Associate Director, Sourcing Strategy & Procurement

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and execute category strategies for CMC, Supply Chain, and Quality-related spend categories, including CDMOs, analytical and CMC activities, raw materials, APIs, excipients, packaging components, logistics, transportation and warehousing services, and quality and compliance consulting services.
• Conduct market assessments, supplier evaluations, and benchmarking to identify opportunities for cost savings, innovation, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
• Lead competitive sourcing events including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier selection, and contract negotiations.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and service providers.
• Establish supplier performance metrics and governance frameworks to monitor quality, delivery, service, innovation, and compliance.
• Facilitate regular business reviews with critical suppliers.
• Help define and track KPIs that measure sourcing and procurement performance, supplier reliability, regulatory/SOP adherence, and value creation across scientific and non-scientific categories.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to resolve supplier performance issues and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Contracting & Negotiations

• Lead complex commercial negotiations, including Master Service Agreements, Quality Agreements, Supply Agreements, Statements of Work, and pricing arrangements.
• Partner with Legal, Quality, Finance and business stakeholders to ensure contractual terms appropriately address risk, compliance, quality, intellectual property, and business requirements.
• Drive favorable commercial outcomes while maintaining strong supplier partnerships.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to CMC, Supply Chain, and Quality leadership teams.
• Support strategic initiatives including clinical and commercial product launches, technology transfers, manufacturing scale-up activities, and network optimization efforts.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to forecast sourcing needs and align procurement strategies with organizational priorities.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify and proactively mitigate supply chain, quality, operational, and financial risks associated with suppliers.
• Support business continuity planning and supplier risk assessments.
• Ensure sourcing activities comply with company policies, industry regulations, and GxP requirements.

Financial Management

• Develop sourcing business cases and total cost of ownership analyses.
• Deliver measurable value through cost savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and supplier performance enhancements.
• Track and report sourcing metrics, savings, and category performance to leadership.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Life Sciences, Chemistry, or related field required. MBA, MS, CPSM, CPM, or equivalent advanced degree/certification preferred.

Experience: 8+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, or category management experience. Minimum 5 years supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other highly regulated industries. Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level sourcing strategies and complex supplier negotiations. Proven ability to design, lead, and execute large and complex RFP processes in highly cross-functional environments. Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

Preferred Experience: Experience supporting CMC, Technical Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and/or Quality organizations. Knowledge of GxP regulations, pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality systems, and supply chain operations. Experience managing CDMOs and critical supply chain service providers.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Strong strategic sourcing and category management expertise. Proven negotiation and contract management skills. Strong understanding of pharmaceutical supply chains and external manufacturing models. Ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority. Excellent analytical, financial modeling, and problem-solving capabilities. Experience conducting supplier risk assessments and developing mitigation strategies. Strong project management and organizational skills. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Leadership Competencies: Strategic thinker with strong business acumen. Collaborative and relationship-focused. Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset. Effective change agent capable of driving organizational adoption. Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and sound judgment. Balances commercial objectives with quality, compliance, and patient-focused priorities.

Travel: Approximately 15–25% travel, including supplier visits, manufacturing sites, and industry conferences as needed. Position will be based in Zug, Switzerland; Waltham, MA; or West Conshohocken, PA and will require 3 days per week in the office.