Vendor Outsourcing Manager

Manages the contract negotiation process across the entire life cycle including RFI, vendor identification, RFP, vendor selection decision, contracting negotiation, performance monitoring, change orders, and ensures proper closeout of agreements to maximize contract value and achieve target savings. Excellent communication skills and comfort level interacting with internal and external teams across all levels, including regular interface with stakeholders and leadership team members.

Job Title - Manager, Vendor Outsourcing
Location: Parsippany, NJ (HM Site);Foster City, CA;Santa Monica, CA
HYBRID - Onsite 3 days a week - T/W/Th

Functional Area: Development Operations, Vendor Outsourcing
Position Type: Contract Engagement
Department: Vendor Outsourcing

***, Inc. Is a research-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 1987. Together we deliver life-saving therapies to patients in need. With the commitment and drive you bring to the workplace every day, you will be part of a team that is changing the world and helping millions of people live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our worldwide staff is a close community where you can see the tangible results of your contributions, where every individual matters, and everyone has a chance to enhance their skills through ongoing development. As part of our rapidly growing science-driven organization, colleagues at are revolutionizing healthcare by bringing urgently needed medicines to patients in the areas of Virology, Inflammation and Oncology conditions. We are proud to have some of the most talented colleagues from across the research, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology & business sectors, working together and supporting each other to help make a real difference to the lives of patients.

*** is currently seeking an industry leader for Manager, Vendor Outsourcing within our Development Business Operations department. The Manager will have the opportunity to lead sourcing and contracting for full service CRO contracts within Oncology. This position will be responsible to develop and maintain sourcing plans, as well as sourcing events and contracting in a clinical research environment. This role will be responsible for the sourcing, contracting, including, facilitating vendor selection, RFI, RFP, contracting, and qualification with a focus on CRO services outsourced in support of clinical trials.

The core responsibilities and skills required for this position include but is not limited to:

Delivery Excellence
Is an expert in contract management and had a history of implementing and executing category roadmaps and sourcing plans
Develops global clinical development vendor strategy for a program or therapeutic areas
Manages contract and sourcing activities for clinical development programs providing consistent customer service and delivering quantitative value through cost savings and transformation/innovation
Manages the contract negotiation process across the entire life cycle including RFI, vendor identification, RFP, vendor selection decision, contracting negotiation, performance monitoring, change orders, and ensures proper closeout of agreements to maximize contract value and achieve target savings
Ensure the vendor selection process is compliant by managing risks
Partners with other functions such as Compliance, Legal and Regulatory as necessary
Collaborates with internal customers in vendor bidding and proposal development (RFP creation and analysis)
Partners with internal customers to develop study specifications and leverages benchmarking tools as appropriate
Translates business requirements into vendor capabilities and develops recommendations for vendor selection for a program or therapeutic area
Is an SME in resolving complex issues relating to contract negotiation and management?
Oversees the identification, selection and management of global external service providers
Leads Vendor bid defense meetings
Manages the contract negotiation process for complex or high value contracts
Demonstrates strong understanding of regulatory and legal issues pertinent to clinical development
Is project focused and works with a sense of urgency

Strategic Thinking
Ability to understand, analyze and develop recommendations from multiple complex sources such as financial and operational perspectives
Influence vendor selection with stakeholders at the project team level

Innovation
Identifies, develops, and deploys best practices in vendor selection, cost containment, and category management practices
Leverages prior experience with external benchmarking, industry best practices, and technology for continuous improvement

Problem Solving
Takes ownership of issues from problem identification to successful resolution, testing recommendations for reasonableness
Triages study-level vendor management issues;escalates high-risk issues to appropriate stakeholders
Translates trends in operational and systematic issues and develops solutions with sustainability in mind to ensure roadblocks are removed during study start-up

Influence and Partnership
Engage with study team leadership to drive sourcing strategy, compliance, and continued partnership
Exhibits competency in regularly establishing relationships with internal and external cross functional teams, such as clinical operations, legal, finance, compliance
Partners with internal stakeholders working on contracts in resolving complex issues relating to contract negotiation or management
Manages study level vendor relationships in conjunction with Clinical Operations

Decision Making
Delivers value by developing business solutions by translating requirements into effective sourcing solutions, contractual terms and process improvements
Asks probing questions to uncover business needs and recommends solutions (e.G., negotiating timelines while maintaining standards)
Demonstrated ability to make critical decisions related to clinical vendor agreement negotiations and escalations
Consolidates data across functions according to business requirements and recommends vendors to senior leadership for endorsement
Resolves vendor project management issues (e.G., operational challenges including scoping issues) by identifying and addressing deviations from established protocols
Identifies operational and systematic issues, including frequency and escalates to the appropriate level

Communication
Excellent communication skills and comfort level interacting with internal and external teams across all levels, including regular interface with stakeholders and leadership team members
As necessary, trains internal stakeholders in contract budgeting, development, and administration

Capabilities and Requirements
Experience in providing thought leadership and consistent customer service
Expertise in the end-to-end sourcing and contracting process, including RFx, contract negotiation and change order management
Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of the clinical research process and the regulatory environment across functions
Demonstrated leadership skills while working in fast paced and changing environment
Financial acumen to review, analyze and understand cost drivers of complex budgets
Legal, clinical operations and regulatory acumen

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:
Relevant experience with a BA or MS in a relevant discipline
MBA or JD preferred
PMP/CPSM certification or equivalent a plus
5+ years of relevant experience