Specialist / Senior Procurement Specialist

Lila Sciences • Cambridge, MA

1d

About The Position

Lila Sciences is seeking a Procurement Specialist to run its first dedicated buying desk for a fast-paced, AI-driven research and development organization. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement, this hands-on role owns purchasing throughput and supplier onboarding, while establishing how the buying desk operates. The specialist partners with scientists, lab managers, and technical teams to keep ordering efficient and accurate, and works with FP&A on budget checks, project coding, and month-end accruals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• At least three years of procurement, purchasing, or procurement operations experience; experience supporting research organizations is ideal.
• Experience with a major procurement platform such as Coupa, Ariba, or Jaggaer.
• Hands-on supplier onboarding experience, including qualification, screening, compliance documentation, and vendor master management.
• Ability to prioritize an already overloaded queue in which most requests are marked urgent.
• Accuracy under volume, a service-oriented approach, and sound judgment to refuse non-compliant orders.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

• Coupa experience.
• Experience coordinating with demand or materials planning.
• Experience in biotech, pharma, diagnostics, or research-driven startups.
• Familiarity with CRO and CDMO engagements and lab operations.
• Experience sourcing scientific materials, equipment, and research services.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, or CSCP.

Responsibilities

• Own requisition-to-purchase-order execution end to end, including review, clarification, placement, confirmation, and closure.
• Serve as the primary procurement partner for assigned research and operating teams.
• Sequence the daily purchasing queue based on impact.
• Ensure order accuracy, including correct coding, approval paths, sound terms, and realistic lead times.
• Expand catalog and punch-out coverage to make routine buying self-service.
• Own supplier onboarding and offboarding and maintain a clean, current vendor master.
• Resolve supplier delivery, quality, and pricing issues before they reach requesters.
• Partner with FP&A on budget checks, project coding, and month-end accruals.

Benefits

• Competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity.
• For full-time U.S. employees: medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance.
• Flexible time off and generous company-wide holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• Educational assistance program.
• Commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office-based employees.
• Company-subsidized lunch program.
• For full-time employees outside the U.S.: a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region.

What This Job Offers

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