Outsourcing Manager - Associate

ICON Clinical Research; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ICON Strategic Solutions is seeking an Associate Outsourcing Manager to help lead the contracting lifecycle for complex external engagements, from strategy and negotiation to execution and post-contract support. You will partner with Legal, Finance, Privacy and cross-functional teams to align requirements, manage risk, and drive timely decisions.

The role requires strong analytical and negotiation capabilities, experience managing vendor relationships, and foundational pharmaceutical knowledge

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; legal education or experience is preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to independently identify risk and adjust strategy.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations and managing stakeholder and vendor relationships.
• Knowledge of contract standards, risk allocation, budget structures, cost analysis, invoicing and reconciliation.
• Foundational pharmaceutical industry knowledge including GCP, GDPR, data privacy and standard contractual provisions.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization and written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead contracting strategy and independently negotiate complex agreements.
• Manage contracts from strategy and drafting through execution and post-contract support.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Privacy, Compliance and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Identify risks and adapt negotiation strategies with practical solutions.
• Analyze vendor budgets, rate cards, payment terms, invoices and reconciliations.
• Provide guidance on budget and payment structures and key provisions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Negotiations

Stakeholder management

Vendor relationships

Contract standards

Budget analysis

Invoicing

Data privacy

GCP knowledge

GDPR compliance

Contractual provisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Legal education or experience

Job description

Associate Outsourcing Manager

At ICON Strategic Solutions, you will work in a sponsor-dedicated model, supported by ICON’s global expertise.

As the world’s largest FSP organisation, with over 90 sponsor partnerships, we offer stability, career development and a collaborative environment where your work contributes to the development of treatments that benefit patients worldwide.

As a Associate Outsourcing Manager at ICON, will help lead the contracting lifecycle for complex external engagements, from strategy and negotiation through execution and post-contract support.

What You Will Do:

The role partners with internal stakeholders and vendors to deliver commercially sound agreements, manage contractual and financial risk, and support compliant, efficient outsourcing decisions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead contracting strategy and independently negotiate complex agreements, balancing business objectives, commercial value, risk, and compliance.

• Manage contracts from initial strategy and drafting through execution, amendment, issue resolution, and post-contract support.

• Partner effectively with Legal, Finance, Privacy, Compliance, and cross-functional business stakeholders to align requirements and drive timely decisions.

• Identify contractual, operational, and financial risks; adapt negotiation strategies and recommend practical, well-informed solutions.

• Analyze vendor budgets, cost structures, rate cards, payment terms, invoices, and reconciliations to identify discrepancies and cost‑saving opportunities.

• Provide historical guidance on budget and payment structures.

• Negotiate key provisions covering confidentiality, intellectual property and work product, indemnification, insurance, data privacy, and performance obligations.

Your Profile:

You will have solid supply chain and procurement experience, with the ability to manage competing priorities and develop your team.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; legal education or experience is preferred.

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to independently identify risk, adjust strategy, and make sound decisions.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations and managing stakeholder and vendor relationships.

• Strong knowledge of contract standards, risk allocation, budget structures, cost analysis, invoicing, and reconciliation.

• Foundational pharmaceutical industry knowledge, including GCP, GDPR, data privacy, and industry‑standard contractual provisions.

• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and written and verbal communication skills

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What ICON can offer you:

Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well‑being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements

• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.

• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.

• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24‑hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well‑being.

• Life assurance

• Flexible country‑specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.

At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here (https://careers.iconplc.com/reasonable-accommodations)