Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing and Contracts

Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.Role OverviewThe Senior Director, Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing will lead and integrate Xaira's supply chain, procurement, and contract governance functions, ensuring reliable access to the external partners, platforms, and services that support Research, Biomedical AI, Platform Engineering, and Corporate teams.This role is responsible for establishing a disciplined sourcing strategy, strengthening vendor management, building contract governance infrastructure, and ensuring operational continuity across critical suppliers and service providers. The individual will provide strategic oversight while elevating two existing functions, procurement and contracts, into a cohesive, scalable supply chain capability.Operating at the intersection of research, technology infrastructure, and external partnerships, this role is responsible for bringing strategic focus to how Xaira engages its external partners, ensuring that sourcing, vendor, and contract decisions serve the company's mission, growth, and long-term goals.Key ResponsibilitiesSupply Chain LeadershipDevelop and lead overall supply chain strategyEnsure continuity, reliability, and risk mitigation across critical vendors and external partnersOversee vendor selection, onboarding, performance monitoring, and renewal planningProvide leadership with visibility into external dependencies and operational risk exposureMap and monitor critical vendor dependencies across research services, cloud infrastructure, data providers, and platform suppliersStrategic SourcingGuide category strategy development across cloud infrastructure, AI/ML platforms, research services, data providers, lab suppliers, and corporate systemsOversee competitive sourcing processes and major vendor negotiationsEnsure cost discipline and long-term value across supplier relationshipsPartner with Finance to strengthen forecasting, budget alignment, and spend transparencyContracts and GovernanceOversee contract negotiation and execution standards across MSAs, SOWs, SaaS agreements, data licenses, and research vendor agreementsEnsure structured intake, review, and lifecycle management processes are followedEstablish clear governance for renewals, amendments, and contractual obligationsStrengthen coordination between Legal, Finance, and operational stakeholdersBuild contract architecture that gives Legal and leadership a strategic view of riskLeadershipLead and develop procurement and contracts team membersEstablish performance expectations, KPIs, and operating cadenceBuild scalable systems and processes appropriate for company growthElevate supply chain operations from reactive processing to a strategic operational partnerSupply Chain Integration and Operational Continuity: Ability to ensure reliable supply and vendor performance across research services, cloud infrastructure, laboratory suppliers, and external partners while identifying and mitigating operational risks before they impact the organization.Advanced Strategic Sourcing and Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to structure and lead complex negotiations across cloud infrastructure, software platforms, research services, and vendor agreements while balancing cost, flexibility, speed, and long-term value.Contract Architecture and Governance Design: Ability to design and implement structured contract frameworks, approval workflows, and lifecycle management processes that create visibility, enforce standards, and reduce legal and financial exposure.Financial Stewardship and Vendor Risk Management: Strong analytical capability to model vendor spend, forecast commitments, evaluate total cost of ownership, and proactively surface financial and operational risk.Cross-Functional Partnership and Organizational Influence: Ability to align Legal, Finance, Research, and Engineering stakeholders around sourcing strategy, vendor commitments, and contractual decisions while balancing operational needs and risk management.Qualifications10+ years of experience in supply chain, procurement, or strategic sourcing leadershipExperience operating in biotech, life sciences, or technology-driven R&D environmentsDemonstrated experience managing vendor ecosystems spanning cloud infrastructure, SaaS platforms, research services, or technical R&D environmentsPrior responsibility for leading both sourcing and contract management functionsProven ability to build structure and operational discipline in growth-stage organizationsStrong financial acumen, vendor risk management capability, and negotiation experienceCompensationWe offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A summary of benefits is available for all applicants. We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $215,000 - $280,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.Equal Opportunity EmploymentXaira Therapeutics is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.J-18808-Ljbffr