Manager, Vendor Relationship Management (Biotech/ Pharma)

VARITE • Foster City, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

VARITE is seeking a Manager, Vendor Relationship Management to support and enhance the infrastructure and operations of a Vendor Relationship Management (VRM) team. The position focuses on managing projects, optimizing processes, and improving operational excellence within the vendor governance framework. The successful candidate will help mature ways of working and strengthen partnerships with internal stakeholders and external vendors, with a focus on vendor governance and relationship management across Clinical Development. The role includes owning initiatives to enhance processes, tools, and templates, as well as supporting VRM operations such as managing mailboxes, developing presentation content, and building eLearnings. The candidate is expected to work autonomously and proactively, and to produce high-integrity work.

The role is based in Foster City, California, or Parsippany, New Jersey, and requires the candidate to be local to one of those locations. It follows a hybrid schedule of three days onsite and two days remote. The position is a 12-month contract, with a pay rate of $75.00–$84.17 per hour on W2.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in vendor management, outsourcing, or project management within the biotech or pharmaceutical industries.
• Strong foundation in project management and vendor governance frameworks.
• Several years of experience in multiple aspects of relationship management, including partnering with vendors and cross-functional stakeholders; direct experience preferred.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively, with high integrity and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and meet project deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in Clinical Trial Delivery or the Drug Development Lifecycle.
• Direct experience in vendor relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Own the management and delivery of assigned day-to-day VRM operational activities, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
• Lead and support initiatives to improve vendor governance, streamline processes, and enhance collaboration across teams.
• Lead the creation of assigned presentations or other internal materials related to the VRM group.
• Identify and implement opportunities to mature workflows and optimize vendor management practices.
• Partner with internal teams to foster strong relationships, source feedback, and improve communication channels.
• Support development and maintenance of frameworks, tools, and reporting for effective vendor relationship management.
• Analyze processes, data, and trends to provide actionable recommendations for operational and strategic improvements.
• Coordinate meetings, develop agendas, prepare presentations, and manage documentation for internal and external audiences.
• Support development of select materials for external vendor meetings as determined by the team.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Participation in a company-sponsored retirement savings plan.
• Legal service plans offering access to attorneys for legal advice and representation.
• Potential eligibility for an employee referral bonus if a referred candidate is hired.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager