Vendor Manager

We are working with a growing biotechnology company developing innovative therapies with a lead product currently progressing through clinical trials alongside an expanding R&D pipeline.

As the business continues to scale its clinical and development activities, we are looking for an experienced Vendor Manager to take ownership of relationships with key external partners and ensure outsourced programmes are delivered effectively, compliantly and within agreed timelines and budgets.

The Role

The Vendor Manager will be responsible for managing third-party suppliers supporting both clinical development and R&D activities.

You will work closely with Clinical Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance and senior leadership to oversee vendor selection, contracting, performance and ongoing relationship management.

This is a highly visible role within a growing biotech environment and would suit someone comfortable working across multiple external partners while balancing scientific, operational, commercial and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with external vendors including CROs, CDMOs, central laboratories, specialist consultants and other development partners.
• Support the identification, assessment and selection of new vendors through RFIs, RFPs and due diligence processes.
• Coordinate vendor onboarding and ensure appropriate contracts, statements of work and governance structures are in place.
• Monitor vendor performance against agreed KPIs, milestones, timelines, budgets and service levels.
• Lead or support regular vendor governance and performance review meetings.
• Identify delivery risks, performance issues or potential delays and work with internal teams and vendors to implement corrective actions.
• Support negotiation and management of contracts, budgets, change orders and amendments.
• Track vendor expenditure and forecasts in partnership with Finance and project teams.
• Ensure vendors operate in line with applicable quality, regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Maintain appropriate vendor documentation, performance records, risk assessments and audit trails.
• Partner closely with Clinical Operations and R&D teams to ensure outsourced activities align with programme priorities.
• Support the development and implementation of scalable vendor management processes as the company grows.
• Act as a central point of contact for strategic external partners and help build strong, collaborative long-term relationships.

About You

We are looking for someone with experience managing external partners within biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or a closely related life sciences environment.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience in vendor management, clinical operations, outsourcing, procurement or project management within biotech or pharma.
• Experience working with CROs, CDMOs, laboratories or other specialist life sciences vendors.
• Understanding of clinical development and/or R&D environments.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience reviewing contracts, budgets and statements of work.
• Experience monitoring vendor performance, timelines, deliverables and costs.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence working across scientific, clinical, quality and commercial teams.
• Ability to identify risks early and manage vendor performance issues constructively.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple vendors and programmes simultaneously.
• A proactive, hands-on approach suited to an entrepreneurial and fast-moving biotech environment.
• Experience supporting clinical-stage programmes.
• Exposure to GCP, GMP or other regulated life sciences environments.
• Experience working within a small or scaling biotechnology company.
• Experience establishing vendor management processes or governance frameworks.
• Experience supporting both clinical and preclinical/R&D programmes.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a growing biotechnology company at an important stage of development, with both clinical-stage assets and an active R&D pipeline.

You will have the opportunity to shape how the organisation manages its external partnerships, work closely with senior stakeholders and play an important role in delivering programmes from research through clinical development.