Vice President, External Manufacturing

Position Summary

The Vice President, External Manufacturing is a bold, transformative enterprise leader responsible for the strategic direction and operational execution of BMS's global external manufacturing network — spanning the full portfolio across Product Development and Supply (PDS).

This role oversees a large and complex network of Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) and CDMOs that collectively underpin over $10 billion in annual BMS revenue. A defining mandate is to build and scale a fully integrated, seamless and efficient external network spanning clinical development through to commercial manufacturing, encompassing clinical manufacturing, tech transfer, process validation, and commercial readiness across a portfolio of strategically aligned CMO/CDMO partners.

With accountability for a matrixed organization of 600+ employees across the US, Europe, and Asia, this leader sets and drives the external manufacturing strategy to ensure reliable, high-quality, cost-competitive supply of Biologics, Pharmaceutical, and Cell Therapy products in full alignment with BMS's enterprise supply chain goals, cGMP standards, and patient-first mission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Enterprise Vision

• Define and drive the long-term global external manufacturing strategy across BMS' portfolios, aligned with BMS's broader supply chain and enterprise priorities.
• Create a clinical development through commercial manufacturing operating model, integrating CDMOs for early-phase through to CMOs for late-stage and commercial production — strategically investing in partner excellence.
• Partner with Business Development, Portfolio Strategy, and Finance to align external manufacturing capacity to pipeline progression and commercial demand forecasts.
• Think 3–5 years ahead, developing contingency plans and strategic optionality in an increasingly complex global environment.
• Create integrated, long-term strategies with the potential to transform BMS and the broader biopharma and cell therapy industry.

• Digital Transformation - Own and drive the AI and digital strategy for the external manufacturing network – establishing BMS as an industry leader in AI-enabled partner orchestration and supply chain intelligence,
• Enable real-time, bidirectional data exchange with CMO/CDMO partners; leverage AI and advanced analytics to generate predictive insights on supply risk, quality trends, and operational performance across the network, with human-in-the-loop governance at critical decision gates.
• Establish an AI governance framework for the external manufacturing ecosystem – defining standards for model validation, data sharing agreements, IP protection, algorithmic transparency, and regulatory acceptability of AI-augmented decisions in GMP environments.
• Build the digital infrastructure and data architecture required to scale AI capabilities across 75+ external partners with varying levels of digital maturity.

CMO/CDMO Network Management

• Provide comprehensive business, relationship, and operational oversight of 75+ external partners globally across Product Development and Supply.
• Build and sustain a world-class, flexible, and agile external manufacturing network with a relentless focus on quality, reliable supply, digital integration, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) models, including virtual plant team structures, to ensure appropriate oversight, controls, and partner accountability.
• Develop, negotiate, implement, and enforce supply contracts with external parties in collaboration with Business Development, Procurement, Finance, and Legal.

Compliance & Quality

• Hold ultimate accountability for GMP compliance across the external network, ensuring health authority inspection readiness and sustained performance standards.
• Proactively identify risks across the network; ensure appropriate escalation and stakeholder communication when program goals or timelines are at risk.

Supply & Operational Performance

• Ensure reliable, on-time, and predictable delivery of products across a global network.
• Set and track financial goals for external manufacturing partners, ensuring ROI is maximized and budget/spend managed effectively.
• Drive continuous improvement programs; identify and resolve complex issues impacting external sites to meet cost, quality, delivery, and technology objectives.
• Champion network resilience, business continuity, and COGS reduction initiatives across the external manufacturing ecosystem.

Organizational Efficiency & Transformation

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing, inclusive organization of 600+ professionals globally; actively identify future talent and workforce needs.
• Hire and develop change agents; foster a culture that welcomes challenges, encourages innovation, and supports learning.
• Identify transformative opportunities that drive higher organizational performance; lead with data and rationale to build broad support for bold change.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Quality, Regulatory, MS&T, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development and Finance to deliver optimal outcomes from strategy through execution.
• Serve as the primary enterprise voice for External Manufacturing at the senior leadership level, advising the EVP, Chief Supply Chain & Operations Officer.
• Collaborate with  and participate on matrix leadership teams as a trusted and proactive partner.