Our Team, Your ImpactThe Associate Director - Clinical Sciences Business Partnering & Category Strategy is an experienced procurement professional responsible for category management and sourcing for Clinical Sciences services. The role translates laboratory, biomarker, sample, and study needs into sourcing and supplier strategies that support cost, quality, speed, data integrity, and business objectives.
Reporting to the Director - Clinical Development Business Partnering & Category Strategy, this role is responsible for assigned categories including global central labs, specialty and biomarker laboratories, Translational & Precision Medicine, and biorepository services. The Associate Director develops category plans, leads sourcing initiatives, supports supplier performance, and provides market and commercial insights within this defined scope.
The successful candidate combines clinical laboratory knowledge, commercial judgment, analytical capability, strong stakeholder partnership, and a hands-on approach.
This role is hybrid 2-3 days in our West Chester, PA site.How You'll Spend Your DayBusiness Partnering & Category Strategy- Partner with Clinical Development, Translational & Precision Medicine, Clinical Operations, and other stakeholders to understand laboratory, biomarker, sample, study, and business requirements.
- Develop and maintain category strategies and sourcing roadmaps for central labs, specialty and biomarker laboratories, Translational & Precision Medicine, and biorepository services.
- Provide category and supplier insights to support business decisions, supplier selection, and service-model considerations.
Category Analytics, Productivity & Value Creation- Use spend data, testing volumes, supplier insights, benchmarks, and market intelligence to identify sourcing, productivity, and value opportunities.
- Develop category-level value initiatives such as pricing optimization, preferred-provider adoption, demand management, supplier consolidation, testing standardization, and logistics optimization.
- Track sourcing outcomes, value delivery, and key category activities using established Procurement tools and reporting mechanisms.
Strategic Supplier Management & Market Intelligence- Support supplier segmentation, governance, performance management, and improvement activities for key Clinical Sciences suppliers.
- Maintain current knowledge of supplier capabilities, service models, capacity, pricing dynamics, technology trends, and relevant regulatory or quality considerations.
- Use supplier and market insights to improve sourcing decisions and support supplier performance, continuity, sample integrity, and data quality.
Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Enablement- Lead or support sourcing initiatives for Clinical Sciences services, including requirements, RFx activities, supplier evaluation, negotiation, recommendation, and contracting support.
- Partner with Strategic Sourcing, Legal, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, Clinical Development, and scientific stakeholders on commercial approaches and supplier agreements.
- Balance cost, quality, speed, scientific capability, data and sample integrity, compliance, continuity, and supplier capability in sourcing recommendations.
Procurement Process & Capability Support- Apply established category management, sourcing, supplier governance, and value-tracking practices across assigned work.
- Contribute insights and lessons learned that improve Procurement tools, processes, supplier governance, and stakeholder engagement.
- Provide project leadership and subject-matter guidance to cross-functional teams and sourcing partners without direct people-management accountability.
Your Skills and Experience- 7+ years of progressive experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, supplier management, clinical sciences, laboratory services, clinical operations, or related disciplines in life sciences or regulated environments.
- Experience supporting sourcing, category management, supplier governance, or commercial activities for clinical laboratory, biomarker, Translational & Precision Medicine, biorepository, or related services.
- Working understanding of drug development, clinical laboratory operations, biomarker and sample lifecycle requirements, supplier ecosystems, and relevant quality and regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional sourcing projects, analyze commercial information, influence stakeholders, and deliver measurable outcomes within an assigned scope.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES & SKILLS- Experienced category and sourcing professional who translates scientific and business requirements and market insights into practical procurement actions.
- Effective business partner who communicates clearly, builds credibility, and influences stakeholders within assigned categories and projects.
- Strong commercial, analytical, organizational, and project leadership skills with a hands-on, execution-oriented approach.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Finance, or related field.
- Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, or Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of relevant experience.
- Prior experience leading complex projects or cross-functional teams preferred; direct people-management experience is not required.
Also Good to Have- Experience supporting Clinical Sciences sourcing, including central labs, specialty or biomarker laboratories, Translational & Precision Medicine, biospecimen logistics, biorepository, or related laboratory services.
- Experience with preferred provider programs, supplier governance, test or assay pricing, sample logistics and storage, commercial negotiations, and laboratory or scientific services agreements.
Salary RangeHow We'll Take Care of YouWe offer a competitive benefits package, including:
- Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription coverage starting on the first day of employment, providing the employee enrolls.
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) with employer match, up to 6% and an annual 3.75% Defined Contribution to the 401k plan.
- Time Off: Paid Time Off including vacation, sick/safe time, caretaker time and holidays.
- Life and Disability Protection: Company paid Life and Disability insurance.
- Additional benefits include, but are not limited to, Employee Assistance Program, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Tuition Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account, Life Style Spending Account, Volunteer Time Off, Paid Parental Leave, if eligible , Family Building Benefits, Virtual Physical Therapy, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity Insurances, Identity Theft Protection, Legal Plan, Voluntary Life Insurance and Long Term Disability and more.
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