Launch Manager

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

Roche Diagnostics in Cape Town has a vacancy for a Launch Manager. As the Launch Manager, you will be responsible for developing logistics strategies for Diagnostics Operations in Cape Town and Penzberg (DOZ). Your role primarily involves coordinating the logistical setup for new product launches and supporting other projects, as well as facilitating DOZ sub-projects. You will work in collaboration with project leads, project managers, the Project Portfolio team, and various MSAT (Manufacturing Science and Technology) teams to ensure the successful implementation of logistics processes. This position is crucial for contributing to key milestones and consistently optimising process implementation to achieve project success.

Key Challenges

• Process Improvement, New Product Development, and Product Quality projects: Focus on enhancing processes and ensuring the high quality of new product developments.
• Support and align launch management frameworks and best practices across sites: Work across the Cape Town and Penzberg locations to standardise and enhance launch strategies.
• Support of Launch Manager and Project Portfolio Manager: Provide critical support to key managerial roles to drive project success.

Key Accountabilities

Project Work:

• Manage Cross-Departmental/Cross-Functional Projects/Sub-Project Groups: Lead diverse projects and sub-project groups related to logistics, ensuring seamless coordination and integration across various departments.

• Create All Logistical Requirements: Develop and establish logistics requirements for new product launches as well as manage changes efficiently.

• Provide Expert Advice: Offer specialized advice on logistics processes, procedures, and system-related options to ensure optimal project execution.

• Master Data Setup and Maintenance: Be responsible for the request, setup, and maintenance of master data in different SAP systems and other tools.

• Logistics Concepts and Material Flow Plans: Create, coordinate, and maintain comprehensive logistics concepts and detailed material flow plans.

• Functional Representation on Project Teams: Represent logistics functions within project teams to ensure all requirements are met.

Project Planning:

• Develop Project Production Plans: Collaborate with stakeholders to develop detailed production plans for project execution.

• Demand Planning: Forecast and plan the input materials required for projects to ensure uninterrupted supply.

• Project Schedule Management: Process and manage project schedules related to logistics, initiating targeted measures in case of deviations.

Continuous Improvement Process:

• Implement Ideas for Improvement: Drive and contribute innovative ideas for continuously improving the launch management processes at critical touch points.

Other Responsibilities:

• Stakeholder Communication: Maintain proficiency in written and verbal communication to ensure clear and effective stakeholder engagement.

• Participate in International Project Meetings: Join and actively contribute to international project meetings to align global strategies.

Who you are as our ideal candidate

You are an independent, self-disciplined professional with experience in project work, planning, and SAP master data, preferably within a production or quality environment. You possess excellent communication and analytical skills; you are collaborative, passionate about problem-solving, entrepreneurial in your thinking, reliable, and a strong team player.

Qualifications:

• B.S. with 3+ years of related business experience in operations, master data management, and/or project management.

• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed, high-performing team independently and collaboratively.

• Proficiency in MS Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Google Suite.

Abilities:

• Exceptional ability to manage priorities based on project needs.

• Experience in planning, master data, and project-related work within a quality/production environment.

• Knowledge of biomedical/biotechnology manufacturing (preferred).

• Collaborative and positive approach to work.

• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English; German communication skills (preferred).

• Ability to influence objectives and long-term goals of the organisation (preferred).

• Innovative problem-solving skills.

• Ability to meet project deadlines and communicate proactively about risks and interdependencies.

• Analytical skills for complex issues and understanding of processes.

• Decision-making abilities for project execution and resource needs.

• Strong interpersonal skills and resourcefulness.

• Independent decision-making and clear communication across multidisciplinary projects.

• Understanding of Design Control and/or Phased Development processes (preferred).

• Demonstrates Roche Values and Core Competencies.

• Able to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Strong understanding of agile concepts and methodologies (preferred).

Join Roche Diagnostics in Cape Town as a Launch Manager and play a pivotal role in revolutionising logistics strategies, fostering collaboration, and contributing to innovative, quality-driven product launches.

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.