Director of Procurement - R & D

Strategic Procurement Director with extensive experience leading global R&D procurement across Clinical, Pre-Clinical, Laboratory Services and Outsourced Research categories. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Clinical Studies sourcing, CROs and R&D outsourced services, with a proven track record of delivering cost savings, innovation, risk mitigation and supplier performance improvements.

Client Details

A large global pharmaceutical company who is growing and developing their R & D division and they need an experience Procurement Director to help lead this.

Description

As the Director of Procurement

you will be responsible for developing and executing global category strategies across a diverse and complex R&D spend portfolio. Leading a team of Procurement professionals, you will influence key business decisions, build strategic supplier partnerships, manage large-scale negotiations, and ensure procurement delivers competitive advantage through cost optimisation, innovation, quality, compliance and risk management.

This role requires a commercially astute and culturally aware leader capable of operating effectively across multiple regions, functions and stakeholder groups.

Key Responsibilities

Own and develop global sourcing strategies across R&D outsourced services, laboratory services and associated categories.

Partner with senior R&D and business leaders to identify strategic opportunities and align procurement objectives to organisational priorities.

Lead complex commercial negotiations and oversee end-to-end contract management activities.

Develop compelling business cases to gain stakeholder alignment and drive transformation initiatives.

Deliver measurable value through cost reduction, quality improvement, innovation, supplier performance and risk mitigation.

Build and maintain executive-level supplier relationships across global markets.

Ensure supply continuity and compliance with regulatory, quality and governance

requirements.

Drive procurement excellence through market intelligence, category expertise and strategic supplier management.

Lead, coach and develop a team of Procurement Managers, building capability for future organisational growth.

Support cross-functional and cross-business unit initiatives that enhance procurement's value proposition globally.Profile

As a Global Procurement Director you will lead a critical procurement portfolio covering Pre-Clinical, Clinical, Laboratory and R&D Outsourced Services and should have;

Significant strategic procurement experience within a global organisation.

Demonstrable leadership experience managing and developing high-performing procurement teams.

Strong category expertise in Clinical Studies, Clinical Research Organisations (CROs), R&D Outsourced Services, Lab Services or adjacent life sciences categories.

Proven track record delivering complex, multi-year sourcing strategies and transformation programmes.

Experience managing substantial procurement spend and complex supplier networks.

Strong commercial acumen with extensive contract negotiation and supplier management expertise.

Experience influencing senior stakeholders across multiple business functions and geographies.

Ideally Bachelor's Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Science or a related discipline.

Previously worked within healthcare, pharmaceutical, life sciences or a similar environment

Job Offer

What's on Offer?

Competitive Salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunity to influence global R&D procurement strategy

Leadership role with significant organisational visibility

Global stakeholder exposure and international collaboration

Ability to shape innovation, supplier partnerships and business performance at scalePlease note

you will be based in the office in London/ South East (hybrid) with some travel.

If you are a strategic procurement leader looking to make a significant impact within a global innovation-led organisation, we would love to hear from you