Vice President, Operations

About Akoya Biosciences:
As The Spatial Biology Company®, Akoya Biosciences’ mission is to bring context to the world of biology and human health through the power of spatial phenotyping. The company offers comprehensive single-cell imaging solutions that allow researchers to phenotype cells with spatial context and visualize how they organize and interact to influence disease progression and treatment response. Akoya offers the PhenoCycler® and PhenoImager® platforms to serve the diverse needs of researchers across discovery, translational and clinical research.

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Position Summary*:
Akoya Biosciences is seeking an experienced and proven Operations leader with a relentless focus on customer satisfaction and operational improvement to oversee several critical operational functions for a fast-growing Life Sciences Tools and Diagnostics manufacturing company with complex technologies, an extensive instrument and reagent product portfolio, and a world-wide customer base.

This person, through individual efforts and the management of subordinate staff, is responsible for Supply Chain and Contract Manufacturing management, Shipping and Distribution, Logistics, Procurement, Instrument and Reagent Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Control, Environmental, Health & Safety, and Facilities Management.

This person will be responsible for direct operational management/oversight of the end-to-end supply chain networks that support commercialization of our products including existing CMOs and the integration of new suppliers. A primary responsibility will also be to articulate and execute an updated supply chain and manufacturing strategy aimed at driving significant improvements in customer satisfaction, gross margins and inventory turns. Finally, they will also direct new and on-going initiatives related to the Company’s leased facilities, both office space and warehouse/distribution, laboratory, and manufacturing space.

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Duties & Responsibilities:*

• Serve as primary point of accountability for all activities related to the manufacture and distribution of Akoya’s products including production planning/scheduling, inventory control activities, fulfillment and logistics, issue resolution, scope change and change implementation.
• Lead, optimize, and manage the day-to-day operating mechanisms of the Operations organization including all internal and external cross-functional meetings and processes.
• Develop and mentor technical leadership to facilitate sustaining manufacturing engineering activities within both the reagent and instrumentation disciplines.
• Lead Akoya’s overall Operations strategy including build/partner/buy analysis, recommendations, executive reviews, and implementation.
• Select, oversees, and manages all aspects related to CMOs and key suppliers. Integrate serialization activities across CMOs and 3PLs service providers.
• Lead the strategic rationalization and optimization of Akoya’s supply chain working closely with cross functional teams such as Finance, Product Management, R&D, Sales and Marketing, and Quality to select and consolidate vendors, and drive in-sourcing/ outsourcing decisions as needed to maximize cost effectiveness, minimize business risk, increase customer experience and satisfaction and improve efficiencies for gross margins, inventory control and distribution.
• Build supplier agreements across various supplier disciplines to gain Akoya favorable service levels including cost containment, continuity of supply and rapid new product introductions.
• Conduct business reviews and implement and monitor supply chain performance metrics. Routinely monitor key performance indicators (KPI’s) to drive operational and economic performance improvement. Coordinate with Supplier Quality as needed for audits and corrective actions.
• Champion Business Process Excellence and Continuous Improvement initiatives across the company, leading the implementation of quick fixes to issues as they arise, but also relentlessly driving continuous improvements that are sustainable and scalable.
• Actively participate as integral member of the Product Development and Launch Team(s). Ensure Operations is included in the product strategy and development process so that supply chain design and optimization is in place to achieve business goals. Participate in integrated launch planning activities with internal stakeholders and global third-party supply chain partners.
• Support the development and implementation of commercial distribution plans and return strategies.
• Work closely with commercial field teams, commercial operations, and customer care to ensure proper coordination and communications with operations to maximize customer satisfaction.
• Manage the overall Operations organization budget, ensuring cost effective deployment of resources as well as keeping control of expenses & cash.
• Actively participate in the assessment and deployment of enhanced manufacturing processes into the current and future production workflows to maximize product efficiencies for meaningful gross margin and revenue impact.
• Provides oversight and management of the Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) program.
• Direct projects and initiatives relating to the Company’s facilities. Projects could involve relocations, expansions, acquisitions or “green field start-up” relating to office, manufacturing and/or distribution facilities.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills & Requirements:

• BS in a scientific or technical discipline (Master’s preferred); with 15+ years of supply chain, vendor management, and manufacturing experience in a regulated cGMP environment.
• Candidate must have in-depth knowledge of current Good Manufacturing and Documentation Practices (cGMPs and cGDPs) as well as experience in FDA regulated and ISO certified environments.
• Direct experience setting up and overseeing national and international contract manufacturers and commercial contract packaging and labeling organizations is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems and ability to use data to monitor organizational health and systems to solve problems and drive efficiencies.
• Ability to interact with staff (at all levels) in a fast-paced environment, sometimes under pressure, remaining flexible and detail oriented with a high degree of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Dedication to both internal and external customer service.
• Strong analytical and business skills.
• Self-motivated, assertive, and results-oriented with the ability to act with urgency and passion.
• Strong organizational skills to maintain a high level of productivity, innovation, and priority-setting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Project (or equivalent), ERP and documentation systems.

The hiring range for this position is $240,000 to $290,000 per year, which may factor in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. Our full-time regular positions also include an annual performance-based bonus (or a sales incentive plan) and long-term incentive units (equity) provided as part of our compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

Akoya’s excellent benefits program includes a selection of Medical and Dental plans, and Life, AD&D and Short-Term Disability insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, 401(k) with immediate Company match vesting, Company paid holidays and more!

Akoya values bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $240,000.00 - $290,000.00 per year