Job Description

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).

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

You willoperatein a global, matrixed environment, overseeing vendor performance,qualificationand risk management, while indirectly leading Contract VendorStart‑UpManagers embedded within CROs.

Requirements

• Leadend‑to‑endvendor oversight,governanceand performance across cardiac and respiratory diagnostic services

• Act as the senior escalation point for vendor issues, driving structured issue resolution androot‑causeanalysis

• Proactivelyidentifyand manage operational, quality and compliance risks

• Oversee vendor qualification andre‑qualificationin partnership with Quality and Procurement

• Represent Novartis in key vendor discussions, governanceforumsand business reviews

• Indirectly overseeCRO‑basedVendorStart‑UpManagers (approx. 3 indirect reports)

• Support audits and Health Authority inspections, ensuringinspection‑readydocumentation

Whatyouwillbringto the role:

Education

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

Professional Experience (Essential)

• Significant experienceworking in aGxP‑regulatedenvironment

• Proven experience in vendor and CRO management within clinical development

• Strong programme management capability, managing multiple vendors and studies concurrently

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

• Demonstrated ability to independently engage,challengeand lead senior vendor stakeholders

• Experience supporting inspections,auditsand regulatory interactions

Leadership & Style

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

• Comfortable operating as astand‑alonerole 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