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

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