Vendor Contract Lead

Job Description: The Vendor Contract Lead (VCL) role provides strategic vendor category leadership within the Clinical Services Procurement (CSP) team. The VCL collaborates with the Strategic Sourcing Category Lead during the vendor selection process to ensure Master Agreement terms can be operationalized within CSP. The VCL ensures a best in class approach with regard to vendor outsourcing and contracting for their vendor categories. This includes leading the development, implementation & execution of a vendor outsourcing strategy within their category. Responsible for representing CSP in governance forums, as needed.

• Contract Delivery and Governance

a) Has overall accountability for the completion of all clinical vendor SOWs and purchase requisitions in accordance with company financial/legal controls and MSA terms (if applicable), ensuring alignment with study timelines to meet business demand

b) Independently leads and completes key High Value/Low Volume SOWs and purchase requisitions etc. and streamline processes to eliminate non-value added work

c) May utilize VCMs to manage volume of work as necessary

d) Channels business to preferred vendors / MSAs; manages exceptions

• Lead the implementation & execution of vendor outsourcing strategy within category:

a. Create & implement category contracting governance, processes, tools & templates to limit/eliminate contract exceptions & change orders

b. Provides forecasts to vendors and verifies they have capacity to meet demand; manages exceptions

c. Develops market expertise in the assigned category

d. Representation in Governance Forum for Vendor Category (if needed)

• Sourcing Support: Above and Below the Purchasing Policy Threshold:

a. With input from strategic sourcing and business stakeholders, lead/oversee sourcing & negotiate Master Service Agreements & Service Level Agreements for services below the purchasing policy threshold & not covered by a sourcing strategy/preferred vendor

b. Participates in strategic sourcing projects as clinical services procurement SME

• Lead/participate in the creation and maintenance of department processes, tools and templates
• Lead/participate in department and/or GCO/R&D initiatives that have direct impact to role

Qualifications: Minimum of 5+ years’ experience in clinical vendor management/clinical outsourcing within the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry

Extensive experience in vendor contract negotiation and execution across SRC and Phase I-IV trials.

Strong knowledge and experience of clinical vendor strategy, contracting and financial processes; experience with procure to pay systems (e.g. Oracle, MarkView, etc.)

Knowledge of the clinical development process (Pharma R&D and Clinical) with a clear understanding of operational and quality (GCP) aspects

Strong financial negotiation skills

Excellent people and customer service skills demonstrating an ability to work as a team player within matrix teams, interacting with all levels of staff, both within and external to the company to establish good partnerships/alliances

Education: Bachelor’s Degree required

MBA or other related business experience is a plus (business acumen – translating operations into business benefit)