Senior CQV Engineer - 175928

Piper Companies; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Equity opportunities

Stock options

Job summary

Piper Companies is seeking a Lead Procurement Analyst, Category Management – Clinical Research to drive strategic procurement across clinical services and CRO partnerships. You will manage vendor relationships, lead RFI/RFP processes, and negotiate MSAs and commercial terms with global CROs.

The role emphasizes ownership of CRO relationships, governance, and cross-functional collaboration with Clinical Operations to deliver cost-effective sourcing strategies and enhanced supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field preferred.
• Experience in procurement, sourcing, category management, or clinical services procurement.
• Clinical Services Procurement experience strongly preferred.
• Direct experience negotiating with CROs is required.
• Experience leading RFI and RFP processes from development through vendor selection.
• Experience with vendor selection, evaluation, MSAs, and contract negotiations.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to work independently and influence vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic procurement activities supporting Clinical Research and Clinical Operations.
• Develop and execute RFI and RFP processes from requirements through vendor selection.
• Negotiate with CROs and other clinical services providers, including global partners.
• Lead vendor evaluation, selection, and commercial negotiations.
• Support negotiation and execution of MSAs and other vendor agreements.
• Participate in bid defense activities and cross-functional vendor decisions.
• Own strategic vendor relationships and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Establish and maintain vendor governance and performance management.
• Partner with Clinical Operations to translate business needs into sourcing strategies.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Analyze proposals, pricing, and terms to support data-driven sourcing decisions.
• Identify cost-optimization opportunities and supplier consolidation.
• Support ongoing category management initiatives within clinical procurement.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Clinical procurement

Sourcing strategy

RFIs and RFPs

Vendor governance

Negotiation

CRO relationships

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Lead Procurement Analyst, Category Management – Clinical Research

Location: Research Triangle Park, NC

Employment Type: Direct Hire / Full-Time

Salary: $105,000–$140,000 base + 20/20 bonus and stock opportunities

Potential Base: Up to approximately $145,000 for highly qualified candidates

About the Opportunity

Our client, a leading biopharmaceutical company, is seeking a Lead Procurement Analyst, Category Management – Clinical Research to support strategic procurement initiatives across clinical research and clinical services.

This is a highly visible role responsible for managing strategic vendor relationships, leading sourcing activities, negotiating with Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and partnering closely with Clinical Operations and other business stakeholders.

The ideal candidate brings direct experience supporting clinical services procurement, with a strong understanding of CRO sourcing, RFI/RFP processes, contract negotiations, vendor selection, and ongoing supplier governance.

This is an excellent opportunity for a procurement professional who wants to take ownership of strategic clinical vendor relationships while partnering closely with a growing clinical organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic procurement activities supporting Clinical Research and Clinical Operations.
• Develop and execute RFI and RFP processes from initial requirements through vendor selection.
• Negotiate with CROs and other clinical services providers, including small, mid-size, and ideally large global CRO partners.
• Lead vendor evaluation, selection, and commercial negotiations.
• Support negotiation and execution of Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and other vendor agreements.
• Participate in bid defense activities and support cross-functional vendor selection decisions.
• Own strategic vendor relationships and ensure high-quality service delivery from key partners.
• Establish and maintain effective vendor governance processes and performance management.
• Partner closely with Clinical Operations and other business functions to understand business needs and translate them into effective sourcing strategies.
• Develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Analyze supplier proposals, pricing, capabilities, and commercial terms to support data-driven sourcing decisions.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier consolidation, process improvement, and increased value across clinical services categories.
• Support ongoing category management strategies and procurement initiatives within the clinical research organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Finance, Life Sciences, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement, sourcing, category management, or clinical services procurement.
• Clinical Services Procurement experience strongly preferred.
• Direct experience negotiating with Contract Research Organizations (CROs) is required.
• Experience working with a range of CRO partners, including small, mid-size, and ideally large/global CROs.
• Proven experience leading RFI and RFP processes from development through vendor selection.
• Experience with:
  • Vendor selection and evaluation
  • Contract negotiations
  • Master Service Agreements (MSAs)
  • Bid defense participation
  • Vendor governance
  • Strategic supplier relationship management
• Demonstrated ownership of vendor relationships and ability to ensure strong service delivery from strategic partners.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Clinical Operations, Clinical Project Management, and other cross-functional business teams.
• Experience managing indirect procurement categories focused on services, rather than direct materials, manufacturing, or traditional supply chain sourcing.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to operate independently while effectively influencing stakeholders and suppliers.

Ideal Candidate Background

Strong candidates may come from backgrounds including:

• Clinical Services Procurement
• Clinical Category Management
• Indirect Procurement supporting Clinical Operations
• Strategic Sourcing within Clinical Research
• Clinical Operations / Clinical Project Management with significant CRO and vendor management experience
• CRO professionals with strong client‑facing sourcing, negotiation, and vendor management experience

What We're Looking For

This role is best suited for a mid-level to senior individual contributor who is comfortable owning procurement activities and strategic vendor relationships but is still hands‑on with the work. The successful candidate will report into an Associate Director-level leader and should be comfortable operating as a hands‑on procurement/category management professional within the team.

Why This Opportunity?

• Join a growing biopharmaceutical organization focused on innovative clinical research.
• High visibility and close partnership with Clinical Operations and business leadership.
• Opportunity to own meaningful CRO relationships and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Competitive compensation including base salary, bonus, and equity opportunities.
• Strong opportunity for continued growth within clinical procurement and category management.

This job opens for applications on 10/6/2026. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

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