Head of Vendor Management / Associate Director

About the role

Lead the development of a centralized vendor strategy within an international pharmaceutical and life‑sciences environment, ensuring external services meet strict quality, compliance and performance standards.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic, centralized vendor management and procurement approach across business units.
• Oversee the full vendor lifecycle – sourcing, qualification, onboarding, performance management, governance and off‑boarding.
• Lead commercial negotiations, pricing strategies and cost‑optimization initiatives.
• Establish vendor governance frameworks, KPIs, service metrics and risk‑mitigation processes.
• Collaborate with Legal, Quality, Finance and other functions to ensure contractual compliance and audit‑ready documentation.

Required profile

• Significant experience in vendor management, procurement or strategic sourcing within pharmaceutical, life‑sciences or similarly regulated industries.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex contracts and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, financial and risk‑management skills with a collaborative leadership style.

Required skills

• Vendor Management Systems (VMS)
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
• Procurement technologies

What we offer

• Flexible working arrangements
• Professional development and career progression opportunities
• Exposure to international clients and diverse project portfolios
• Collaborative, knowledge‑sharing culture focused on patient safety and public health