Vendor Program Strategy Director

Novartis

London

Summary
LOCATION: London or Dublin
ROLE TYPE: Hybrid Working,
The Vendor Program Strategy Director (VPSD) acts as the Business Partner for all vendor activities with the Clinical Operational Program Head (COPH). The VPSD, in collaboration with the COPH, Portfolio Innovation Director (PID), the External Relationship Management Teams (ERMT) and Procurement defines the program vendor strategy end-to-end. The VPSD is accountable at program level for the vendor delivery across the clinical study lifecycle from study start-up, recruitment, maintenance and closeout in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s), and regulations.
About The Role
Major accountabilities:
End-to-end accountability for all supplier related activities at a program level across Global Drug Development (GDD) Portfolio
Manages a program view of supplier performance relative to the defined strategy
Defines and aligns program strategies in close collaboration with Alliance Lead, ERMT, PID and Procurement
In collaboration with Vendor Alliance Leads, reviews geographic scope of global vendors and drives local vendor service delivery discussions with country representatives in case of gaps
Understands upcoming portfolio demand within Program through COPH role (new trials, new program, Business Development and Licensing (BD&L), research collaboration) and pushes information to Vendor organization
Understands and translates new service needs, in advance, and engages with Vendor Alliance Lead for vendors to be identified, qualified, and contracted to support future Programs/Trials
Support activities for Health Authority (HA) inspections/Audit readiness
Enables early engagement with suppliers during protocol development & feasibility stage and serves 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 other key internal and external partners.
Provide program pipeline visibility
In collaboration with the ERMT, proactive vendor risk management, assessing trends, quality issues, and contract issues, driving suppliers quality improvement at program level
Trial and Program timelines through supplier related start-up, recruitment, maintenance and closeout activities
Minimum Requirements
10+ years relevant industry experience, including expertise in clinical operations leadership of multidisciplinary teams, experience management outsourced trial activities at an operational and strategic level
Experience of Neuroscience is strongly preferred
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 associated supplier services, with excellent understanding of trial management, trial monitoring and overall integration of clinical data system and processes
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 skills to facilitate/optimize contribution of team members as individuals and members of cohesive team
Why Novartis
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here:
You’ll Receive
You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook.
Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of 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 to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here:
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?
Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up:
Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally:

Posted 2025-09-14

Recommended Jobs

HR Generalist, EMEA

We're seeking an enthusiastic HR Generalist to support our clients EMEA operations. If you're passionate about people and thrive in a multicultural environment, this is the role for you! Job Title: …

Posted 2025-09-10

SEN LSA

Hampton, Greater London

JOB TITLE - SEN LSA ABOUT THE SCHOOL Prospero Teaching is looking for a Primary SEN TA for a lovely Primary school in Teddington, TW11. The school is a popular mainstream Primary School with …

Posted 2025-09-10

Fraud Oversight Manager - London

Hello, we’re Starling. We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We’re a fully licensed U…

Posted 2025-09-11

Project Manager - Office Relocation

Project Manager - Office Relocation Stellarmann is partnering with a leading global organisation on their office relocation programme and is seeking an accomplished Project Manager to lead a portf…

Posted 2025-09-10

Business Development Manager - Trade Finance - 2 year rolling FTC

Prime Personnel UK

An exciting opportunity has arisen within an international bank for and experienced Business Development Manager to join a growing team. Your responsibilities will involve: * Identifying new opp…

Posted 2025-09-10

F M P E n v i r o n m e n t M a n a g e r

FMP Environment Manager £500-£550 a day London Programme Overview: The Finance Transformation programme is implementing the Oracle Fusion ERP suite for Financials, Procurement and Recruitm…

Posted 2025-09-10

Lead Nurse Rheumatology

Enfield, Greater London

The Rheumatology service provides a diagnostic, wide ranging treatments and management advice service for a caseload of patients with a variety of Rheumatological conditions. Act as a visible role mod…

Posted 2025-09-11

Test Analyst

RENAISSANCE INFOTECH LIMITED

Wallington, Greater London

Date: 11/09/2025 Job Name: Test Analyst Job Id: RIL-2K25-004 No. of Positions : 3 Renaissance, an equal opportunity employer, recognizes that our success in our mission is due to the remarkab…

Posted 2025-09-11

Graduate Teaching Assistants - Southwark

Empowering Learning

South East London

Graduate Teaching Assistants - Immediate Start &##128205; Location: South East London (Southwark) &##128197; Start Date: September 2025 ⏰ Contract Type: Full-time, term-time only &##128176; Pay…

Posted 2025-09-09

.NET Developer

.NET Developer, C#, WPF - London (Tech stack: .NET Developer, C#, WPF, Azure SQL, MVVM, Prism, TDD, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Programmer, Engineer, Architect, .NET Developer) In just over three years o…

Posted 2025-09-11