Job Description Summary

Employment Type: Full‑time | Regular, Hybrid, #LI-hybrid
Location: London (The Westworks) or Dublin (NOCC)

Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if the locations of Westworks, London or Dublin are accessible for you

About the Role

Novartis is seeking an experienced Vendor Alliance Lead Associate Director to lead strategic partnerships and vendor delivery across cardiac safety, cardiac disease and respiratory diagnostics within Global Clinical Operations (GCO).

Job Description

This is a senior, stand‑alone role with high visibility and accountability and with significant oversight of Contract Vendor Start-Up Managers. You will act as the primary face of Novartis to specialist vendors and CRO partners, ensuring high‑quality, compliant and timely delivery of diagnostic services critical to patient safety and regulatory success.

You will operate in a global, matrixed environment, overseeing vendor performance, qualification and risk management, while indirectly leading Contract Vendor Start‑Up Managers embedded within CROs.

Requirements

Lead end‑to‑end vendor oversight, governance and performance across cardiac and respiratory diagnostic services

Act as the senior escalation point for vendor issues, driving structured issue resolution and root‑cause analysis

Proactively identify and manage operational, quality and compliance risks

Oversee vendor qualification and re‑qualification in partnership with Quality and Procurement

Represent Novartis in key vendor discussions, governance forums and business reviews

Indirectly oversee CRO‑based Vendor Start‑Up Managers (approx. 3 indirect reports)

Support audits and Health Authority inspections, ensuring inspection‑ready documentation

What you will bring to the role:

Education

Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences or related discipline, or equivalent experience

Professional Experience (Essential)

Significant experience working in a GxP‑regulated environment

Proven experience in vendor and CRO management within clinical development

Strong programme management capability, managing multiple vendors and studies concurrently

Hands‑on experience in the cardiac and respiratory diagnostic space, including, deep understanding of vendor capabilities and market landscape

Demonstrated ability to independently engage, challenge and lead senior vendor stakeholders

Experience supporting inspections, audits and regulatory interactions

Leadership & Style

Self‑starter with the confidence to “step in”, assess situations quickly and take ownership

Comfortable operating as a stand‑alone role with indirect reports

Technically fluent enough to lead detailed vendor discussions without reliance on others

Strong communicator who can drive outcomes in complex, matrixed environments

Skills Desired

Vendor Alliance Lead Associate Director (Cardiac Safety and Respiratory Diagnostics)

Job Description