Overview

The Associate Director, Strategic Sourcing is a senior procurement leader responsible for developing and executing enterprise sourcing strategies, managing high-value supplier relationships, and driving strategic procurement initiatives across the organization. This role provides leadership and independent decision-making support for complex sourcing activities spanning R&D, Clinical Development, IT, Commercial, and G&A functions.

The Associate Director will partner closely with executive stakeholders to optimize supplier strategies, improve operational scalability, manage commercial risk, and drive long-term value creation. This role is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and strategic influence while also providing leadership, mentorship, and oversight to internal and external procurement resources.

Deep biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience is required, with strong expertise in R&D and/or IT procurement categories strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing Leadership

• Develop and lead enterprise-wide category management strategies aligned with company growth, operational priorities, and financial objectives, across R&D, IT, Commercial, and Corporate Services
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on sourcing strategy, supplier market trends, and procurement risk management.

• Identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier consolidation, process improvement, and risk mitigation.

• Lead complex, high-impact sourcing initiatives involving critical outsourced services and strategic suppliers.

Supplier & Relationship Management

• Own strategic supplier relationships across key functional areas including R&D, IT, Commercial, and Corporate Services.

• Establish supplier governance frameworks, KPIs, business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Assess supplier capabilities, financial stability, innovation potential, and long-term partnership alignment.

• Drive supplier performance management, escalation resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support supplier diversity and small business reporting initiatives where applicable

Contracting & Negotiations

• Partner with Legal and business stakeholders to ensure contracts align with company policies and risk tolerances.
• Guide stakeholders through contract scoping, commercial benchmarking, and supplier selection processes.

Procurement Operations

• Support procurement operations through reporting, analytics, purchasing insights, and spend tracking.

• Support supplier diversity and small business reporting initiatives where applicable.

• Contribute to procurement policy and process improvements.

Qualifications

A minimum of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) is required.

7+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industries.

Demonstrated experience supporting R&D and/or IT sourcing categories strongly preferred.

Experience leading competitive sourcing events and supplier evaluations.

Familiarity with procurement systems, purchasing analytics, and supplier management processes.

Work is typically performed in an office

Sitting or standing for long periods of time