Manager, Vendor Strategy & Relationships

Position Title: Manager, Vendor Strategy & RelationshipsLength of Contract: through 31Dec2026 (at a minimum)Location: RemoteWhat are the top 3-5 skills, experience or education required for this position:1. Demonstrates Central Lab SME expertise, as well as relationship & leadership competencies2. Manager role - 3+ years of clinical development experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, regulated industry; including 3+ years working with third-party vendors3. Strong interpersonal, negotiation, communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills4. Manager role - demonstrates expertise in strategic alignment execution, supporting operational excellence in low to mid complex TAs with vendors; support partnership and study-level escalations5. Bachelor's degreeAs a member of the Vendor Strategy and Relationship (VSR), this role delivers operational value across the full vendor lifecycle. The role provides subject matter expertise (SME), fosters strategic alignment with vendors, and supports innovative, sustainable growth through operational excellence. The role ensures effective partnership management by centralizing expertise, standardizing processes, optimizing performance, and proactively managing risks and trends within the Therapeutic Areas (TA), organization and vendor(s).This role leverages operational experience with partnership insights to align study and TA decisions with enterprise vendor strategies.Responsibilities :* Execute vendor selection strategies with business and study teams.* Lead early engagement activities with study teams and vendor, advising on TA design risks, trends and key considerations.* Lead internal vendor study kick-off meeting, co-lead joint vendor and study team kick-off meeting.* Conduct 2nd round review on key vendor documents (e.g., contracts, study specifications) to ensure quality and alignment* Provide financial health support to study teams* Support partnership escalations and study-level escalations per escalation plan* Analyze operational and metric trends to identify risks and implement TA solutions and mitigations that optimize performance and outcomes; raise TA trends for portfolio analysis - may support partnership solutions* Educate study teams on database lock and close-out processes, provide guidance and risk mitigation support* Develop TA standards, training resources, and deliver JIT training at key milestones to study teams; lead multi-study lessons learned and share across TA(s); may support partnership standards and training efforts* Identify and/or support partnership enhancements and training; drive TA change management effortsQualifications :* Bachelor's degree (or ex-US equivalent) is preferred, in a relevant field as business economics, science or health administration* 3+ years of clinical development experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, regulated industry (and/or applicable work experience); including 3+ years working with third-party vendors (and/or applicable work experience).* Competent in the application of standard business procedures (SOPs, ICH, Global Regulations, Ethics and Compliance).* Demonstrates subject matter expertise within vendor category (e.g., capabilities, processes, technical) as well as relationship and leadership competencies* Strong interpersonal, negotiation, communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills* Expertise in analyzing intermediate business problems and data to design and implement innovative solutions* Excellent cross-functional partnership skills; experience managing cross-functional initiatives to achieve objectives, timelines and change management* Ability to influence internal/external stakeholders and drive decision-making in a collaborative working environment that allows for the appropriate levels of involvement and decision-making