Associate Director, Vendor Relationship and Performance Management

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director of Vendor Performance Management within Development Operations. This role contributes to the effective management of vendor performance across the clinical development lifecycle, including performance analytics, issue trending, escalation support, and delivery of performance improvement activities for assigned vendors. The Associate Director partners closely with internal development teams and external vendor contacts to support performance transparency, operational follow-through, and data-driven decision-making across a complex outsourced ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree and Ten Years’ Experience OR Masters' Degree and Eight Years’ Experience OR PhD and Two Years’ Experience
Business Acumen: Understands how vendor performance and governance activities support Development objectives and delivery expectations.
Collaboration & Influence: Builds strong relationships and supports alignment across internal stakeholders and vendor contacts.
Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Applies critical thinking and data-driven analysis to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
Project and Deliverable Management: Manages timelines, inputs, actions, and deliverables to support high-quality execution.
Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced, complex environment with shifting priorities.
Accountability & Judgement: Takes ownership of assigned work, follows through on commitments, and escalates appropriately when needed.
Communication: Demonstrates clear oral and written communication, including the ability to prepare concise materials for governance and stakeholder discussions.
Continuous Improvement Mindset: Identifies and supports opportunities to enhance processes and ways of working.

Nice To Haves

BA/BS in life sciences or related field, with 8+ years of relevant experience in vendor performance, vendor relationship management, clinical operations, or a related function within the biotech or pharmaceutical industries.
Experience managing or supporting vendor performance governance activities within clinical development, preferably across multiple vendor service categories.
Strong background in KPI development and analytics, performance issue tracking, escalation support, and performance improvement planning.
Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with vendors and cross-functional stakeholders, including preparation of materials and insights for governance discussions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot, and SharePoint.
Preferred experience using analytics and AI-enabled tools to support performance management, reporting, and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Manage and support vendor performance management activities across assigned outsourced service areas within Development Operations, helping ensure alignment with delivery expectations and business priorities.
Contribute to the maintenance and application of vendor performance management frameworks, including performance metrics, issue management practices, escalation pathways, and performance improvement approaches.
Support the development, maintenance, and ongoing optimization of departmental performance management tools and systems, including the KPI dashboard and the Vendor Issue Management System, with attention to data quality, relevance, and usability.
Prepare and deliver performance analytics and reporting for the assigned vendor base, translating performance data into actionable insights to support governance discussions and continuous improvement activities.
Partner with cross-functional development stakeholders to identify vendor performance risks, gaps, and trends; assess potential business impact; and support the development and execution of performance improvement plans.
Coordinate and support vendor performance governance and escalation processes, preparing materials, tracking follow-up actions, and helping drive timely resolution of operational and portfolio-level issues.
Provide clear, decision-ready insights and recommendations to internal stakeholders and vendor partners based on analysis of performance data, issue trends, and operational inputs.
Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of vendor performance management processes, standards, and ways of working across the Development organization.
Support training, knowledge sharing, and adoption of vendor performance management best practices across teams.
Manage or contribute to cross-functional initiatives related to vendor performance and governance, engaging stakeholders across Development Operations and partner functions to deliver agreed outcomes.
Support the use of analytics and AI-enabled tools to enhance vendor performance insights, reduce manual analysis where appropriate, and strengthen proactive, data-driven governance.
Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations, and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop, and realize their purpose.
Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.