Associate Director, Vendor Strategy and Relationships
AbbVie
Full-time
On-site
Worcester, MA
$137,500 - $261,000 USD yearly
Corporate Functions
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Role Summary
Associate Director, Vendor Strategy and Relationships drives strategic and enterprise-wide vendor relationships for Development, overseeing complex, cross-functional operations and vendor management across global functions. They manage the category portfolio, align sourcing strategies with business goals, and implement processes to deliver efficient, high-impact vendor relationships. They stay informed on industry practices, technologies, regulations, and innovate to achieve efficiencies.
Responsibilities
- Accountable for strategic vendor management oversight driving global, complex, cross-functional operational and relationship aspects of vendor relationships for Development.
- Drives agendas and leads operational and executive governance meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
- Serve as subject matter expert and single point of contact between vendor and the business function to promote accountability, mitigate risks, and deliver operational efficiencies aligned with the relationship strategy.
- Effectively communicates progress and concerns; identifies issues/risks that may impact projects, systems, or processes and implements solutions.
- Understands internal and external business environments; establishes vendor performance measures; drives vendor performance aligned with strategic objectives, deliverables, and accountabilities.
- Trends performance and resource gaps in outsourced services and leads cross-functional teams to implement corrective actions based on best practices.
- Establishes vendor strategy and leads cross-functional teams to develop and maintain successful vendor relationships supporting Development’s objectives.
- Leads collaborations with business stakeholders and vendors to identify and implement efficient, high-quality, compliant processes focused on continuous improvement and innovation.
- Resolves escalated issues and escalates significant issues to senior leadership and vendor.
- Leads cross-functional complex projects and initiatives.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or ex-US equivalent) in a relevant field such as business economics, science or health administration; Master preferred.
- 10+ years of clinical development experience in pharmaceutical/healthcare regulated industry; including 5+ years managing global third-party vendors.
- Demonstrates a high level of core, technical, and leadership competencies.
- Critical thinker with the ability to see the “big picture” to drive long-term vendor strategy.
- Subject Matter Expert for vendor relationships; proficient in SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics and compliance.
- Strong interpersonal, negotiation, communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
- Experience analyzing complex business problems and designing innovative solutions; ability to craft compelling business cases and influence vendor direction.
- Excellent cross-functional partnership skills and the ability to work across an organization to meet objectives and timelines.
Skills
- Strategic vendor management
- Governance and stakeholder management
- Vendor performance measurement and optimization
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
- Contracting and negotiation
- Change management and process improvement
- Communication and presentation to senior leadership
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in relevant field.