Category Vendor Manager

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Category Vendor Manager based in Brazil.** We are seeking an experienced vendor management professional to strengthen the performance, quality, and reliability of third-party partners supporting clinical trial operations. In this role, you will help oversee a global vendor network, ensuring outsourced services meet established standards and contribute to successful clinical study delivery. You will work closely with internal study teams and external vendors to monitor performance, address operational challenges, and manage quality and compliance risks. Through data-driven reporting, performance assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives, you will help identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and accountability. This remote opportunity offers the chance to collaborate with international stakeholders across different time zones in a quality-focused, cross-functional environment. Your relationship-building skills and commitment to operational excellence will help strengthen partnerships and support the delivery of clinical research that aims to improve patient outcomes. ### Accountabilities - Build and maintain strong working relationships with third-party vendors supporting clinical trial activities. - Implement and support vendor governance strategies, monitoring compliance, service effectiveness, and performance against agreed standards. - Measure and evaluate vendor performance using scorecards, surveys, key performance indicators (KPIs), and other performance management tools. - Collaborate with study teams and internal stakeholders to investigate vendor performance issues and support successful study delivery. - Oversee vendor-related quality incidents, including coordinating corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans and monitoring their implementation and follow-up. - Analyze and report vendor performance trends, operational risks, and opportunities for improvement across key service categories. - Lead continuous improvement initiatives with core and critical vendors to strengthen service quality, collaboration, and operational efficiency. - Monitor risks associated with outsourced services and oversee the development and implementation of appropriate risk mitigation plans. - Represent the Vendor Management function during sponsor qualification audits and contribute to vendor assessment and qualification activities. - Promote a collaborative, accountable partnership culture among vendors, study teams, and other stakeholders. - Support consistent vendor oversight practices that contribute to quality, compliance, and reliable execution throughout the clinical trial lifecycle. ### Requirements: - Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. - At least three years of experience in vendor management; experience in the pharmaceutical or contract research organization (CRO) industry is preferred. - Proficiency in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills. - Demonstrated experience managing vendor performance programs, KPIs, scorecards, and performance improvement plans. - Strong relationship management skills, including the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at operational and executive levels. - Experience identifying vendor performance concerns, managing service-related risks, and supporting quality improvement initiatives. - Excellent organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accuracy under pressure, and meet challenging deadlines. - Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with geographically distributed teams across multiple time zones. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. - Familiarity with TrackWise, Salesforce, Sciforma, or similar business, quality, and project management systems is an advantage. - A proactive, solutions-oriented approach, with a commitment to accountability, continuous improvement, and high-quality service delivery. ### Benefits: - Remote work arrangement. - Full-time employment. - Opportunity to collaborate with global teams across Europe and Latin America. - A collaborative and inclusive work environment that values diverse perspectives and professional contributions. - The opportunity to support clinical research operations and contribute to work aimed at improving healthcare and patient outcomes.