Vendor Program Head - Global Clinical Operations

Novartis; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis is seeking a Vendor Program Head in Dublin within VPG, GCO Development, to lead the Development Unit (DU) vendor strategy and portfolio oversight across clinical trials. You will drive vendor priority setting, lead the DU-aligned Vendor Program Strategy Directors, and partner with DU leadership to deliver portfolio milestones with strong governance.

In this senior leadership role, you will mentor high-performing teams, foster accountability and collaboration, and ensure alignment with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Healthcare, or a related discipline.
• Typically 10+ years of experience with pharmaceutical clinical drug development.
• Proven experience leading global teams within a complex matrix organization.
• Ability to align vendor team objectives to DU priorities and deliver portfolio outcomes.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the DU-aligned Vendor Program Strategy Directors and Trial Vendor Management community leads.
• Own the DU-level vendor strategy and oversee its execution across DU programs.
• Build and develop high-performing, inclusive teams with accountability and collaboration.
• Assess DU portfolio health and evolve vendor strategies across programs.
• Collaborate with DU leadership and senior stakeholders to align priorities and drive portfolio outcomes.
• Represent Vendor Partnerships & Governance in DU strategic planning and portfolio forums.
• Lead through complexity, driving quality, delivery, and patient impact.

Skills

Vendor management

Global team leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Salary Range: €90,300.00 - €167,700.00

#LI-Hybrid

Primary Location: Dublin, Ireland

Relocation Support: This role is based in Dublin, Ireland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Job Description

As Vendor Program Head within Vendor Partnerships & Governance (VPG), GCO Development, you will lead the Development Unit (DU) vendor strategy, portfolio oversight, and vendor management community supporting clinical development programs within a specific disease area. This senior leadership role is accountable for driving DU vendor priorities, leading the DU-aligned Vendor Program Strategy Director and Trial Vendor Management communities, and serving as the primary Vendor Partnerships & Governance partner to DU leadership.

The VPH is accountable for the team responsible for developing vendor strategies and overseeing vendor execution across DU programs and clinical trials, ensuring alignment with development priorities, delivery objectives, portfolio milestones, and quality expectations. Through strong collaboration with internal leaders, stakeholders, and strategic vendor partners, the VPH plays a critical role in advancing DU objectives and enabling the quality, efficiency, and timely delivery of outsourced services.

Working in a complex and evolving environment, you will strengthen organizational effectiveness, champion innovation, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to lead and inspire teams, and drive positive change at scale while keeping patients at the center of everything we do.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the DU-aligned Vendor Program Strategy Directors, Trial Vendor Management Community Leads, and Trial Vendor Managers community to deliver DU Vendor portfolio, program, and clinical trial objectives.
• Own the DU-level vendor strategy and oversee its execution, ensuring program-level vendor strategies align with development priorities, operational goals, portfolio demand, and clinical trial milestones.
• Build and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, inclusion, collaboration, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
• Assess DU portfolio health and evolve vendor strategies across programs, applying lessons learned, category insights, and innovative approaches to strengthen overall DU vendor delivery.
• Serve as the primary Vendor Partnerships & Governance partner to the GCO DU Head and collaborate with senior stakeholders across Global Clinical Operations and Development to align priorities, inform decisions, and drive vendor related portfolio outcomes.
• Represent Vendor Partnerships & Governance in DU strategic planning and early portfolio forums, bringing forward vendor demand, portfolio insights, risks, mitigation strategies, and opportunities for cross-program standardization or innovation.
• Lead through complexity and organizational change, enabling teams to navigate while maintaining focus on quality, delivery, and patient impact.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Healthcare, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• Typically 10+ years of experience with pharmaceutical clinical drug development.
• Proven experience leading global teams and managing associates within a complex matrix organization.
• Extensive knowledge of clinical development processes, with the ability to align vendor team objectives to DU priorities and deliver successful portfolio outcomes
• Strong leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to advocate for and implement new ways of working.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to engage senior DU and Development leaders, align cross-functional partners, and work effectively across organizational boundaries.
• Proven ability to lead across organizational boundaries, navigate ambiguity, and drive successful outcomes in a complex matrix environment.

Desirable Requirements

• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Healthcare, Pharmacy, or a related scientific discipline.
• Strong scientific and/or operational understanding of one or more core therapeutic areas, including Oncology, Immunology, Neuroscience, or Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases.

Benefits & Rewards

At Novartis, we're committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role: 90,300.00 - 167,700.00 EUR Annual

The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.

The rewards of being p