Vendor Acquisition & Contracting Manager

Care Access

6h•$80,000 - $110,000•Remote

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Study Feasibility & Clinical Partnerships, the Vendor Acquisition & Contracting Manager plays a critical role in identification, sourcing, qualification, onboarding, negotiation, and management of vendor relationships to support Care Access objectives. This role, in collaboration with Feasibility, SSU, Finance, and Operations ensures cost-effective procurement, strong contractual protection, compliance, and high-performing clinical vendor partnerships.

Requirements

Strong understanding of clinical protocols, trial execution, and start-up workflows.
Prior vendor experience with the ability to discuss protocol clinical aspects with vendors.
Skilled at guiding vendor partners and internal teams on protocol expectations, training, and procedures.
Effective communicator of vendor requirements both internally and externally.
Experience working with site networks; direct site-based experience strongly valued.
Ability to negotiate and 'sell' Care Access’s value to vendor partners
Experience interacting with investigators, clinical staff, and site teams to support operational decision-making.
Strong cross-functional communication skills in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
Creative, outside-the-box problem solving with openness to brainstorming solutions.
Proactive mindset with ownership, accountability, and focus on clinical quality.
Ability to foresee risks based on historical knowledge, manage escalations efficiently, and follow up across governance structures.
Data management skills for tracking KPIs, vendor performance, and escalation logs.
Ability to hold vendors accountable to agreed timelines and deliverables.
Capacity to effectively document historical vendor performance and leverage it for future pipeline planning.
Experience creating and implementing new processes based on role and company needs.
Experience reviewing, interpreting, and providing feedback on vendor contracts, including identifying risks, obligations, and compliance requirements.
Proven ability to manage the full lifecycle of vendor contracts, from negotiation through execution, renewal, and termination.
Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, healthcare, nursing, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
3–5 years of experience in clinical operations, vendor management, or clinical trial start-up.
Prior vendor-facing experience within clinical trials required.
Familiarity with vendor acquisition and management, and contracting workflows.
Proficiency with CTMS, clinical portals, and project tracking tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Clinical Project Management is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Clinical protocol review and vendor requirements identification
Review clinical protocols and other study documents to determine vendor scope and compatibility; translate protocol elements into vendor qualifications and study requirements
Clinical vendor acquisition
Identify potential vendors based on the requirements of the protocol and other sponsor-provided study documents
Conduct market research to assess vendor capabilities, pricing models, and risk factors
Develop and maintain a preferred vendor network
Lead RFPs, RFQs, and vendor selection processes
Contracting & negotiation
Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize vendor contracts in collaboration with direct report, legal and finance teams.
Track contract renewals, expirations, amendments, and compliance requirements.
Vendor Management
Identify and troubleshoot vendor-related issues impacting clinical execution or study timelines; act as clinical escalation point for vendor readiness concerns
Establish performance metrics and monitor vendor performance against SLAs and KPIs.
Resolve service, performance, and billing issues in a timely manner.
Drive continuous improvement and cost optimization initiatives
Maintain vendor documentation and compliance records
Serve as the clinical point-of-contact for vendors, ensuring timely responses when study manuals are unavailable.
Standardize and improve communication pathways between vendors, SSU teams, and internal stakeholders.
Develop and refine vendor management processes to optimize efficiency and quality.
Guide internal and external stakeholders on vendor requirements, protocol expectations, training, and procedures.
Participate in governance calls and internal meetings to provide updates on vendor performance and risk status.
Develop tools, templates, and training materials to strengthen vendor onboarding and oversight processes.
Maintain internal database in Sharepoint as well as SalesForce
Review study information and use internal databases, trackers, and dashboards as resources
Other duties as assigned