Director, Clinical Development Strategic Sourcing and Procurement

Role Summary

The primary responsibility of this role is to lead the strategic sourcing and procurement activities for Clinical Development, ensuring alignment with long-term organizational goals. This role will play a critical part in developing and optimizing procurement processes, strengthening supplier partnerships, and ensuring that the Clinical Development suppliers secure high-quality services at the best overall value. Effective category management within Clinical Development is expected to significantly contribute to the organization's operational excellence and overall success.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies across Clinical Development, including supplier identification, market analysis, and supplier performance evaluation to ensure quality, service levels, risk mitigation and cost savings across the portfolio.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers. Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing to achieve mutually beneficial agreements that support business objectives.
• Continuously identify value-creation opportunities through negotiation, volume leverage, and innovative sourcing models without compromising on quality or compliance.
• Ensure that all procured goods and services meet required quality, ethical, and compliance standards. Establish and monitor supplier performance metrics to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify and mitigate supplier risks, ensuring business continuity.
• Oversee the drafting, execution, and lifecycle management of supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with contractual, legal, and regulatory requirements.
• Stay abreast of Clinical Research market trends, innovations, and regulatory changes to inform category strategies and maintain a competitive advantage.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders—clinical operations, finance, legal, IT, and quality—to ensure alignment of procurement strategies with overall corporate goals.
• Leverage data analytics and performance metrics to inform decision-making, identify cost efficiencies, and measure procurement effectiveness.
• Guide cross functional teams in the application and benefits of establishing category strategies.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline sourcing operations, enhance efficiency, and optimize procurement effectiveness.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, procurement, finance, or a related discipline; advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., CPSM, CIPS) preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in procurement including at least 5 years in an R&D Procurement leadership role.
• Proven expertise in procurement category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and cost optimization.
• In-depth understanding of Clinical Development categories, including the unique challenges and dynamics of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing CRO relationships, conducting supplier evaluations, and negotiating complex agreements.
• Strong leadership track record, with experience leading cross-functional teams and managing direct reports in a global, matrixed environment.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate insights into actionable sourcing strategies.
• Superior communication and presentation abilities, capable of influencing senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proven ability to identify and mitigate procurement risks, including vendor reliability and supply chain disruptions.
• Demonstrated capability in driving process improvements, implementing best practices, and leveraging technology to enhance procurement performance.
• Commitment to ethical business practices, sustainability, and diversity in the supply base.

Education

Additional Requirements