Strategic Sourcing Associate Director

Vertex Pharmaceuticals•Boston, MA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Associate Director of Strategic Sourcing for Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Raw Materials, you will be part of a fast-growing and innovative organization at the company’s world headquarters in Boston, MA. The department is committed to a trusting and collaborative culture where growth and development are valued. We engage proactively with stakeholders to understand their needs and deliver results for our company and for patients. If you are looking for an entrepreneurial, hands-on, team-oriented environment where you can make a meaningful impact, this is the right place for you. The role is responsible for raw materials sourcing categories essential to the development and manufacturing of Cell and Gene Therapy products. This position requires a strong understanding of CGT raw material technologies, functionality, specifications, supplier and CDMO landscapes, industry regulations, quality expectations, capacity dynamics, and emerging trends to ensure robust supplier partnerships, uninterrupted supply of high-quality materials and services, risk mitigation, and competitive value. You will collaborate with business partners across Development, Manufacturing, internal manufacturing sites, external contract manufacturing sites as needed, Quality, Technical Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, and other functions to define and drive CGT raw material category strategies that support development-stage, clinical, and commercial manufacturing needs. You will support the management of key strategic suppliers to drive continuous improvement, resolve complex supply issues, and identify opportunities that create exceptional value for Vertex and, ultimately, for patients. You will be a lifelong learner with curiosity and adaptability, continually expanding beyond the scope of your area of responsibility as part of self-development. This role will have high visibility across the organization, so the ability to effectively communicate with Senior Executive and technical leaders is crucial. Execution responsibilities include CGT raw materials market analysis and due diligence, supplier assessments, RFx development, negotiations, competitive price and cost analysis, financial analysis and long-term planning, contract development, ongoing supplier management, internal manufacturing site support, external contract manufacturing site support as needed, and risk management. Additional focus will be placed on optimizing internal sourcing processes, workflows, interfaces, and technology-enabled sourcing approaches to reduce delivery timelines and costs in support of corporate objectives, manufacturing continuity, and industry best practices. This position is based in our Boston, MA office, located in the Seaport area. This role requires a hybrid work schedule: 3 days in office & 2 days remote on a weekly basis. This role will require some travel to other facilities to establish / maintain key business stakeholder and supplier relationships as well as to support specific strategic initiatives.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to influence Sr. Leadership to drive Sourcing’s value; gain a “Seat at the table” with stakeholders
Deep understanding of Category Management within specific areas of expertise; able to manage and drive all aspects of Strategic Sourcing including strategy development, RFx execution, negotiation, contract execution, supplier performance management, and business stakeholder management.
Expertise in complex supplier negotiations and supplier management activities.
Expertise in sourcing, contracting, and managing suppliers that provide critical CGT raw materials, specialty materials, technologies, and related manufacturing support services, including supplier governance within internal and external manufacturing environments.
Strong analytical capabilities (data analysis and benchmarking research); expertise working with data analytical/reporting tools such as Power BI, Tableau, etc. Able to generate necessary data and reports to support their activities.
Ability to understand and support sourcing digitization needs, including adoption of AI-based sourcing, contracting, supplier intelligence, data analytics, automation, and technology-enabled supplier management processes.
Sound understanding and demonstrated use of Continuous Improvement tools (including Pareto Charts, Flow Diagrams, etc.) to drive process improvements.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Able to lead teams in collaborative manner to drive successful outcomes.
Collaboration extends beyond Business Partners and suppliers to include other functional areas including Legal, Compliance, Finance and more.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to clearly articulate opinions in concise and persuasive manner. Comfortable with public speaking with various audience levels, including Sr. Management.
Strong knowledge and understanding of contract law, including all terms and conditions; seen as a trusted partner from Legal colleagues to provide valuable insight to potential risks across all types of agreements (i.e. CDAs, MSAs, etc).
Ability to work in collaborative, team environment; ability to cultivate and maintain effective business partner relationships through earned respect and trust
Proficient in Microsoft Office, strong knowledge of ERP systems, and related e-Sourcing tools, including business intelligence and reporting platforms.
Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, manufacturing support, CDMO or external partner management, or related experience within the biopharmaceutical industry, with direct exposure to Cell and Gene Therapy raw materials, specialty materials, development and manufacturing support, supplier qualification, or related CGT supply categories.
Proven track record of negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, and driving cost savings initiatives.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
Working knowledge of AI-based sourcing, contracting, supplier intelligence, data analytics, automation, or other technology-enabled sourcing approaches desired.
In-depth knowledge of Cell and Gene Therapy raw material requirements, supplier qualification considerations, manufacturing processes, development pathways, commercial product support, quality expectations, and relevant material technology needs desired.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels of the organization.
Understanding of raw material specifications, quality requirements, and regulatory standards relevant to current Good Manufacturing Practices
Familiarity with regulatory requirements, quality standards, and best practices in the pharmaceutical industry, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and ISO standards.
Ability to travel as needed to meet with suppliers, visit manufacturing facilities, and attend industry conferences and events.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree or relevant professional certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

Business Partnering – develop strong, trusting, and influential relationships with stakeholders, understand business objectives, bring supplier and marketplace expertise, collaborate on multi-year strategic and operational plans, and drive business outcomes.
Global Category Management - including the development and management of category and sourcing strategies, management of strategic supplier relationships and performance management, in addition to tactical RFx activities.
Sourcing Strategy Development – Co-develop and implement sourcing strategies with business units, internal manufacturing sites, and external contract manufacturing sites as needed to enable CGT raw material needs across research, development, clinical manufacturing, commercial manufacturing, lifecycle management, and business continuity. This includes identifying and selecting critical raw material suppliers and CDMO partners where relevant, negotiating contracts, influencing network strategy, and managing supplier relationships.
Supplier Relationship Management – Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key CGT raw material, specialty material, technology, and CDMO suppliers. Negotiate contracts and agreements to secure favorable terms while ensuring alignment with quality, technical, regulatory, and service expectations. Collaborate with suppliers to identify opportunities for risk mitigation, resilience, cost savings, process improvement, capacity access, technical support, and innovation. Partner with external manufacturing, supply chain, process development, quality, and other stakeholders to maintain appropriate supplier governance.
Risk Mitigation – Assess and mitigate risks associated with CGT raw materials, including supplier capacity, quality requirements, regulatory expectations, technical dependencies, manufacturing site needs, and single-source exposures. Proactively identify potential disruptions and develop contingency and resiliency plans to help ensure development progress and continuity of manufacturing supply.
Cross-functional Collaboration – Work closely with Development, Manufacturing, internal manufacturing sites, external manufacturing, Quality, Vendor Quality, Technical Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, Legal, and other functions to align sourcing activities with CGT program needs, production schedules, product specifications, supplier qualification requirements, and regulatory expectations.
Market Analysis – Stay informed about market trends, supplier capabilities, capacity dynamics, emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and quality expectations related to CGT raw materials and specialty materials. Conduct market analysis, supplier assessments, and benchmarking to identify opportunities, risks, and potential strategic partnership models.
Continuous Improvement and Digital Enablement – Implement continuous improvement initiatives to streamline sourcing processes, enhance efficiency, and drive operational excellence. Leverage data analytics, performance metrics, AI-enabled sourcing approaches, supplier intelligence, automation, and technology-enabled tools to monitor supplier performance, improve decision-making, and identify areas for improvement.
Financials – Support annual budget process. Provide cost guidance to inform to LRP (Long Range Planning). Evaluate Bill of Material (BOMs) and understand total COGs to identify opportunities and risks.