Director, Vendor Performance Management (Development Operations)

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Vendor Performance Management within Development Operations. This role is accountable for portfolio-level vendor performance across the clinical development lifecycle, including performance analytics, issue trending, escalation management, and performance improvement strategies for assigned vendors. The Director partners closely with internal development teams and external vendor leadership to drive performance transparency, continuous improvement, enabling data-driven decision-making across a complex outsourced ecosystem. This role will sit in Foster City, CA.

Requirements

BA/BS in life sciences or related field, with 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in vendor performance and relationship management within the biotech or pharmaceutical industries
Demonstrated experience leading portfolio‑level vendor performance governance across multiple vendor service categories within clinical development.
Strong background in KPI (key performance indicator) development and analytics, performance issue escalation, and performance improvement planning.
Proven experience partnering with vendors and cross‑functional stakeholders, including engagement with senior and executive‑level leaders.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Copilot, and SharePoint.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience using advanced analytics and AI‑enabled tools to support performance management and decision‑making.

Responsibilities

Provide portfolio-level leadership and accountability for vendor performance management across multiple outsourced service areas within Development Operations, ensuring alignment with development strategy, delivery expectations, and business objectives.
Define, own, and govern vendor performance management frameworks for the assigned vendor portfolio, including performance metrics, issue management, escalation pathways, and performance improvement strategies across functional teams.
Oversee the development, maintenance, and ongoing optimization of departmental performance management tools and systems, including the KPI dashboard and the Vendor Issue Management System, ensuring data integrity, relevance, and usability.
Lead performance analytics and reporting strategy for the assigned vendor base, ensuring consistent interpretation and effective use of performance data to generate actionable insights, inform governance discussions, and drive continuous improvement.
Partner with cross‑functional development leaders to proactively identify vendor performance risks, gaps, and trends; assess business impact; and define and oversee execution of performance improvement plans.
Lead and facilitate vendor performance governance and escalation processes, representing Development Operations at operational and leadership-level forums, and driving timely resolution of complex portfolio-level issues in collaboration with internal and vendor executive stakeholders.
Serve as a strategic advisor to internal stakeholders and vendor partners, translating complex performance data into clear, decision‑ready insights and recommendations for portfolio and vendor governance meetings.
Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of vendor performance management processes, standards, and ways of working across the Development organization.
Build organizational capability in vendor performance management by leading or enabling training, knowledge sharing, and adoption of best practices across teams.
Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives related to vendor performance and governance, engaging and influencing a broad range of stakeholders across Development Operations and partner functions.
Champion innovation and advanced analytics, including the use of AI-enabled tools, to enhance predictive vendor performance insights, automate 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.