How This Role Makes a DifferenceReporting to the Director of Study Feasibility & Clinical Partnerships, the
Clinical Vendor Acquisition Managerplays a critical role in identification, sourcing, qualification, onboarding, negotiation, and management of vendor relationships to support Care Access objectives. This role, in collaboration with Feasibility, SSU, Finance, and Operations ensures cost-effective procurement, strong contractual protection, compliance, and high-performing clinical vendor partnerships.
How You'll Make An Impact- Clinical protocol review and vendor requirements identification
- Review clinical protocols and other study documents to determine vendor scope and compatibility; translate protocol elements into vendor qualifications and study requirements
- Clinical vendor acquisition
- Identify potential vendors based on the requirements of the protocol and other sponsor-provided study documents
- Conduct market research to assess vendor capabilities, pricing models, and risk factors
- Develop and maintain a preferred vendor network
- Lead RFPs, RFQs, and vendor selection processes
- Contracting & negotiation
- Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize vendor contracts in collaboration with direct report, legal and finance teams.
- Track contract renewals, expirations, amendments, and compliance requirements.
- Vendor Management
- Identify and troubleshoot vendor-related issues impacting clinical execution or study timelines; act as clinical escalation point for vendor readiness concerns
- Establish performance metrics and monitor vendor performance against SLAs and KPIs.
- Resolve service, performance, and billing issues in a timely manner.
- Drive continuous improvement and cost optimization initiatives
- Maintain vendor documentation and compliance records
- Serve as the clinical point-of-contact for vendors, ensuring timely responses when study manuals are unavailable.
- Standardize and improve communication pathways between vendors, SSU teams, and internal stakeholders.
- Develop and refine vendor management processes to optimize efficiency and quality.
- Guide internal and external stakeholders on vendor requirements, protocol expectations, training, and procedures.
- Participate in governance calls and internal meetings to provide updates on vendor performance and risk status.
- Develop tools, templates, and training materials to strengthen vendor onboarding and oversight processes.
- Maintain internal database in Sharepoint as well as SalesForce
- Review study information and use internal databases, trackers, and dashboards as resources Other duties as assigned
The Expertise Required- Strong understanding of clinical protocols, trial execution, and start-up workflows.
- Prior vendor experience with the ability to discuss protocol clinical aspects with vendors.
- Skilled at guiding vendor partners and internal teams on protocol expectations, training, and procedures.
- Effective communicator of vendor requirements both internally and externally.
- Experience working with site networks; direct site-based experience strongly valued.
- Ability to negotiate and 'sell' Care Access's value to vendor partners
- Experience interacting with investigators, clinical staff, and site teams to support operational decision-making.
- Strong cross-functional communication skills in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
- Creative, outside-the-box problem solving with openness to brainstorming solutions.
- Proactive mindset with ownership, accountability, and focus on clinical quality.
- Ability to foresee risks based on historical knowledge, manage escalations efficiently, and follow up across governance structures.
- Data management skills for tracking KPIs, vendor performance, and escalation logs.
- Ability to hold vendors accountable to agreed timelines and deliverables.
- Capacity to effectively document historical vendor performance and leverage it for future pipeline planning.
- Experience creating and implementing new processes based on role and company needs.
- Experience reviewing, interpreting, and providing feedback on vendor contracts, including identifying risks, obligations, and compliance requirements.
- Proven ability to manage the full lifecycle of vendor contracts, from negotiation through execution, renewal, and termination.
Certifications/Licenses, Education, and Experience- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, healthcare, nursing, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
- 3-5 years of experience in clinical operations, vendor management, or clinical trial start-up.
- Prior vendor-facing experience within clinical trials required.
- Familiarity with vendor acquisition and management, and contracting workflows.
- Experience in Clinical Project Management is strongly preferred.
- Proficiency with CTMS, clinical portals, and project tracking tools.
How We Work Together- Travel: This is a remote position with up to 50% travel requirements.
- Physical demands associated with this position Include: The ability to use keyboards and other computer equipment.
The expected salary range for this role is $80,000 - $110,000 USD per year for full time team members.
Benefits & Perks (US Full Time Employees)- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Company Paid Holidays
- 100% Employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance plan options
- Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts
- Bi-weekly HSA employer contribution
- Company paid Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
- 401(k) Retirement Plan, with Company Match
