Procurement Specialist

BioTalent Canada; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotechnology company in Vancouver seeks a Procurement Manager to manage the full purchasing process, negotiate complex vendor agreements, and support both R&D and corporate functions. The ideal candidate has a university degree in a business-related field, along with 3-5 years of relevant experience in the biotech or pharmaceuticals industry. A competitive rewards package and hybrid working model are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Generous benefits

Employee Equity Program

Paid time off to volunteer

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceuticals industry.
• In-depth understanding of procurement practices.
• Ability to build relationships with scientific and technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full purchasing lifecycle across all departments.
• Negotiate and procure complex, high-value items and services.
• Lead sourcing strategies for R&D teams.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership abilities

Project management

Procurement best practices

Collaboration skills

Education

University degree in a business-related discipline

APICS, CIPS, SCMP certification

Job description

Zymeworks is a publicly listed (NASDAQ:ZYME) clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics to improve the standard of care for difficult-to-treat diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune disease. Zymeworks’ suite of complementary therapeutic platforms and its fully-integrated drug development engine provide the flexibility and compatibility to precisely engineer and develop antibody-based therapeutic candidates. We are a global company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, with operations in Bellevue, WA, Dublin, Ireland, Singapore and Redwood City, CA.

Why Work With Us

Nothing is more critical to our success than the quality of our team. The work we do is meaningful and impactful – we care about each other as well as the patients we serve. We offer challenging career opportunities, competitive benefits and an environment that recognizes and rewards performance.

This role will be located in Vancouver and is hybrid with a minimum of 3 days per week onsite.

What You’ll Do

• Manage the full purchasing lifecycle, including approval of purchase requests, validation of pricing and documentation, and issuance of purchase orders across all departments.
• Source, negotiate, and procure complex, high-value items and services for both R&D and corporate (G&A) functions.
• Serve as the primary procurement liaison for early R&D, and G&A-related categories such as HR, IT, Legal, and Finance, ensuring their purchasing needs are met in a timely and compliant manner.
• Lead sourcing strategies for specialized goods and services required by R&D teams, including scientific equipment, lab consumables, reagents, and research services.
• Coordinate with Legal and Finance to review and develop contractual terms for service and consulting agreements.
• Partner with HR and IT to manage vendor relationships for workforce tools (e.g., HRIS systems, IT support services, SaaS platforms).
• Facilitate cross-functional procurement planning meetings with R&D and G&A department leads to anticipate upcoming needs and budget impacts.
• Provide guidance on vendor selection, bid process management, and compliance with internal procurement policies for all departments.
• Support the development and maintenance of preferred vendor lists across both scientific and administrative categories.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with applicable standards (e.g., GMP, SOX) for all procurement activities company wide.
• Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships across a broad supplier base supporting scientific, operational, and strategic needs.
• Tracks spend by function and provide analysis to Finance for forecasting and budgeting.
• Create procurement reports and dashboards to communicate metrics, KPIs, and performance insights to senior leadership.
• Support onboarding and training of department-specific buyers and end-users in the procurement system.

What You’ll Bring

• University degree or diploma in a business-related discipline and a minimum of 3-5 years’ related experience within the biotechnology and/or pharmaceuticals industry or an equivalent.
• APICS, CIPS, SCMP or similar supply chain/procurement diplomas or certifications.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills; able to build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management abilities with a focus on results and continuous improvement.
• In-depth understanding of procurement best practices in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry.
• Effective in interfacing with scientific and technical staff to determine purchasing needs.
• Proficient in preparing procurement proposals and influencing internal stakeholders.

Total Rewards

We offer a comprehensive total rewards package, which includes competitive salaries, generous benefits, an outstanding work environment, and excellent opportunities for professional growth. We regularly benchmark our compensation against leading biotechnology companies in our geographies.

The base salary range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in the location for which the job is posted and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by a variety of factors and the salary offered may vary depending on the successful candidate’s location and qualifications (including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, education, training, skills, and experience).

Our total rewards package that includes:

• Industry leading vacation and paid time off
• Exceptional medical, dental and vision benefits by country
• Zymelife health and wellness benefits
• Employee Share Purchase Program
• Employee Equity Program
• Paid time off to volunteer in your community

This role is not eligible for relocation or immigration support.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or disability.

NOTE TO AGENCIES: Zymeworks values our relationships with our recruiting partners. We only accept resumes from those partners who have been contracted with us. Zymeworks is not responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited or are received without contract.