Sr Manager, Vendor Outsourcing

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

7d

About The Position

Gilead Sciences is seeking a Senior Manager, CRO Sourcing—Phase 1b–3 Clinical Trial Management, within Development Operations, Vendor Outsourcing. The role leads study-level sourcing for complex clinical trial management services across therapeutic areas including Virology, Oncology, Inflammation, and Cell Therapy. The Senior Manager develops and leads requests for information and proposals, evaluates and selects vendors, and presents recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders in line with the established CRO sourcing strategy. The position owns the full contracting lifecycle, including negotiation and management of work orders, amendments, change orders, and change notifications. It requires substantial clinical outsourcing expertise, formal contract and category management training or equivalent experience, sound commercial judgment, and collaborative work with Clinical Operations, Legal, Finance, Quality, Compliance, and external vendors.

The Senior Manager leads sourcing and contracting from requirements definition through award, translating study and protocol requirements into scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, service levels, and pricing models. The role applies market benchmarks and cost analyses, maintains compliant and audit-ready documentation, monitors vendor performance and commercial commitments, and handles contract changes and vendor issues. It also develops sourcing strategies, provides guidance to stakeholders, incorporates market and technology developments, and recommends global development vendors to senior leadership.

The position includes people-leader accountabilities: creating an inclusive environment, developing employee talent, and empowering teams. The role may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary by role), paid time off, and company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

Requirements

• High school degree and 12 years of experience, or a bachelor's degree and eight years of experience, or a master's degree and six years of experience; PhD/PharmD is also listed as a basic qualification.
• Demonstrated experience in the clinical trials industry, particularly Phase 1b–3 clinical trial management services.
• Formal training in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, contracting, or a related discipline, with demonstrated application in a category-management environment, or equivalent demonstrated experience as described in the role overview.
• Expertise in study-level requests for information and proposals, proposal and budget analysis, vendor evaluation, negotiation, award recommendations, and vendor selection.
• Strong end-to-end contracting experience, including work orders, amendments, change orders, and change notifications.
• Ability to negotiate and manage contracts collaboratively across Legal, Clinical Operations, Finance, Procurement, Compliance, Quality, and vendor teams.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical development, study start-up and execution, vendor oversight, and applicable regulatory and quality requirements.
• Strong financial and analytical skills, including evaluating complex budgets, cost drivers, pricing models, and commercial value.
• Ability to manage multiple sourcing and contracting priorities independently in a dynamic, fast-paced, matrixed environment, with sound judgment and urgency.
• Ability and willingness to travel as required.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, supply chain, procurement, or a related discipline, together with relevant experience in clinical outsourcing, category management, strategic sourcing, or contracting; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting clinical studies and sourcing vendors for CRO clinical trial management services.

Nice To Haves

• Experience across related clinical-trial ancillary categories.
• Current knowledge of the evolving clinical trial technology landscape and innovative provider offerings, and ability to apply insights to sourcing strategy, service delivery, and clinical trial performance.
• Professional certification such as CPSM, CIPS, PMP, or an equivalent credential.
• Advanced degree.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned study contracting activities and serve as the category subject-matter expert for internal stakeholders.
• Evaluate stakeholder business requirements and develop, implement, and maintain sourcing and contracting strategies aligned with business needs and priorities.
• Lead study-specific sourcing decisions, balancing operational requirements, quality, timelines, risk, and total cost.
• Provide category and contracting leadership to cross-functional stakeholders through influence and expertise.
• Lead study-level sourcing and contracting from requirements definition through request development, bid analysis, vendor due diligence, bid defense, selection recommendation, and award.
• Translate protocol and operational requirements into scopes of work, assumptions, deliverables, timelines, service levels, and pricing models.
• Own end-to-end contracting for assigned studies, ensuring timely execution, policy compliance, and alignment of commercial terms with operational scope.
• Negotiate and administer work orders, amendments, change orders, and change notifications.
• Apply external benchmarks, cost-driver analyses, and negotiation strategies to improve value, pricing consistency, and commercial transparency.
• Maintain complete sourcing and contracting documentation, decision records, approvals, and audit-ready files in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Monitor vendor performance, commercial commitments, and utilization; identify risks and opportunities and coordinate corrective actions.
• Evaluate the business need, scope, and financial impact of proposed contract changes and negotiate associated costs and terms.
• Document lessons learned to improve future sourcing and contracting cycles.
• Synthesize scientific, operational, financial, and market information into actionable recommendations.
• Incorporate market developments, vendor capabilities, and innovation into sourcing and contracting strategies; influence vendor selection through rigorous, transparent, data-driven analysis.
• Use analytical tools, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and emerging digital technologies to improve efficiency, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Identify, develop, and implement leading practices in vendor selection, cost containment, category management, contracting, and negotiation.
• Take accountability for issues through resolution, triage vendor-management issues, and escalate significant operational, financial, quality, or compliance risks.
• Identify systemic issue trends and develop sustainable solutions to remove barriers during study start-up and execution; anticipate risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Build partnerships with Clinical Operations, study teams, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Compliance, Quality, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate collaborative negotiations integrating legal, operational, financial, quality, and regulatory considerations; maintain vendor relationships while representing Gilead’s interests.
• Influence stakeholders and senior leaders through clear analysis, transparent decision criteria, and well-supported recommendations.
• Exercise sound judgment on clinical vendor agreement negotiations, exceptions, and escalations; recommend appropriate global development vendors to senior leadership for endorsement.
• Resolve vendor project-management and scoping issues by addressing deviations from agreed requirements and established procedures; assess and escalate recurring issues.
• Provide training and guidance, as appropriate, on contract budgeting, development, negotiation, and administration.
• Communicate complex matters clearly and appropriately to internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels, including senior leaders.
• As a people leader, create inclusion, develop talent, and empower teams.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus.
• Potential eligibility for discretionary stock-based long-term incentives; eligibility may vary by role.
• Paid time off.
• Company-sponsored medical insurance.
• Company-sponsored dental insurance.
• Company-sponsored vision insurance.
• Company-sponsored life insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED