Associate Strategic Buyer

Formation Bio

$101K — $132K *
Business Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-5+ years in procurement, strategic sourcing, or related field
  • Experience running RFPs or managing vendor selection independently
  • Cross-functional collaboration with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Strong project management skills for handling concurrent initiatives
  • Experience with procurement tools, preferably Zip
  • Background in indirect spend categories like IT or G&A is a plus
  • Exposure to life sciences, biotech, or regulated industries is beneficial

Responsibilities

  • Independently run end-to-end sourcing events and RFPs
  • Serve as primary Buyer for assigned business units and manage purchase requests
  • Become a subject matter expert in procurement workflows on the Zip platform
  • Partner with cross-functional stakeholders for compliant and cost-effective purchasing
  • Transition key procurement processes into the Procurement department
  • Support execution of a major P2P platform process improvement initiative
  • Develop category insights and potentially take ownership of specific categories

Benefits

  • Equity opportunities
  • Comprehensive benefits package
  • Generous perks
  • Hybrid work model requiring 3 days in office
  • Priority hiring in New York City and Boston metro areas
Full Job Description
About the Position

Formation Bio is building a best-in-class Procurement function to support our rapidly growing organization. We are looking for a high-ownership Buyer who can independently run sourcing initiatives and RFPs, drive operational excellence in our purchasing processes, and serve as a trusted partner to stakeholders across the company.

This role will primarily focus on day-to-day buying and sourcing activities, while also having the opportunity to take on category ownership (e.g., IT or other indirect categories) as the company scales. You will play a critical role in transitioning core procurement workflows, including intake, vendor onboarding, and purchasing operations, into Procurement, helping to build scalable processes from the ground up.

This is an ideal role for someone with experience in project management, sourcing, or running RFPs who is excited to grow into a broader procurement career. You will partner closely with the Head of Procurement, who will focus on strategy and long-term process transformation, while you drive execution and operational excellence.

Responsibilities
  • Own and independently run end-to-end sourcing events and RFPs, including requirements gathering, vendor identification, bid evaluation, negotiation support, and stakeholder communication
  • Serve as the primary Buyer for assigned business units, managing purchase requests, vendor selection, and commercial coordination
  • Become a subject matter expert in Zip and lead day-to-day administration and optimization of procurement workflows within the platform
  • Partner with stakeholders across IT, G&A, Clinical, and other teams to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective purchasing
  • Transition and operationalize key procurement processes (e.g., vendor onboarding, intake management, purchasing workflows) into Procurement
  • Support and help execute a major P2P platform process improvement initiative, ensuring scalable design and strong adoption across the organization
  • Develop category insights and potentially assume ownership of specific categories (e.g., IT) depending on business needs and growth trajectory
  • Maintain documentation, playbooks, and SOPs to improve procurement consistency and scalability
  • Track and report on sourcing metrics, cycle times, savings, and process performance

About You

Relevant Experience:
  • 3-5+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, project management, operations, consulting, or a related field
  • Demonstrated experience running RFPs or managing structured vendor selection processes independently
  • Experience working cross-functionally with technical and non-technical stakeholders
    Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives

You may also have:
  • Experience implementing or administering procurement tools (Zip experience strongly preferred)
  • Experience supporting or owning an indirect spend category such as IT, G&A, or professional services
    Experience in a high-growth startup or scaling environment
  • Exposure to life sciences, biotech, pharma, or other regulated industries

What we're looking for:
  • A self-starter who is comfortable with ambiguity and building processes from scratch
    High ownership and accountability - you take initiatives from concept to completion
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Detail-oriented with strong operational discipline
  • Excited to help build a modern, tech-enabled procurement function

Total Compensation Range: $101,000 - $132,500

Compensation Individual compensation is determined by several factors, including role scope, geographic location, and skills & experience. Your offer will reflect where you fall within the range based on these considerations. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, and generous perks. If the posted range doesn't match your expectations, we still encourage you to apply!

Where We Hire Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in key hubs, primarily the New York City and Boston metro areas, with a hybrid model requiring 3 days per week in office. Applicants from the Research Triangle (NC) and San Francisco Bay Area may also be considered. Please apply only if you reside in these locations or are willing to relocate

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