Clinical Operations Vendor Manager

Role Summary

The Clinical Operations Vendor Manager is a member of the Clinical Trial Excellence Vendor Strategy & Management team and is responsible for facilitating the identification, selection, and management of clinical study vendors and providing portfolio level issue trending, escalation and management. This role will act as a liaison between Apogee and external vendors while working to find cost savings and operational efficiencies and will help support and implement the strategic vision outlined by the Vendor Strategy & Management Lead. He/she will work with cross-functional members of the Apogee organization (Clinical, Finance, and Legal) to assess the best fit for Apogee’s growing Phase 2 and 3 trial needs. This role will focus on initial MSA contract negotiations, rate cards, scope review and issue escalation associated with assigned vendors. This individual will participate in the standardization of Clinical Operation processes and will ensure sourcing objectives are aligned with corporate/operational goals.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with business partners to research and evaluate potential vendors based on their capabilities, pricing, and service level agreements
• Build strong relationships with key vendors
• Conduct ongoing assessment of vendor relationship performance through KPI review, vendor performance trend analysis, and administration/interpretation of stakeholder satisfaction surveys
• Drive and improve existing systems and processes
• Maintain knowledge of market trends for assigned key vendors
• Lead and conduct high visibility and competitive negotiations
• Support sourcing policies, contingency plans, and additional strategic initiatives established by the Vendor Strategy & Management Lead
• Support Clinical Operations Vendor Sourcing and vendor governance related meetings
• Hold vendors accountable to performance goals/agreements
• Drive annual third-party vendor spend savings while improving processes and vendor relationships
• Closely manage deliverable timelines and cross-functional input to keep reviews, decisions, and initiatives on track
• Participate in the continuous improvement process for programs within purview
• Lead/participate in vendor strategy and budget discussions
• Collaborate on contracts review to verify compliance with MSA, discount structures, and performance requirements

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the drug development process in complex indications for large global programs
• Strong understanding of contracting process and ability to negotiate and manage contractual arrangements
• Ability to prepare bids, requests for quotes, and proposals
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to present to a variety of stakeholders and tailor messages accordingly
• Proven ability to influence and make decisions in a matrixed environment
• Comfortable leading candid conversations on vendor delivery and driving to resolution of performance challenges
• Partnering with study teams and vendors to effectively manage conflicting viewpoints and challenging situations with minimal negative impact
• Experience in problem solving capabilities; can see a problem from multiple angles and provide viable, innovative options for resolution
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage priorities to achieve goals and support unplanned work
• Bachelor’s degree in management, finance, or related field
• 5 years of relevant experience working in a pharmaceutical/biotech company or CRO
• Excellent leadership skills and big-picture mentality
• Ability to keep pace with a fast-moving organization
• Availability to participate in calls across multiple international time zones
• Exhibit Apogee’s C.O.R.E. values: Caring, Original, Resilient and Egoless
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20%