About the role
Job Description Summary
#LI-remoteEmployment Type: Full‑time | Regular, Hybrid
Office Locations: Dublin (NOCC), Ireland, This role is also available in London. Please apply to the advertisement for your location.
Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if you are able to easily access the Dublin offices.
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).
Job Description
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
Skills Desired
Aplyr's read
Novartis is a Swiss-based global healthcare leader, known for its focus on innovative medicines and commitment to addressing patient needs through diverse roles.
What's promising
- •Novartis invests heavily in research and development, driving innovation in pharmaceuticals.
- •The company offers a wide range of global career opportunities across various fields.
- •Strong focus on cutting-edge therapies, including gene therapy and AI-driven solutions.
What to watch
- •Regulatory challenges can impact the speed of drug approval and market entry.
- •High competition in the pharmaceutical industry requires constant innovation to maintain market position.
- •Complex organizational structure may slow decision-making processes.
Why Novartis
- •Novartis has a robust pipeline of innovative medicines, setting it apart in the healthcare sector.
- •The company emphasizes a diverse and inclusive workplace culture across its global operations.
- •Novartis is a leader in digital transformation within pharmaceuticals, integrating AI and data science.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Novartis
Novartis is a global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide. It focuses on innovative medicines, generics, and eye care.
