Role Summary:

The Central Warehouse Lead will oversee and harmonize warehouse operations across multiple pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. This role ensures efficient material flow, inventory accuracy, regulatory compliance, and seamless coordination between production, quality, procurement, and supply chain functions. The position is pivotal in driving operational excellence, cost optimization, and timely delivery of raw materials, packaging components, and finished goods across all sites.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership:

- Define and execute the centralized warehouse strategy aligned with corporate supply chain objectives.

- Standardize warehouse processes across all plants to ensure consistency, efficiency, and compliance.

- Lead digital transformation initiatives in warehouse management (automation, WMS, barcoding, RFID, IoT).

- Align warehouse capabilities with production schedules, client requirements, and market demands.

2. Warehouse Operations Oversight:

- Oversee receipt, storage, and dispatch of raw materials, APIs, excipients, packaging materials, and finished goods.

- Ensure adherence to FEFO/FIFO principles, batch segregation, and cold chain management.

- Optimize space utilization, material handling equipment, and logistics across multiple sites.

- Implement robust systems for inter-plant transfers and centralized distribution planning.

- Ensure scalability of warehouse operations to support clinical, commercial, and export volumes.

3. Regulatory & Quality Compliance:

- Ensure compliance with GDP (Good Distribution Practices), GMP, and global regulatory standards (FDA, EMA, WHO, CDSCO).

- Lead warehouse-related audits and inspections; implement CAPAs and continuous improvement initiatives.

- Maintain documentation for material traceability, stock reconciliation, and validation protocols.

- Oversee controlled substance handling, quarantine areas, and restricted access zones.

4. Supply Chain & Client Coordination:

- Collaborate with procurement, production, and quality teams to ensure uninterrupted supply.

- Manage inter-plant material transfers and coordinate with external logistics partners.

- Support client requirements for timely dispatches, transparent inventory reporting, and compliance with contractual SLAs.

- Serve as the executive point of contact for warehouse-related client audits and supply chain reviews.

5. Financial & Operational Performance:

- Develop and manage warehouse budgets, forecasts, and KPIs.

- Drive cost optimization through lean warehousing, automation, and process improvements.

- Monitor and improve metrics such as inventory accuracy, OTIF (On-Time In-Full), cycle time, and warehouse productivity.

- Implement Six Sigma and Kaizen initiatives to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

6. Talent Development & Team Leadership:

- Build and mentor warehouse teams across multiple plants.

- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

- Lead succession planning and workforce capability development.

- Ensure training programs on GDP, GMP, safety protocols, and digital warehouse tools.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Education: Bachelors/Masters in Science, Pharmacy, or related discipline.

- Experience: Minimum 18-25 years in warehouse/supply chain management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing multi-site operations in pharmaceuticals or FMCG.

Technical Expertise:

1. Warehouse Management Systems (SAP, Oracle, WMS platforms)

2. Knowledge of GDP, GMP, and regulatory compliance for pharmaceutical warehousing

3. Cold chain and controlled substance handling

4. Material handling equipment and automation technologies

- Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead large teams and manage complex, multi-site operations.

- Tools & Systems: Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP), WMS, LIMS, and digital warehouse automation technologies.

Competencies:

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

- Ability to drive change management and process standardization across diverse sites.

- High focus on safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

- Strategic mindset with hands-on execution capability.