Associate Director, Procurement

Fortvita Biologics; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortvita Biologics, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, seeks an Associate Director of Procurement to lead end-to-end sourcing, vendor management, and contract negotiations across R&D, Clinical Operations, Legal, Finance, and G&A. Onsite with up to 10% travel, you will build scalable procurement infrastructure and drive cost efficiencies to support rapid growth.

The role requires 10+ years in procurement leadership within life sciences or pharma, strong negotiation skills, and a demonstrated

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive procurement or supply chain leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years in life sciences, biotech, or pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong track record sourcing and negotiating across diverse categories incl. R&D, Clinical Ops, G&A.
• Knowledge of GxP, clinical trial supply chain, and regulated vendor environments preferred.
• Demonstrated success implementing procurement processes, policies, and systems.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and savings targets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy aligned with company goals.
• Lead strategic sourcing activities, vendor transitions, and cost-optimization projects.
• Partner with leaders across R&D, Clinical Ops, Legal, Finance, and G&A to forecast needs.
• Drive procurement system enhancements (NetSuite, Intacct, Ariba) to improve automation and reporting.
• Establish KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms for data-driven decisions.
• Build and mentor a high-performing procurement team and provide cross-functional training.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Leadership

Financial acumen

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related field

Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Tools

NetSuite

Intacct

Ariba

Job description

JOB TITLE: Associate Director, Procurement

LOCATION:

Onsite

Travel up to 10% required

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Fortvita Biologics is a San Francisco Bay Area–based biopharmaceutical company advancing next-generation biologics with the goal of addressing critical health needs. Building on our foundation in oncology, we are expanding into cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology, and ophthalmology, applying our scientific rigor and platform capabilities to areas of growing global health burden. Our expertise covers antibody discovery and engineering, including monoclonal, bispecific, and polyspecific antibodies, as well as antibody-drug conjugates, all supported by development strategies rooted in thoughtful design and agile execution.

Our clinical development footprint covers the U.S., Australia, and key regions across APAC and Europe, including the EU, UK, South Korea, and Japan. With more than 100 professionals across research, development, regulatory, and operations, we bring deep expertise and a global perspective to every program. Guided by our mission to transform research breakthroughs into therapeutic excellence and driven by our vision to improve lives through scientific innovation, we are committed to delivering meaningful impact for patients around the world.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Procurement will lead the company’s end-to-end procurement strategy, overseeing sourcing, vendor management, contract negotiations, and purchasing across R&D, Clinical Operations, Legal, Finance, and G&A functions. This role will build and scale the procurement infrastructure to support a rapidly growing biotechnology research company, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness while enabling scientific and corporate teams to achieve their goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Procurement Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy aligned with company goals and growth.
• Establish procurement policies, SOPs, and best practices to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Partner with leaders across R&D, Clinical Operations, Legal, Finance, and G&A to forecast needs and support organizational priorities.
• Drive vendor diversity, sustainability, and risk management initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted business partner to executives and functional leaders to anticipate needs and deliver strategic sourcing solutions.
• Partner with the China procurement team on cross-regional projects.
• Lead strategic sourcing activities, vendor transitions, and cost-optimization projects with clear project plans for scientific supplies, CROs, clinical vendors, professional services, technology, and facilities.
• Develop, manage, and directly execute purchasing activities, working side‑by‑side with cross‑functional team and Finance to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• Build strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating favorable terms, pricing, and service levels.
• Develop vendor scorecards and performance management processes.
• Lead and directly execute complex contract negotiations, drafting, and supplier agreements alongside Legal and Finance. Driving measurable value creation and mitigating risk.
• Drive procurement system enhancements (e.g., NetSuite, Intacct, Ariba) to increase automation, visibility, and reporting.
• Champion data‑driven decision‑making by establishing KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms.

Operational Excellence

• Implement procurement systems/tools to increase transparency, efficiency, and spend tracking.
• Monitor and report on procurement KPIs (e.g., cost savings, supplier performance, cycle times).
• Optimize processes for requisition, approval, and purchase order management.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and audit standards.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing procurement team to support scientific and corporate functions.
• Provide training and guidance to cross‑functional teams on procurement practices and vendor engagement.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure procurement practices align with company standards and other regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to gain insight into their supplier needs and provide ongoing support.
• Manage the end‑to‑end sourcing process for all commercial goods and services, from identifying supplier opportunities to final contract negotiation and supplier selection.
• Identify, evaluate and negotiate with suppliers to secure optimal pricing, terms, and service standards.
• Monitor adherence to service levels and address any issues or disputes with suppliers.

Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related field required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in procurement or supply chain leadership roles, with a minimum of 5 years in the life sciences, biotech, or pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong track record of sourcing and negotiating across diverse categories, including R&D, Clinical Operations and G&A.
• Knowledge of GxP, clinical trial supply chain, and regulated vendor environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success implementing procurement processes, policies, and systems in a growing organization.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing multimillion‑dollar procurement budgets and savings targets.
• Exceptional negotiation, vendor management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, evolving environment with a hands‑on and collaborative approach.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Strong knowledge of procurement‑related legal and regulatory frameworks.

COMPETENCIES/CORE SKILLS

• Strategic thinker who can also execute tactically.
• Strong ownership mindset with accountability for delivering outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative and solutions‑oriented with a track record of building alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Ability to analyze and resolve practical issues while effectively managing a wide range of dynamic and fast‑changing situations.
• Familiarity with finance, budgeting, and risk management principles.

Fortvita is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. This includes but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or hair texture and style. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of any protected trait is strictly prohibited.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies or search firms. Any resume submitted without a signed agreement will be considered unsolicited, and Fortvita will not be obligated to pay any fees.

Additional Legal Disclaimers

Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all new hires will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. and complete Form I-9 upon hire.

Employment at Fortvita is at‑will. This means that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advanced notice. This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and does not constitute a contract or guarantee of employment. Fortvita reserves the right to modify job duties or responsibilities at any time, based on business needs.

Reasonable accommodation: If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact Fortvita’s Human Resources team at [e-mail]. We are dedicated to ensuring all applicants have equal access and opportunity throughout the recruitment process.

Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and any other requirements permitted by law.