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

Band Level 5   Job Description Summary #LI-remote Employment Type: Full‑time | Regular, Hybrid, Remote Office Locations: London (The Westworks) or Dublin (NOCC) Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if you are able to easily access the London or Dublin offices. Remote working in England and Ireland can be discussed at interview. 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