Position Summary
The Senior Director, R&D & Clinical Development Sourcing is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing, executing, and optimizing sourcing strategies across all R&D, Clinical Development, and Scientific Services categories. This leader partners closely with Clinical Operations, R&D Leadership, Development Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, Quality, and Finance to ensure the organization secures best in class CROs, service providers, technology platforms, and scientific suppliers that enable speed, quality, and innovation in the drug development lifecycle.
This role oversees a team of category leads and sourcing managers supporting the end to end value chain for preclinical research, clinical operations, biometrics, scientific services, and external development partnerships. The Senior Director will be responsible for driving strategic supplier management, ensuring operational excellence, enabling cross functional alignment, and delivering measurable value to the organization through cost optimization, risk mitigation, and enhanced performance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership
• Develop a multi year R&D and Clinical Development sourcing strategy aligned with therapeutic, pipeline, and corporate objectives.
• Serve as lead procurement partner to R&D, Clinical Operations, and Development leadership teams.
• Influence senior stakeholders and build consensus around sourcing strategies, supplier selection, and operational models.
• Represent Procurement in governance forums for study planning, vendor oversight, budget management, and external partnerships.
Category Strategy & Value Delivery
• Lead category strategies across CROs, laboratories, bioanalytical services, scientific services, eCOA/eClinical platforms, biometrics, and functional service provider (FSP) models.
• Drive competitive sourcing events, RFPs, master service agreements, and provide input to study level contracting, when necessary.
• Identify and execute cost avoidance, cost savings, operational efficiencies, and value creation initiatives.
• Ensure sourcing strategies consider quality, compliance, capacity, innovation, and risk.
Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
• Establish and oversee strategic supplier governance across key CROs, labs, and technology providers.
• Partner with QA, Clinical Operations, and Development leadership to manage performance, risk, audits, KPIs, and escalations.
• Develop long term partnerships that support speed, quality, and scientific excellence.
Team Leadership & Development
• Build, lead, and mentor a high performing procurement team that supports clinical and R&D categories.
• Set clear goals, ensure accountability, and champion professional development.
• Embed a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and partnership across the team.
Operational Excellence & Process Improvement
• Strengthen sourcing processes related to vendor selection, study startup timelines, bid defenses, governance, and ongoing operational performance.
• Ensure consistent compliance with procurement policies, legal, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Finance and FP&A to support budget planning, accruals, and necessary forecasting from vendors.
Risk Management & Compliance
• Assess and mitigate vendor, operational, regulatory, and geopolitical risks associated with external R&D/Clinical suppliers.
• Ensure appropriate due diligence, robust contracting, and governance frameworks.
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Management reserves the right to change or modify such duties as required.
