Operations Director – Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Distribution

About the role

The Operations Director will lead end‑to‑end distribution performance for pharmaceutical, healthcare, animal health and consumer products in a highly regulated environment. Reporting to senior leadership, the role is responsible for ensuring safe, compliant and efficient product flow from warehouse to patient while supporting business growth.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute a 3‑year operations strategy aligned with growth targets and regulatory obligations.
• Oversee warehousing, inventory, transportation and last‑mile distribution, ensuring GDP‑compliant handling and cold‑chain integrity.
• Lead transformation programmes to improve efficiency, scalability and service quality across the network.
• Manage demand planning, forecasting and stock availability to minimise stockouts and expiry losses.
• Own operational budgets, drive cost optimisation and report financial performance to senior management.
• Implement digital tools, data analytics and automation to enhance visibility and audit readiness.
• Develop and mentor a high‑performing operations team, establishing KPIs and succession plans.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Engineering or related field; MBA or postgraduate qualification preferred.
• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical or regulated FMCG logistics, with proven leadership of multi‑site, multi‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated success managing GDP‑regulated environments and leading regulatory audits in the GCC/MENA region.

Required skills

• Hands‑on experience with ERP, WMS and TMS systems.
• Lean and Six Sigma methodology expertise.
• Data‑analytics and digital‑transformation capabilities.
• Cold‑chain management and serialization/track‑and‑trace knowledge.