Clinical Operations Vendor Category Lead (COVCL) Digital

Role Summary

The Clinical Operations Vendor Category Lead (COVCL) Digital oversees the end-to-end operational strategy and delivery of their assigned service line/vendors to drive operational excellence, accelerate study activities, and enhance quality. This role blends clinical operations knowledge with digital transformation and vendor portfolio management, fostering high vendor performance and innovation. The COVCL will manage governance, vendor selection, and audits, while aligning with broader digital transformation initiatives and category strategy.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end digital vendor landscape for clinical trials, including Core R&D digital platforms and systems, emerging technology vendors, AI/Machine Learning solution providers, and digital biomarker understanding to coordinate with the strategy team and clinical trial innovation partners
• Collaborate with Digital R&D to align vendor strategies with broader digital transformation initiatives
• Drive MVP evaluations and make data-driven decisions on vendor progression or termination
• Identify opportunities for vendor consolidation and core partner strategy to support key assets
• Engage in thoughtful risk-taking on vendor capabilities

Responsibilities (continued)

• Oversee vendors' performance within the category
• Ensure operational consistency of delivery
• Set service line goals and KPI/QPI targets

Responsibilities (governance and audits)

• Organize regular governance meetings for existing vendors
• Participate in selection and qualification of new vendors
• Support study and vendor audits/inspections and ensure audit readiness

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences, Clinical Research, or related discipline
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Digital Clinical Operations and/or Clinical Operations Vendor Management
• Experience working with internal teams and strong business acumen
• Significant proven experience in vendor management, vendor oversight, and clinical operations with strong project management skills
• Results-oriented with ability to focus on outcomes and drive business impact
• Solid knowledge of clinical development, GCP & ICH guidelines, and regulatory bodies (FDA, EMA) and SOPs/QDs
• Strong leadership, decision-making, risk-taking, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills; able to anticipate study risks
• Agile, adaptable to frequent changes and unexpected events in clinical studies, and capable of driving change
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills with excellent written and verbal communication; ability to influence and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders; fluent English (negotiation, international meetings, data-driven analytics, and documentation)

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences, Clinical Research, or related discipline