Specialist / Senior Procurement Specialist

Lila Sciences • Cambridge, MA

1d • $68,000 - $117,333

About The Position

Lila Sciences is seeking a Procurement Specialist to run the buying desk for its fast-paced, AI-driven research and development organization. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Procurement, this hands-on role owns purchasing throughput and supplier onboarding. As the organization’s first dedicated buying desk, the role will establish how the desk operates and partner with scientists, lab managers, and technical teams across the organization.

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 overloaded queue in which most requests are marked urgent.
• Accuracy under volume and a service-oriented approach combined with the 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

• Manage 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 purchasing self-service.
• Manage supplier onboarding and offboarding and maintain an accurate, 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.
• For full-time U.S. employees: employer-paid life and disability insurance.
• For full-time U.S. employees: flexible time off and generous company-wide holidays.
• For full-time U.S. employees: paid parental leave.
• For full-time U.S. employees: educational assistance program.
• For full-time U.S. employees: commuter benefits, including bike-share memberships for office-based employees.
• For full-time U.S. 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