Associate Director R&D Procurement - Clinical Trial Management

Scorpion Therapeutics; West Chester (Chester County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics is seeking a senior procurement professional to lead category management for Clinical Trial Management services, including CROs and FSP/FSO models. You will drive sourcing strategies, supplier governance, and value creation across clinical operations.

The role requires deep experience in regulated environments and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders to deliver measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in procurement/category management or related, in regulated environments.
• Experience supporting clinical development services (CROs/FSP/FSO).
• Understanding of pharmaceutical drug development and clinical outsourcing models.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and deliver measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations to understand study requirements and outsourcing needs.
• Develop and maintain category strategies and sourcing roadmaps for Clinical Trial Management services.
• Provide category and supplier insights to support decisions and supplier selection.
• Use spend data and market intelligence to identify sourcing and value opportunities.
• Lead or support sourcing initiatives, RFx, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and contracting.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Quality, Regulatory on commercial approaches.

Skills

Procurement

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Clinical operations collaboration

Cross-functional influence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

How You'll Spend Your Day

Business Partnering & Category Strategy

• Partner with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations stakeholders to understand study requirements, portfolio priorities, outsourcing needs, and business objectives.
• Develop and maintain category strategies and sourcing roadmaps for Clinical Trial Management services (FSO, FSP, and related clinical operations support).
• Provide category and supplier insights to support business decisions, supplier selection, and outsourcing model considerations.

Category Analytics, Productivity & Value Creation

• Use spend data, supplier insights, benchmarks, and market intelligence to identify sourcing, productivity, and value opportunities.
• Develop category-level value initiatives (rate optimization, demand management, supplier consolidation, resourcing-model improvements, commercial standardization).
• Track sourcing outcomes and value delivery using Procurement tools and reporting.

Strategic Supplier Management & Market Intelligence

• Support supplier segmentation, governance, performance management, and improvement for key CRO/FSP/clinical operations suppliers.
• Maintain knowledge of CRO capabilities, FSP/FSO operating models, capacity trends, pricing dynamics, and market developments.
• Use insights to identify alternative capabilities and improve sourcing decisions and continuity.

Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Enablement

• Lead or support sourcing initiatives: requirements development, RFx, supplier evaluation, negotiation, recommendation, and contracting support.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing, Legal, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, and stakeholders on commercial approaches and supplier agreements.
• Balance cost, quality, speed, flexibility, compliance, continuity, and supplier capability.

Procurement Process & Capability Support

• Apply category management, sourcing, supplier governance, and value-tracking practices.
• Improve Procurement tools/processes and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide project leadership and subject-matter guidance without direct people-management accountability.

Your Skills and Experience

• 7+ years in procurement/category management/strategic sourcing/supplier management/clinical operations (or related), including experience supporting clinical development/R&D and regulated environments.
• Experience supporting sourcing/category/supplier governance or commercial activities for clinical development services (preferably CROs and FSP/FSO models).
• Working understanding of pharmaceutical drug development, clinical trial execution, clinical outsourcing models, supplier ecosystems, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to manage cross-functional sourcing projects, analyze commercial information, influence stakeholders, and deliver measurable outcomes.

Leadership Competencies

• Translate business requirements and market insights into procurement actions.
• Communicate clearly, build credibility, and influence stakeholders.
• Strong commercial, analytical, organizational, and project leadership skills with hands-on execution.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Master’s with 5+ years relevant experience, or Bachelor’s with 7+ years.

Also Good to Have

• Phase 1-4 clinical trial management sourcing experience (CRO, FSO, FSP, monitoring, study/site management, or related services).
• Experience with preferred provider programs, rate cards, resourcing models, commercial negotiations, and clinical outsourcing agreements.