Strategic Sourcing Leader - Lab Services

Company: Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: January 22, 2023

Job Description:

We are focused on results. Those that can be measured. And those measured in ways beyond numbers.

We see individuals, not issues. We are inspired by passion, and compassion for the wellbeing of people. Our methods are based on logic, driven by rigor, results, issues, and outcomes. Our innovation means trying new things, learning from our mistakes, and consistently refining our approach. Our strategies help us define our path to success, but our effectiveness is based in the aggregate power of our initiatives to impact holistic change.

-Bill and Melinda Gates

The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) is a non-profit biotech dedicated to accelerating the product development timeline for diseases that disproportionately affect the world's poorest populations, including malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases-diseases that combined cause five deaths every minute- and a range of challenges in maternal and newborn health. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA and led by CEO Emilio Emini, Ph.D. our focus is on advancing novel drug and vaccine candidates against the aforementioned diseases from the laboratory into human studies and beyond. At the Gates MRI, we work across multiple interventions and disease areas to increase the identification, selection, and optimization of novel drug and vaccine candidates, with the intention to develop viable candidates through late-stage development and registration both in house and with partners across the global health ecosystem. We will seek to publish our learnings, so that they will be available to all research and development communities through our commitment to open access.

To enable a fast-to-decision mindset, the institute operates using small teams and a flat structure with the understanding that it is essential to break out of silos and embrace unconventional approaches across modalities. The five core mantras that permeate across the organization and drive progress at every level are:

• Urgency: Execute with excellence to maximize impact.
  • Collaboration: Establish empowered teams to drive our bottom line: lives saved.
  • Innovation: Build on the known, uncover the new, achieve the unprecedented.
  • Rigor: Drive the science, focus on the details, and execute with the highest quality.
  • Courage: Dare to confront the world's most significant global health challenges.
    
    Though the Institute is a diverse group of passionate change-makers, creative fixers and relentless advocates, these five core values will be universally adopted by all who join it and strive to improve the health and wellness of the world's most vulnerable populations.
    
    The Gates MRI offers flexible work arrangements for local candidates (50% on site) and a competitive relocation package for those looking to move to the Cambridge, MA area for this hybrid on-site role.
    
    THE POSITION
    
    With our global and complex network of collaborations and partnerships, in a heavily outsourced environment, the SS&P function at the MRI plays a critical, integral, and visible role touching all facets of our product development process. The Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Leader -Lab Services, a new role to the organization, will have the opportunity to function in close partnership with the Discovery, Non-Clinical, Bioassay Development, Exploratory Biomarkers, Stability and Central Labs, teams, bringing their expertise in all the categories related to Lab Services and Strategic Sourcing together to drive operational, financial, and strategic efficiencies. These efforts have a direct impact on our ability and speed to drive toward our unquestionable mission, saving lives.
    
    Reporting to the Head of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement, the Strategic Sourcing Leader - Lab Services will conduct vendor selection processes, vendor alliance management activities and support internal procurement systems and controls to enable achievement of Gates MRI objectives.
    
    
    • Work collaboratively with business owners and other stakeholders to:
    • understand business needs to develop fit for purpose sourcing and supplier strategies and drive expectations regarding strategic sourcing.
    • lead the Vendor Selection Process including Request for Proposals (RFPs), bid defenses, and vendor selection to start contracting processes, in accordance with Gates MRI procurement guidance and related policies. Ensure appropriate documentation of competitive bidding and exceptions is created and maintained to support Quality Audits and other record keeping requirements.
    • Drive the contracting process as liaison between business owners, legal and vendors to facilitate efficient communication of business requirements and resolution of negotiated terms. Lead the negotiations of business terms to ensure Gates MRI is positioned favorably in the supplier community.
    • Conduct market analysis, option development, due diligence and collaborative sourcing events with active coordination and participation from key leadership stakeholders; develop recommendations and gain leadership consensus.
    • Build and manage vendor relationships to ensure highest level of performance against objectives within budget and KPI's. Establish and maintain routine business reviews with business owners and vendors to ensure excellent communications throughout the term of the relationship. Establish and report vendor KPIs, establish and maintain Preferred Vendor List, provide recommendations for adjustments to vendor contracts / supplier strategies. Support change order business review and approval processes.
    • Ensure smooth and efficient transfer of required data from contract execution to purchase order generation
    • Support and conduct communication and training for procurement and strategic sourcing activities.
    • Collaborate closely with Finance, Legal and other stakeholders to drive compliance and excellent business outcomes.
    • Uphold Fiscal Stewardship principles to ensure suppliers understand the value of the resources provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
    • Other activities and ad hoc requests as directed by Head of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement.
      
      QUALIFICATIONS
      
      • 8-10 years strategic sourcing/procurement experience in the biotech or pharma industry required.
      • Excellent stakeholder management skills. Demonstrated ability to translate requirements between a scientific community and a contract development community.
      • Excellent communication and facilitation skills. Excellent attention to detail, documentation skills. Ability to work under pressure, in ambiguous and fast past, changing environment.
      • Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment to escalate issues in a timely manner to facilitate speedy resolution.
      • Ability to prioritize projects and activities. Ability to manage complex internal and external resources (people, systems & technology, time, information) under deadlines.
      • Strong financial acumen and experience in business case development, cost modeling, Total Cost of Ownership, and other financial decision approaches.
      • Extensive experience with suppliers related to the subject matter, competitive bidding processes and negotiating complex contracts for: Global, Regional and Local Lab Services Organizations outsourced models, drug development and support of including but not limited to: Discovery, Non-Clinical, Bioassay Development, Exploratory Biomarkers, Stability and Central Labs, Supply side management, Functional Service Provider (FSP) Models.
      • Ability to summarize complex issues and evaluate opportunities for improved functionality and quality.
      • Ability to successfully negotiate and influence both internal and external partners.
      • Strong analytical, problem solving and risk assessment skills.
      • High sense of urgency and demonstrated ability to deliver results and identify and drive process improvements.
      • Extensive experience in establishing key/preferred suppliers for categories under management.
      • Extensive experience with developing Supplier Relationship Management and Governance Oversight for suppliers that are considered key or preferred.
        
        #LI-TH1
        
        Hiring Requirements
        
        As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
        
        Depending upon your work location, we may require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and any recommended booster doses. All employees based in the United States are to provide proof of full vaccination upon hire and any recommended boosters, subject to applicable laws.
        
        Accommodations
        
        If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to hr@gatesfoundation.org.
        
        Inclusion Statement
        
        We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We're committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve-in race, gender, age, cultures and beliefs-and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
        
        All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.

Keywords: Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Cambridge , Strategic Sourcing Leader - Lab Services, Healthcare , Cambridge, Massachusetts