Assistant Manager - Import and Logistics

About Sowaka Health

Sowaka Health operates specialty access and named patient programs for approved and investigational medicines. The company works with hospitals, physicians, global suppliers, and regulatory partners to deliver compliant port-to-patient access solutions. Our operating model emphasizes audit-ready processes, structured documentation, digital case tracking, and strict regulatory alignment.

Sowaka combines regulatory coordination, specialty sourcing, cross-border logistics, pharmacovigilance-aligned workflows, and technology-enabled operations through its proprietary platform, SowakaOS.

The role

The Assistant Manager, Import and Logistics is an operational role responsible for pharmaceutical import execution and customs coordination across our import ports, with a secondary responsibility for supporting downstream dispatch and delivery coordination pan-India. You'll work closely with suppliers, freight forwarders, customs brokers (CHAs), QA and RA stakeholders, cold-chain providers, warehouse operators, and courier partners to keep the import-to-delivery journey compliant, documented, and on schedule. This is a founding-team, hands-on execution role, building and personally owning these workflows from the ground up.

What you'll do:

Import and Customs Operations

• Coordinate purchase order execution and verify shipment documentation (CoA, CoC, CPP, invoices, packing lists) with suppliers and distributors
• Maintain supplier and distributor records, including licenses, GDP certifications, and approved product lists
• Coordinate cold-chain and freight requirements, shipment routing, and in-transit visibility with freight forwarders pan-India
• Coordinate customs clearance activities with Customs House Agents (CHAs), including duty payment and shipment release
• Support transfer of cleared stock into approved warehouse, SEZ, or bonded storage, and maintain batch, expiry, and inventory records
• Proactively escalate shipment deviations, temperature excursions, or documentation gaps

Logistics and Dispatch Support

• Support dispatch authorization and last-mile courier coordination following QA and operational release
• Track delivery status, proof of delivery (POD), and shipment milestones; escalate delivery delays or cold-chain concerns
• Coordinate with clinical and operational stakeholders on delivery confirmation and reorder/continuity support

Documentation and Compliance

• Maintain audit-ready import, customs, and logistics records within SowakaOS and other approved systems
• Coordinate closely with RA and QA stakeholders on documentation requirements and operational readiness
• Support KPI tracking and reporting across import and downstream logistics workflows

Who should apply

This role is best suited for candidates who enjoy operational coordination across import, logistics, and compliance; are highly detail-oriented, organized, and process-driven; take ownership of shipment and delivery follow-through; are comfortable coordinating multiple vendors and stakeholders simultaneously; and are excited to help build a globally scalable healthcare operations platform.

What you'll need:

• 4+ years of experience in pharmaceutical import logistics, customs clearance, freight forwarding, or related regulated environments
• Hands-on, personal handling of import documentation and customs execution workflows
• Familiarity with cold-chain pharmaceutical logistics and shipment monitoring requirements
• Working exposure to last-mile or downstream delivery coordination
• English and at least one additional Indian regional language (Hindi, Marathi, or equivalent)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English

Preferred

• Experience with CDSCO Named Patient Program (NPP), compassionate use, or Form 12A/12B/20B/21B documentation
• Exposure to SEZ or bonded warehouse operations
• Familiarity with GDP-certified logistics providers or pharmaceutical 3PL operators
• Graduate in Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Logistics, or a related field

Growth opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to become part of the foundational operational buildout of a global specialty access platform operating across India and future international markets, with exposure to both international pharmaceutical import operations and downstream patient-linked logistics.