indeed
Operations Director (Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Distribution)
Arabian Ethicals Company
Dubai, UAE
Full Time
Director
1 weeks ago
Supply Chain ManagementGDP ComplianceCold Chain ManagementERP/WMS SystemsProcess ImprovementTeam Leadership
Free
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Supply Chain ManagementGDP ComplianceCold Chain Management
About the Role
Arabian Ethicals Company seeks an Operations Director to lead end-to-end distribution performance in a regulated healthcare environment. The role oversees warehousing, inventory, transportation, cold chain, compliance with GDP, and team leadership.
Key Skills for This Role
Supply Chain ManagementGDP ComplianceCold Chain ManagementERP/WMS SystemsProcess ImprovementTeam Leadership
Responsibilities
- Define and execute a 3 year operations strategy aligned to business growth and regulatory obligations
- Lead transformation programmes to improve efficiency, scalability, and service across the distribution network
- Oversee warehousing, inventory management, transportation, and last mile distribution for pharmaceutical and healthcare products
- Ensure rigorous GDP compliant handling, storage, and transportation protocols across all facilities
- Manage cold chain operations for temperature sensitive products, including serialisation and traceability requirements
- Own demand planning, forecasting accuracy, and stock availability to prevent stockouts or expiry losses
- Manage direct and indirect procurement processes, develop and maintain relationships with 3PL partners
- Ensure full compliance with GDP guidelines and local regulatory authority requirements
- Lead internal compliance audits and manage regulatory inspections
- Own operational budgets and drive cost optimisation without compromising compliance or service quality
- Lead, and develop a high performing operations team across warehousing, logistics, compliance, and planning functions
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field
- MBA or postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain, Operations, or Business
- 10–15+ years of progressive experience in operations and/or logistics within pharmaceutical, healthcare, or regulated FMCG distribution
- Demonstrated experience managing GDP regulated distribution environments
- Proven leadership of large, multi functional teams and multi site operations
- Hands on experience with ERP/WMS systems and process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma)
- Track record of leading successful regulatory audits and maintaining clean compliance records
- Experience operating in the GCC / MENA region, with knowledge of local regulatory bodies (MOH, SFDA, DHA, HAAD, or equivalent)
- Exposure to cold chain and serialisation/track and trace platforms
- Experience with digital transformation programmes in warehouse or logistics operations
Full Job Posting
Company Description
- Established in 1977, Arabian Ethicals takes pride in being a top healthcare player in the UAE.
- As the exclusive representative and distributor of many multinational pharmaceutical, consumer, and veterinary products in the UAE, the Company serves over 2,000 pharmacies, 150 hospitals, 600 hypermarkets, supermarkets and specialty stores, in addition to more than 100 veterinary clinics and farms.
Job Description
- This is a high impact, cross functional Director level leadership role for an experienced operations professional ready to own end to end distribution performance in a regulated healthcare environment.
- The incumbent will define and execute the operational strategy that keeps products moving safely, compliantly and efficiently — from warehouse to patient— across pharmaceutical, healthcare, animal health and consumer distribution (GDP regulated).
- Working closely with sales, market access, business development, regulatory and finance teams, the role builds the operational infrastructure that enables growth while upholding the highest standards of GDP compliance, cold chain integrity and service excellence.
Operational Strategy & Leadership
- Define and execute a 3 year operations strategy aligned to business growth and regulatory obligations.
- Lead transformation programmes to improve efficiency, scalability, and service across the distribution network.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational discipline, and safety first thinking.
- Act as the operational voice at the leadership table — translating business goals into executable plans.
Pharma Supply Chain & Logistics & Procurement Management
- Oversee warehousing, inventory management, transportation, and last mile distribution for pharmaceutical and healthcare products.
- Ensure rigorous GDP compliant handling, storage, and transportation protocols across all facilities.
- Manage cold chain operations for temperature sensitive products, including serialisation and traceability requirements.
- Own demand planning, forecasting accuracy, and stock availability to prevent stockouts or expiry losses.
- Manage the direct and indirect procurement processes, develop and maintain relationships with 3PL partners, freight forwarders, and regulatory approved logistics vendors.
Regulatory Compliance & Quality
- Ensure full compliance with GDP (Good Distribution Practice) guidelines and local regulatory authority requirements.
- Maintain all distribution licenses, certifications, and regulatory filings; proactively manage renewals and audits.
- Lead internal compliance audits and manage regulatory inspections with professionalism and preparedness.
- Implement and maintain SOPs across warehousing, cold chain, recalls, and adverse event reporting.
- Oversee quality management systems (QMS) and deviation/CAPA processes.
P&L and Cost Management
- Own operational budgets and drive cost optimisation without compromising compliance or service quality.
- Track and improve cost to serve, inventory turnover, shrinkage, and logistics unit economics.
- Identify and execute margin enhancement initiatives through vendor negotiation, route optimisation, and productivity gains.
- Deliver regular financial performance reporting to the AEC GM.
Process Excellence & Digital Transformation
- Implement best in class SOPs and leverage ERP platform to drive operational visibility.
- Lead the adoption of digital tools — including data analytics, serialisation platforms, and automation — across distribution operations.
- Ensure all systems and processes are audit ready and aligned to regulatory expectations at all times.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, and develop a high performing operations team across warehousing, logistics, compliance, and planning functions.
- Establish clear KPIs, performance management frameworks, and succession plans.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, psychological safety, and operational excellence.
- Coach and mentor functional managers to build organisational depth and capability.
Commercial & Customer Alignment
- Partner closely with commercial teams to align operational capacity with sales growth plans and customer commitments.
- Own SLA delivery — OTIF, order accuracy, returns management — as a commercial differentiator.
- Represent operations in key customer meetings and tender/bid processes where operational credibility matters.
- Support business development by structuring scalable operational models for new principal agreements, distribution contracts, and market entry opportunities.
Risk Management & Business Continuity
- Identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks including supply disruptions, cold chain failures, and regulatory non compliance.
- Own and maintain business continuity plans (BCP) for critical distribution operations.
- Manage product recall and returns processes in line with regulatory requirements.
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