Director, R&D Strategic Sourcing and Procurement

Role Summary

The Director of R&D Strategic Sourcing & Procurement is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing sourcing and procurement strategies that support the organization’s research, nonclinical, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, and broader development objectives. This includes ensuring access to high-quality scientific services and external partners required across the full R&D value chain — from early discovery through late-stage development and post-marketing safety operations. This leader combines sourcing expertise with a strong understanding of scientific, regulatory, and safety operations, including CROs, CDMOs, regulatory consultancies, pharmacovigilance service providers, and technology platforms supporting R&D programs.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and communicate the long-term vision, goals, and roadmap for R&D Strategic Sourcing & Procurement, ensuring alignment with scientific, regulatory, and portfolio development priorities.
• Lead category strategy development across key R&D and adjacent business areas, including:
  • Discovery and preclinical research services
  • CRO services
  • CDMO development services
  • Regulatory Affairs services
  • Pharmacovigilance outsourcing, safety databases, and safety monitoring services
  • Medical writing and scientific documentation services
• Partner with leaders across R&D, Regulatory Affairs, and Pharmacovigilance to anticipate evolving program needs and ensure sourcing strategies enable speed, compliance, and scientific excellence.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Build, manage, and optimize strategic relationships with CROs, CDMOs, regulatory and safety service providers, scientific service firms, and software vendors.
• Ensure suppliers meet scientific, regulatory, safety reporting, quality, and delivery requirements across all stages of development.
• Lead and/or support negotiations for complex agreements to secure favorable terms, reduce risk, and support organizational objectives.
• Lead and facilitate Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic suppliers to monitor performance, assess risk, drive continuous improvement, and ensure alignment with program needs and organizational priorities.
• Partner with R&D, Regulatory, PV, Quality, Legal, and Finance to ensure supplier capabilities meet scientific, operational, and compliance expectations.
• Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Excellence: Establish and maintain best-in-class sourcing methodologies, procurement policies, and governance frameworks across scientific, regulatory, and safety categories.
• Lead and manage large, complex RFPs and sourcing initiatives, including scope development, cross-functional alignment, supplier evaluation, proposal scoring, negotiation strategy, and final supplier selection.
• Drive sourcing initiatives that optimize costs, strengthen supplier performance, increase operational efficiency, and deliver value across R&D and regulatory functions.
• Performance Management: Help define and track KPIs that measure sourcing and procurement performance, supplier reliability, regulatory/SOP adherence, and value creation across scientific and non-scientific categories.
• Conduct risk analyses, spend analytics, supplier evaluations, and market intelligence reviews to identify opportunities and mitigate potential gaps.
• Present insights, category strategies, and recommendations to R&D executives and corporate leadership to influence strategic decisions and budget optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Scientific Discipline, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain, with substantial experience supporting R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, or Nonclinical Development in the biotech/pharma industry.
• Demonstrated success building and executing category strategies across complex scientific, regulatory, and safety service environments.
• Strong understanding of drug discovery, nonclinical development, global regulatory processes, and pharmacovigilance requirements (GLP, GCP, GVP, and broader GxP frameworks).
• Strong negotiation experience with CROs, CDMOs, regulatory consultancies, and safety service vendors.
• Proven ability to design, lead, and execute large and complex RFP processes in highly cross-functional environments.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.
• Experience with procurement technology platforms, including Coupa, with the ability to leverage system capabilities to drive sourcing efficiency, spend visibility, and process optimization.
• Experience with ERP systems and scientific or regulatory SaaS platforms is highly desirable.
• Cross-category sourcing experience is a plus.

Additional Requirements

• Position will be based in West Conshohocken, PA and will require 3 days per week in the office.
• Travel requirements up to 20%, depending on program needs, supplier engagement, and regulatory/PV activities.