Procurement Relations Lead

Real Chemistry•Chicago, MA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Real Chemistry, making the world a healthier place isn’t just an aspiration—it’s our everyday reality. Our drive to transform healthcare is informed by our blend of deep scientific expertise, human-centred creativity, and AI-driven insights, fostering a unique environment where innovation thrives and our people are impact-obsessed. As a global agency, we provide a full suite of services across healthcare communications and marketing to our clients, including top players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Our #LifeatRealChem culture is rooted in our people—we believe we are best together and are committed to excellence for both our clients and colleagues. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, if you share our passion for healthcare and connection, we invite you to explore our opportunities. Discover your purpose. Embrace innovation. Experience #LifeatRealChem. Procurement Relations Lead Real Chemistry is seeking a Procurement Relations Lead to join our team. This is a U.S. hybrid role, based in or near one of our U.S. hubs including Boston - Massachusetts; Carmel - Indiana; Chicago - Illinois; Lambertville - New Jersey; This role is ideal for a relationship-driven leader who knows how to navigate client procurement and strategic sourcing environments to unlock and expand long-term partnerships. Reporting to the Head of Business Strategy and Growth, you will serve as a trusted bridge between Real Chemistry and our clients’ procurement and strategic sourcing teams — opening doors, building credibility, deepening engagement, and creating the opportunity for growth.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in client relationship management, account leadership, strategic sourcing, or procurement — with at least 5 years in a senior leadership position; candidates from account or client services backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply if they bring deep, demonstrated experience engaging client procurement and strategic sourcing organizations
A proven track record of generating new business leads and building and growing strategic client relationships, including meaningful experience navigating and influencing client procurement, strategic sourcing, or finance stakeholders — with demonstrated success opening doors to new stakeholders and leading capability meetings that convert into new engagements
Deep healthcare industry experience across pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences companies, or agency partners
Understanding of the procurement landscape, including market trends, client ESG priorities, and regulatory requirements across the healthcare ecosystem — including global experience
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust at all levels of a client organization and articulate the Real Chemistry value proposition compellingly
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple relationships and priorities simultaneously
Highly motivated self-starter who can create structure and momentum where none exists

Nice To Haves

Lead with relationships — you build trust quickly, invest in long-term partnerships, and know that the best commercial outcomes follow genuine connection
Are energized by growth — you see every client interaction as an opportunity to expand what’s possible and are motivated by opening new doors
Are a natural connector who can move fluidly between client-facing conversations and internal collaboration across teams and disciplines
Are a strategic thinker who can also execute with precision — especially in situations without an existing playbook
Are comfortable leading through influence rather than authority in a highly matrixed organization
Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven agency environment and adapt quickly as priorities shift
Are driven, resourceful, and comfortable with ambiguity as the business evolves
Value continuous improvement and are always looking for ways to make relationships and processes stronger

Responsibilities

Build and own trusted relationships with new and select existing client procurement and strategic sourcing stakeholders, serving as a credible, consistent point of contact who understands their goals and drives solution identification and growth opportunities.
Proactively generate and qualify new leads within client procurement and strategic sourcing organizations, building and advancing a robust pipeline of introductory and expansion opportunities across capabilities and markets.
Plan, organize, and lead client procurement capability meetings, developing and delivering curated, client-relevant content for introductory, capability, and relationship conversations that showcase Real Chemistry’s full range of services and solutions.
Serve as a consistent door opener for Real Chemistry, proactively introducing capability and account leads to new stakeholders, business units, and decision-makers within client procurement organizations to create fresh entry points for growth.
Partner closely with existing client leads to develop a deep understanding of each client’s business, priorities, and procurement dynamics — translating those insights into strategies that expand and strengthen our engagements.
Support evolution of Real Chemistry’s overall framework for engaging client procurement teams, creating a repeatable model that supports growth across our extended portfolio.
Keep senior stakeholders informed on relationship status, growth opportunities, and any risks to existing engagements.
Drive post-engagement debriefs to capture learnings and continuously strengthen how we build and grow client relationships.