As a Director of Procurement & Sourcing, you will lead the strategic sourcing, negotiation, and contracting of critical vendor partnerships across clinical, manufacturing, laboratory, technology, and professional services categories. Serving as a trusted business partner, you will collaborate closely with Finance, Legal, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive cost-effective, compliant, and risk-balanced agreements that support organizational objectives. This
This role is responsible for optimizing vendor performance, managing the contract lifecycle, enhancing procurement processes and governance, identifying savings and efficiency opportunities, and providing strategic leadership to strengthen the company's overall procurement and sourcing function.
What You Will Work On
- Own the sourcing, structuring, and negotiation of complex commercial agreements across key spend categories, including clinical research, manufacturing, laboratory services, technology, data, consulting, and professional services engagements.
- Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and business leaders to develop contract strategies that effectively manage risk, ensure regulatory compliance, and align with organizational goals.
- Serve as a strategic procurement partner to stakeholders, advising on commercial terms, pricing strategies, payment frameworks, supplier commitments, and contractual obligations.
- Lead high-impact supplier negotiations focused on maximizing value, improving service outcomes, enhancing operational flexibility, and strengthening long-term strategic partnerships.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives by enhancing procurement policies, contracting frameworks, negotiation methodologies, and supplier management best practices to support organizational growth.
- Oversee the full contract management process, ensuring timely execution of renewals, amendments, scope changes, vendor performance reviews, and issue resolution.
- Analyze supplier spend and vendor relationships to uncover opportunities for cost optimization, process improvements, operational efficiencies, and risk reduction.
- Provide strategic leadership and mentorship within the procurement function while helping shape supplier governance models and long-range sourcing strategies.
What You Will Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Life Sciences, or a related field required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10-12 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, and contract negotiations, ideally within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences sectors.
- Significant expertise negotiating and managing complex commercial agreements with CROs, CMOs, laboratories, and other outsourced service providers supporting drug development and clinical operations.
- Deep knowledge of biotech procurement practices, vendor contracting frameworks, industry benchmarks, pricing methodologies, and risk allocation strategies.
- Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to drive business objectives and influence key decision-making.
- Exceptional negotiation, stakeholder management, communication, and analytical problem-solving capabilities.
- Proven ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, balancing competing priorities while building scalable processes and infrastructure.
- Direct experience supporting sourcing and contracting activities for clinical development programs across Phase I, II, and III studies.
- Established network and familiarity with the biotechnology supplier landscape and service provider ecosystem in the Bay Area.
- Experience building, optimizing, or transforming procurement and contracting functions within a high-growth or emerging organization.
What You Can Expect
- An inspirational place for you to do your best work, be engaged in meaningful ways, and continually develop the skills, competencies and qualities that set our team apart.
- Compensation commensurate with your qualifications, experience, and other factors including geographic location, market and operational factors.
- Total Rewards include: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Professional Development Program, Paid Time Off and Paid Sick Time (in geographies where legally required).
