Vendor Program Strategy Director

Summary Location: London or Dublin. Role Type: Hybrid Working. About the Role The Vendor Program Strategy Director (VPSD) acts as the Business Partner for all vendor activities with the Clinical Operational Program Head (COPH). In collaboration with the COPH, Portfolio Innovation Director (PID), External Relationship Management Teams (ERMT) and Procurement, the VPSD defines the program vendor strategy end‑to‑end. The VPSD is accountable at program level for vendor delivery across the clinical study lifecycle from study start‑up, recruitment, maintenance and closeout in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), ICH, SOPs and regulations. Major Accountabilities End‑to‑end accountability for all supplier‑related activities at a program level across Global Drug Development (GDD) Portfolio. Manage program view of supplier performance relative to the defined strategy. Define and align program strategies in collaboration with Alliance Lead, ERMT, PID and Procurement. Review geographic scope of global vendors and drive local vendor service delivery discussions with country representatives where gaps exist. Understand upcoming portfolio demand within Program and push information to Vendor organization. Translate new service needs in advance and engage with Vendor Alliance Lead for vendor qualification and contracting to support future Programs/Trials. Support activities for Health Authority inspections and audit readiness. Enable early engagement with suppliers during protocol development & feasibility stage and serve as single point of contact for Trial Vendor Management Team representative for program‑level strategies. Key Performance Indicators End‑to‑end Supplier Service Delivery at the Program and Trial Level – accountable for all external clinical activities for defined program strategies. Lead supplier decision‑making sessions with internal and external partners. Provide program pipeline visibility. Proactively manage vendor risk, assess trends, quality issues and contract issues, driving suppliers quality improvement at program level. Maintain trial and program timelines through supplier‑related start‑up, recruitment, maintenance and closeout activities. Minimum Requirements 10+ years relevant industry experience, including clinical operations leadership and management of outsourced trial activities. Advanced degree in science or business with equivalent experience. Demonstrated executive leadership in developing and managing external and internal strategic relationships. Experience with clinical processes and supplier services, with deep understanding of trial management, monitoring and integration of clinical data systems. Strong technical and problem‑solving skills; excellent understanding of clinical trial methodology, GCP and medical terminology. Excellent understanding of clinical development, quality & regulatory standards and policies relevant to defined services. Provide thought‑leading insights to the competitive environment and internal partner interfaces. Outstanding facilitation/optimization skills to drive cohesive team performance. Why Novartis Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. Our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. With our people at its core, Novartis drives ambition daily. You’ll Receive Find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion Novartis is committed to building an inclusive work environment and diverse teams that represent the patients and communities we serve. Join Our Novartis Network If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected, join the Novartis Network: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network Benefits and Rewards Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards #J-18808-Ljbffr