Senior Outsourcing Manager

Job Summary:

The Senior Outsourcing Manager, within the Procurement & Outsourcing department, will lead outsourcing and vendor management activities across R&D, with a strong focus on Clinical Development and related functions. This role serves as a key partner to Clinical, R&D, Tech Ops, Finance, and other stakeholders, supporting vendor strategy, selection, contracting, governance, financial planning and reporting, and ongoing performance management. The Senior Outsourcing Manager will manage vendor relationships throughout the engagement lifecycle, helping teams proactively address performance, budget, scope, and operational risks. The role will also support functional department contracts and associated financial planning, forecasting, budget tracking, and reporting activities, helping ensure appropriate visibility into vendor spend, commitments, and changes.

In addition, the role will support key procurement activities, including RFPs, vendor negotiations, contracting, and onboarding, while ensuring alignment with internal SOPs, procurement policies, and business objectives. Success in this role is measured by strong vendor partnerships, effective financial and performance oversight, proactive issue resolution, and the ability to support program and functional teams as business priorities evolve

Work Arrangement & Location:

Hybrid - This position follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring a minimum of two (2) days on-site per week — currently designated as Tuesday and Wednesday. Additional on-site days may be required based on business needs, team priorities, or leadership direction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage outsourced vendor relationships across R&D and Clinical programs, providing ongoing oversight of scope, budget, performance, timelines, risks, and contractual commitments.
• Partner with Clinical, R&D, Tech Ops, Finance, and functional teams to support outsourcing strategy, vendor selection, contracting, financial planning, and ongoing vendor management.
• Support vendor governance activities, including performance reviews, KPI/scorecard management, financial reviews, issue escalation, risk management, and follow-up of key actions.
• Support program and functional department financial planning and reporting, including vendor forecasts, budget tracking, accruals, commitments, change orders, and variance analysis.
• Manage functional department contracts and vendor engagements, partnering with business owners to ensure appropriate scope, budget, contractual coverage, and financial visibility.
• Develop and maintain vendor qualification, performance scorecards, risk assessments, and other oversight tools for outsourced partners.
• Develop and negotiate investigative site contracts, including budgets and exhibits, in partnership with Legal and Clinical.
• Lead select end-to-end sourcing events (RFI/RFP/RFQ) for program teams, functional departments, and corporate needs, including CRO, laboratory, and professional services vendors.
• Negotiate master service agreements, statements of work, change orders, and commercial terms in partnership with Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders.
• Support procurement and financial systems and processes, ensuring accurate and timely vendor, contract, purchase order, and financial data.
• Manage and report on purchase orders and invoices, including PO balances, invoice status, spend against commitments, and reconciliation of discrepancies.
• Track procurement and financial issues through resolution, partnering with Finance, Accounts Payable, vendors, and internal stakeholders to address PO, invoice, payment, and system-related issues.
• Develop and maintain procurement and outsourcing reporting to provide visibility into vendor spend, contractual commitments, PO utilization, forecasts, and other key metrics.
• Support supplier onboarding, due diligence, and ongoing compliance monitoring in accordance with company policies and applicable SOPs.
• Identify opportunities to improve vendor value, cost management, contracting efficiency, financial visibility, and outsourcing/procurement processes across the organization.
• Perform the other assigned duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field required. MBA or relevant advanced degree/certification (e.g., CPSM, CIPS) preferred.
• 5 years of outsource management, procurement, contracting and vendor management experience, ideally within biotech/pharma or a CRO-facing environment.
• Proficiency with procurement/contract management systems (e.g., Coupa, Ariba, SAP).
• Strong command of Excel-based spend analysis, benchmarking, and reporting.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive sourcing decisions without direct authority.
• Sound judgment in balancing cost, quality, and speed trade-offs.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple concurrent sourcing initiatives.
• Proactive in identifying risk and escalating issues before they impact the business.
• Strong negotiation and vendor relationship management skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Ability to present sourcing recommendations and business cases to leadership.