Manager - Vendor Management

Job Purpose 

To oversee and manage centralized vendor management activities across multiple Cipla business units and regions. This includes ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and quality standards for all suppliers of finished products, excipients, and packaging materials.

To manage and ensure that there are strategic coordination, evaluation, and continuous monitoring of vendors to maintain product quality and regulatory compliance.

Centralized Vendor Management: To lead and manage vendor-related activities for Cipla Medpro Head Office, Cipla Distribution Gateway, Cipla Mirren, CMM, Cipla SSA Office and its distributors, as well as Cipla Maroc, Egypt, and Algeria.

Global Support: To collaborate with Global CQA to support vendor management activities when requested, ensuring alignment with global standards and practices.

Technical Agreement Oversight: To review, coordinate, and approve technical agreements for GMP-impacted processes across designated Cipla units and regions.

Documentation Review and Approval: To evaluate and approve GxP-related documentation and other supporting materials for suppliers in South Africa, SSA, Morocco, and India (as applicable).

Supplier Audits: To plan, coordinate, and conduct supplier audits for designated Cipla units and regions. Provide audit support to Cipla Maroc and Global CQA when required.

Vendor Suitability and Risk Management: To assess vendor capability to deliver quality products through risk assessments, impact analyses, and ongoing monitoring for the OneAfrica region.

Vendor List Management: To approve new suppliers for inclusion on the approved vendor list and ensure timely updates in Qinfo on SAP.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage and implement initial and ongoing vendor approval and review process for Cipla Medpro Head Office, Cipla Distribution Gateway, Cipla Mirren, CMM, Cipla SSA Office and its distributors, as well as Cipla Maroc, Egypt, and Algeria to ensure compliance to quality & regulatory standards for finished products, excipients and packaging materials suppliers.
• Manage and update approved vendor/supplier list/s as per the change approval process to ensure compliance to SOP’s and quality agreements.
• Co-ordinate and perform vendor audits to ensure compliance to SOP’s and quality standards
• Develop and update SOP’s and conduct training on applicable SOP’s and QA induction to ensure complete understanding and compliance.
• Maintain vendor management database.
• SAP Update.
• Monthly Reporting.
• FDA 483, Import Alert: Risk assessment and Impact assessment.
• TQA- co-ordinate and Draft TQAs for On Africa vendors

Key Complexity Factors

Regulatory Expertise & Risk Management

• Responsible for interpreting and applying evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g., SAHPRA, ISO standards and FSC standards) across multiple product lines.
• Leads compliance strategy for high-risk audits and vendor requalification processes, ensuring business continuity under regulatory constraints.
• In addition to audits and knowledge of tablets, liquids and creams, must have vast knowledge of biological products manufacturing, vaccines more especially to new products line of Cipla interest like CAR-T and Insulin
• Able to provide training to QA and other stakeholders on GMP related matters on biologicals and or biosimilars including CAR-T. Ensuring that there is transfer of knowledge to reportees.

Regulatory Expertise & Risk Management

• Responsible for interpreting and applying evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g., SAHPRA, ISO standards) across multiple product lines.
• Leads compliance strategy for high-risk audits and vendor requalification processes, ensuring business continuity under regulatory constraints.

Scope & Impact

• Oversees quality assurance for high-value products critical to revenue streams.
• Decisions directly influence regulatory standing, customer trust, and operational continuity.

Employment Equity

Cipla is an Employment Equity employer, and this position will be filled based on our Employment Equity Plan.