About Vi Centra
Vi Centra is an innovative medical device company based in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Vi Centra focuses on the research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of a ground-breaking device for the management of diabetes.
Kaleido, the smallest and lightest insulin pump system currently available, is designed to help people with diabetes live life on their own terms:
"For us, super accurate insulin delivery and improved control are non-negotiables, but discretion, simplicity and choice is our way of helping you live life in your own way".
Driven by Vi Centra's desire to be meaningfully different, Kaleido aims to reduce the impact that diabetes can have on daily life. Utilizing Bluetooth wireless technology, Kaleido infuses colour and choice into the market, networking its hybrid patch pumps and handsets into a broader family of easy-to-use products and data services to create a customer-focused, integrated diabetes support service.
With CE mark, in-house software development and manufacturing, Vi Centra is setting its sights on expanding insulin pump usage by appealing to both first time and experienced insulin pump users in the Netherlands. At the same time, we are preparing for FDA approval expansion into additional territories and establishing partnerships in digitalization and connectivity.
Funded by the venture capitalists LSP, INKEF, Invest-NL, Partners in Equity, and Health Innovations, Vi Centra currently employs over 100 people from over 30 different nationalities.


The position
We are seeking a manager contract manufacturing to join our rapidly growing medical device manufacturing organization. In this position you will be responsible for our external manufacturing processes, supplier development and ensuring the successful execution of Vi Centra Manufacturing Scaling objectives. This role involves defining and governing strategies and processes that support targets related to capacity development, product quality, delivery, and strategic cost objectives. You will oversee the day-to-day technical operations of contract manufacturing and critical component suppliers, impacting key performance indicators such as cycle time, OEE, and yield.

Main Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Define and (re)negotiate “SMART” master supply agreements with CMO in liaison with Vi Centra Procurement driving performance and continuous improvement on capacity and cost.
• Hires, develops and manages a team of engineers to meet company objectives.
• Align long term scaling strategy with contract manufacturer and ensure the right scaling projects are established. Vi Centra Procurement tracks day-to-day/week by week progress to the plan as part of Vi Centra’s planning process.
• Leads Quarterly business reviews with CMO and participates in monthly calls led by Procurement.
• Portfolio Management of all projects impacting Vi Centra’s CMO, while interacting with individual project managers on product development, scaling, quality improvement and cost reduction projects.
• Monitors overall project spend on CMO while keeping individual Vi Centra project managers accountable for their project budgets.
• Initiates, reviews and approves specific operations projects at CMO and manages these projects in the initial phase and ensures projects stay on track.
• Create and maintain the PMO project baselines and project risk log for those projects. Provide recurring project reporting within the PMO process.
• Leverage Vi Centra’s PMO framework to execute projects with the right priority and return on investment between Vi Centra and the CMO.
• Hosts and facilitates recurring project calls to track progress, performance, setting priority or support in overcoming issues on a need by basis. When issues arise on performance, clear improvement actions are defined, agreed and implemented.
• Improve key business processes between Vi Centra and the CMO involving the departments interfacing with the CMO; R&D, Quality, Process Engineering, Industrialisation and Automation, Procurement, Finance
• Acts as escalation point for CMO process engineers in case issues are experienced during projects or daily production which the CMO cannot resolve.
• Leads process engineering activities delegated to CMO, including manufacturing processes, tooling, equipment, fixtures.
• Supports a continuous improvement culture between Vi Centra and the CMO utilizing continuous improvement techniques as applicable.
• Reviews manufacturing plans, process specifications, procedures, work instructions on a need by basis.
• Reviews documentation related to verification/validation of processes, machines and equipment including IQ/OQ and PQ protocols on a need by basis.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance requirements are met and processes are executed in line with ISO 13485 certification.

The ideal candidate to join our team should be energetic, positive and pro-active! You’ll also have:

Required:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or related engineering degree.
• 7-10 years relevant business experience in process engineering and contract management in an outsourced supply chain model.
• Experience in the setup, negotiation and management of supply agreements.
• Track record in productivity improvement, cost reduction and quality improvement projects with CMO.
• Experience of developing and managing staff.
• Strong admin and IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office (Excel, Projects, Visio) and engineering tools as well as an understanding of ERP systems.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills including negotiating and contracting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with vendors, suppliers and shippers.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of ISO 13485 and GDP.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable:

• Start-up/Scale-up experience
• Master’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or related engineering degree.
• Demonstrated results with continuous improvement processes/approach (6 Sigma, Lean).

What we offer
In addition to working on a ground-breaking new product, you’ll be working in a small, friendly and highly motivated team; all ideas are welcomed, and great work is rewarded. We’re also offering:

• A competitive salary and additional 8% holiday allowance
• 25 days of holiday per year plus 13 “ADV” days per year, based on fulltime employment
• Pension scheme
• Subsidised gym membership and the opportunity to participate in a tax friendly bike scheme
• A work environment where you can develop your skills, learn from the best and be rewarded for your imagination
• Meaningful work with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people with diabetes

Apply today

**We will start interviewing successful candidates without delay, therefore please submit your CV as soon as possible. If we like what we see we will contact you, if we don’t contact you within 4 weeks we’ve probably proceeded with other candidates but don’t lose heart as we might reach out to you if we have a different role or project we think might be a match**

If you've got any queries feel free to call +31 (0) 88 250 2900.

Vi Centra is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Due to the international nature of the Company applications are only accepted in English and candidates must also have the right to work in the Netherlands.

Agencies: Please note Vi Centra is committed to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CV’s from agencies. We do however work with an approved list of preferred suppliers but in line with our Preferred Supplier List we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and a position has formally been placed with the agency by a member of the HR team. We do not pay fees where speculative and unsolicited CV’s are submitted to Vi Centra or Vi Centra employees. Where this is not observed Vi Centra reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.