Associate Director/Director Outsourcing Manager

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for the RFx process, vendor selection, negotiation of pricing, key business terms and contracts, measuring and managing vendor performance, and collaborating effectively with relevant department business partners.  The ideal candidate must have strong business acumen, excellent negotiation skills, experience in pharmaceutical procurement, and be able to work independently.
• Develop and implement outsourcing strategies that drive value, optimize costs, and ensure high-quality products and services for relevant stakeholders.
• Responsible for implementing tools and templates for the maintenance of a consistent outsourcing and contracting process across projects.
• Establish strong working relationships with internal business partners to align on and support key business initiatives by gaining an understanding of business needs and developing sourcing plans that meet those needs.
• Manage the competitive bidding process and lead sourcing related efforts on all RFx’s a from vendor identification to contract execution.
• Measure and manage vendor performance to ensure quality, performance, and cost-effectiveness
• Identify and develop relationships with suppliers that can deliver innovative solutions that meet business needs
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure that suppliers deliver value to the organization
• Identify key process improvement opportunities, assist in choosing and / or designing solutions and lead implementation efforts while coordinating efforts with key stakeholders
• Conduct spend analytics to identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements to drive value and operational efficiencies
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance to ensure adherence to contractual obligations
• Stay up to date on industry trends, regulatory requirements, and best practices in the industry
• Collaborate with the Legal team in the negotiation of key commercial terms in various types of contracts
• Serve as an advisor to internal business partners to drive compliance with company policies and procedures, regulatory requirements, and ethical standards as they relate to vendor identification, selection, and onboarding processes..
• Facilitate and support contract management tasks with internal and external legal, finance, as well as other departments, including communicating and explaining contract and budgetary issues
• In consultation with Legal, propose alternative contract and/or budget terms acceptable to the Company when vendor and Company terms and conditions differ
• Anticipate risk/benefit issues, assist with remedial action plans, and troubleshoot to resolve any concerns.
• Serve as communication liaison between vendor and internal and external customers.
• Provide functional guidance and keeps internal and external teams aware of all contract statuses or pending issues.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned, including support to other functions as required.
• Travel may be required (up to 25%).

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 7 years in clinical research and commercial outsourcing, contracts, budgets or related experience that includes working in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong business and financial acumen with strong analytical ability is required
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to support staff from various functions, departments and management levels
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to critically read documents and interpret/draw conclusions from the documents.
• Must have attention to detail and strong negotiation, project management, communication, organizational, documentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to identify risk and propose solutions.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and vendors
• Strong analytical ability and problem-solving skills
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite with a strong knowledge of PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to work independently, actively prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

The base range for an Associate Director is $171,943 - $196,338 and a Director is $213,333 - $241,364 per year. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location, and relevant education or training. Kura's compensation package also includes generous benefits, equity, and participation in an annual target bonus.