Sr Manager, Procurement

Company Information 

At Advarra, we are passionate about making a difference in the world of clinical research and advancing human health. With a rich history rooted in ethical review services combined with innovative technology solutions and deep industry expertise, we are at the forefront of industry change. A market leader and pioneer, Advarra breaks the silos that impede clinical research, aligning patients, sites, sponsors, and CROs in a connected ecosystem to accelerate trials.  

Company Culture  

Our employees are the heart of Advarra. They are the key to our success and the driving force behind our mission and vision. Our values (Patient-Centric, Ethical, Quality Focused, Collaborative) guide our actions and decisions. Knowing the impact of our work on trial participants and patients, we act with urgency and purpose to advance clinical research so that people can live happier, healthier lives.  

At Advarra, we seek to foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone is treated with respect and diverse perspectives are embraced. Treating one another, our clients, and clinical trial participants with empathy and care are key tenets of our culture at Advarra; we are committed to creating a workplace where each employee is not only valued but empowered to thrive and make a meaningful impact. 

Job Overview Summary  

Advarra seeks a Senior Manager, Procurement to lead a Procurement strategy for approximately $75M in indirect spending across seven categories. The Senior Manager, Procurement will (a) lead a Procurement strategy for which Advarra has a blueprint and framework built out, (b) lead and set Strategic Sourcing activities for two strategic categories, and (c) build and lead a Procurement Team. The Senior Manager, Procurement will reach across segments, functions, and sites to develop, plan, and source goods and services and continuously improve vendor-provided goods and services to benefit Advarra.  

Job Duties & Responsibilities  

• Lead the enterprise-wide Procurement strategy that includes Spend Visibility, Stakeholder Engagement, Sourcing Strategies, Organizational Design, Performance Measurement, and Policy, Process and Systems. The Procurement Senior Manager will look for opportunities to adapt or improve our current Procurement and Source-to-Pay capability.  
• The Procurement Senior Manager will own the Sourcing and Buying process activities within the Source-to-Pay Process at Advarra. This will include designing and implementing and overseeing cross-functional workflows for vendor onboarding.    
• Set and Lead Strategic Sourcing across seven major spending categories. The Procurement Senior Manager will source Technology and Business Services (two strategic categories) primarily and Travel, Marketing, and Operations spending categories secondarily.  
• The Procurement Senior Manager will work collaboratively and tactfully with internal stakeholders to ensure that business is awarded to the lowest, qualified vendors.  
• The Procurement Senior Manager will carefully track value realized from Strategic Sourcing activities and report it regularly to Advarra leadership. 
• The Procurement Senior Manager will work collaboratively with a cross-functional team that supports the vendor onboarding process to standardize the stakeholder experience.  
• Build and lead a Procurement team. The Procurement Senior Manager will hire, manage, train, mentor, and encourage the added talent to mature as procurement professionals. While the size of the team is yet to be decided, we expect the Procurement Senior Manager to be a supervisory role that would be ideal for an experienced Category Manager looking to grow into a people manager. 
• Responsibility for procurement governance, policy, and multi-year roadmap.  
• Lead a procurement steering committee that will ensure prioritization and escalation with executive leadership.  

Location  

This role is open to candidates working remotely in the United States.  

Basic Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, engineering, technology, or similar. 
• Five or more years of experience in Procurement as a Category Manager with experience sourcing Technology and Business Services.  
• Professional negotiation experience and training to lead effective vendor negotiations with new or renewing vendors. 
• Experience in an organization with a mature Source-to-Pay Process enabled by the appropriate systems such as ERPs, Spend Visibility Tools, and Contract Lifecycle Management tools. 
• A Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) designation, or similar. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Willingness to challenge the status quo and current vendor relationships to benefit Advarra. 
• High emotional intelligence, tact and composure to work well with internal stakeholders and vendor representatives. 
• Talent for data analytics, master data management, and information presentation required to organize and track vendor spend data and master data and measure and report value realized from Procurement activities 
• Experience working across functions such as Marketing, Human Resources, Technology, Operations and others. 
• Strong communication (both written and oral) and interpersonal skills 

Physical and Mental Requirements 

• Sit or stand for extended periods of time at stationary workstation 
• Regularly carry, raise, and lower objects of up to 10 Lbs.  
• Learn and comprehend basic instructions 
• Focus and attention to tasks and responsibilities 
• Verbal communication; listening and understanding, responding, and speaking 

Advarra is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing a workplace that is free from discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability or genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. 

The base salary range for this role is $110,000 - $214,000. Note that salary may vary based on location, skills, and experience and may vary from the amounts listed above. This position may also be eligible for a variable bonus in addition to base salary as well as health coverage, paid holidays, and other benefits.