Inventory Control Manager

Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa’s lead investigational candidate – cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) – is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's OX2R agonist portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets with potential utility across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions.

 Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Centessa was recognized as a Great Place to Work® in 2026.

Description of Role

Centessa is seeking an Inventory Manager, Supply Chain contractor to own inventory planning, control, and reconciliation across the company's outsourced clinical supply network, including investigational product (IP), comparators, and ancillary materials held at third-party depots, CMOs/CDMOs, and distribution partners. This role ensures accurate, real-time visibility into inventory levels, drives forecast accuracy, and partners closely with external vendors and internal Clinical Supply, Quality, and Finance teams to prevent stockouts, minimize waste, and support uninterrupted trial execution. Reporting to Senior Director, Clinical Supply Chain, this individual will maintain accurate inventory records across systems (e.g., IRT, ERP), lead regular reconciliation cycles with vendors, and identify opportunities to strengthen inventory controls in a fast-paced, vendor-dependent environment.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Planning & Forecasting 

• Develop and maintain inventory forecasts and stocking strategies for IP, comparators, and ancillary materials, aligned with protocol requirements, enrollment projections, and site demand.
• Set and monitor min/max inventory levels across depots and storage locations to prevent stockouts and reduce excess or expiring stock.
• Support resupply planning and trigger replenishment orders in coordination with Clinical Supply and CMO partners. 

Inventory Control & Systems Management 

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date inventory records across relevant systems (e.g., IRT, ERP) and ensure data integrity across all storage and distribution nodes.
• Lead routine inventory reconciliations with CMOs, depots, and 3PL partners; investigate and resolve discrepancies in received or on-hand quantities.
• Monitor shelf-life and expiry dating across the network and coordinate retest/extension activities with the analytical team to ensure continuous supply.
• Support the investigation and documentation of temperature excursions, product complaints, and product recovery activities as they relate to inventory.