic leadership

• Influencing and stakeholder management

• Decision-making capability

• Communication skills

• Risk-based thinking

• Continuous improvement mindset

• Collaboration and teamwork

• Customer and patient focus

Location

The primary work location is Parma (HQ Italy). The role offers flexibility, allowing candidates to be based in one of Chiesi affiliates across Europe, with regular travel to Parma required.

Compensation Range

The minimum salary for this role is € 74.000, aligned to our established salary framework. The final offer will reflect the candidate’s skills, experience, qualifications and internal equity considerations.

This role is eligible to participate in an annual bonus scheme, subject to company and individual performance.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including company car, pension, private medical insurance, wellbeing programme, flexible benefits programme.

The package outlined above is based on the role being located in Italy. Where the role is offered in a different country, the applicable salary, bonus and benefits will be aligned to the relevant local market and internal frameworks. Full details of the applicable package will be provided at the appropriate stage of the recruitment process.

What we offer

No matter where your path starts at Chiesi, it leads to inspiring possibilities. Your future is our focus, and we are committed to nurturing your development in our dynamic, friendly environment with access to resources and training every step of the way.

We provide top-class benefits, including comprehensive healthcare programs, work-life balance initiatives, and robust relocation support. Our salary package is competitive, comprising a basic salary, performance bonuses, and benefits benchmarked against the external market. Additionally, we offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and tax assistance services for foreign colleagues, all designed to help you thrive.

Chiesi is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of our business. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment based on attitude and merit, without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.