Clinical Sourcing Manager

The Sourcing Manager is responsible for ensuring external vendor services are sourced and managed for argenx’ development activities, including clinical studies, according to project needs, argenx standards and in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations.

The position reports to the Franchise Sourcing Lead Global Sourcing and Vendor Alliance Management.

**Roles & Responsibilities**:

- **Sourcing strategy expertise**:Define external business needs and requirements with operational teams. Prepare and evaluate business cases.
- **Vendor selection leadership**: Lead cross-functional teams in the vendor selection process including project priorities and timelines. Prepare RFP packages including detailed specifications for contract activities, reflecting country-specific issues. Review and provide cost comparisons for all received proposals, organize and chair vendor presentations, and drive the project team decision-making process. Lead competitive bidding and budget negotiations, perform benchmarking as appropriate
- **Contract preparation and negotiations**: Prepare the contract document, using the appropriate template and incorporate updated project information. Ensure that the final contract covers vendor activities necessary to fully support the project and that argenx interests are safeguarded as well as requirements are reflected. Negotiate contract terms in liaison with legal and finance department, as applicable. Capture key contract information and data in argenx systems Manage the contract execution process according to argenx requirements.
- **Change Orders**: Manage all changes to service scope ensuring timely change order finalization and implementation. Track annual cost increases, where applicable, and ensure they are aligned with agreed mechanisms.
- **Contract Performance**:Monitor contract performance and provide issue escalation support. Maintain and update contract files on a regular basis to ensure all documents are readily available. Review project metrics and take appropriate action.
- **Vendor relationship management**:Support strong collaboration between sponsor and vendor. Manage vendor relationships as assigned, organize and chair project review meetings. Support alliance managers to collate supplier issues and deliver process improvement initiatives.
- **Operational/Study Team Involvement**:Participate in operational/study teams as representative of sourcing function. Support budget planning and forecasting review cycles. Contribute to improvement initiatives as necessary.
- **Compliance**:Throughout all sourcing activities, ensure inspection-readiness and compliance with relevant industry standards.
- **Process and Template Development**:Support development and up-dating of sourcing processes and tools, including contract templates. Participate in corporate initiatives.
- **Business intelligence**:Monitor vendor markets and sourcing environment to keep current on providers and industry trends. Look for best practices and continuous improvement opportunities, stay up to date on relevant local regulations.

During all stages of activities, interact with internal customers, legal and finance departments and other functions as appropriate.

**Skills & Competencies**:

- Familiar with GCP and G(C)LP requirements
- Good understanding of supplier costs models and budget analysis
- Strong understanding of the pharma development business needs with a clear vision how sourcing can contribute to achieving business objectives.
- Good understanding of project management principles as well as sound knowledge of contract terms and conditions, benchmarking and market analysis.
- Must possess good organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as great attention to detail
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a strong track record in negotiating
- Team player, must be able to relate effectively to people at all levels of the organization
- Active, delivery-oriented driver
- Excellent English language skills, additional languages are advantageous
- Degree in scientific, economic, or legal discipline, or equivalent
- 5 + years pharma-related experience or equivalent, including at least 3 years multinational pharma development related sourcing experience
- Experience working with contract research organizations and other development and clinical study vendors