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Trial Vendor Associate Director

Novartis
Novartis
8-12 years
Not Disclosed
Hyderabad
10 April 24, 2026
Job Description
Job Type: Full Time Education: B.Sc./ M.Sc./ M.Pharm/ B.Pharm/ Life Sciences Skills: Causality Assessment, Clinical SAS Programming, Communication Skills, CPC Certified, GCP guidelines, ICD-10 CM Codes, CPT-Codes, HCPCS Codes, ICD-10 CM, CPT, HCPCS Coding, ICH guidelines, ICSR Case Processing, Interpersonal Skill, Labelling Assessment, MedDRA Coding, Medical Billing, Medical Coding

JOB TITLE: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR – TRIAL VENDOR MANAGEMENT (CLINICAL TRIAL OPERATIONS)

LOCATION: INDIA (HYDERABAD OFFICE – HYBRID WORK MODEL)

FUNCTION: CLINICAL TRIAL EXECUTION / R&D OPERATIONS

CATEGORY: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (SENIOR LEADERSHIP ROLE)


JOB OVERVIEW
A leading global pharmaceutical R&D organization is seeking an experienced Associate Director – Trial Vendor Management to oversee end-to-end operational planning and execution of clinical trial vendor activities. The role is responsible for ensuring high-quality, compliant, and timely delivery of clinical trial services while driving operational excellence across global studies.

The position plays a critical leadership role in managing vendor governance, budget oversight, resource allocation, and cross-functional trial execution within a highly matrixed global environment.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Trial Vendor Strategy & Execution

  • Lead strategic and operational oversight of clinical trial vendor management activities across assigned studies and programs

  • Ensure effective trial planning, execution, site activation, enrollment, and vendor delivery aligned with study timelines and objectives

  • Drive operational excellence through continuous process improvement and best practice sharing across trials

Budget, Resource & Governance Management

  • Oversee trial-level budget planning, tracking, and resource allocation in alignment with clinical program requirements

  • Ensure governance documentation is complete, audit-ready, and compliant with internal policies and external regulations

  • Support financial and operational forecasting in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

  • Ensure all clinical trial activities comply with GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable regulatory requirements

  • Monitor vendor performance, identify risks, and implement corrective and preventive actions where required

  • Maintain inspection readiness across trial processes and documentation systems

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Collaborate across clinical operations, procurement, regulatory, and study teams to ensure seamless execution of trial activities

  • Provide mentorship and guidance to internal teams and support capability building within vendor management functions

  • Drive alignment across global and regional stakeholders to ensure consistent execution standards

Continuous Improvement & Leadership

  • Identify training needs and contribute to the development of operational training materials

  • Champion process optimization initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and cycle times

  • Promote data-driven decision-making and adoption of digital trial management systems


EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • Minimum 8–12 years of experience in clinical trial operations, clinical vendor management, or clinical project management

  • Prior experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO environments is essential

  • Strong exposure to global clinical trials and matrix team leadership required

  • Experience in budget management, vendor governance, and operational oversight of clinical studies

  • Demonstrated experience in managing cross-functional stakeholders and external partners


EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

  • Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, or related scientific discipline is required

  • Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent) is preferred


CORE SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

  • Clinical Trial Operations Management

  • Vendor & Stakeholder Management

  • Budgeting & Resource Planning

  • Risk & Quality Management (GCP/ICH Compliance)

  • Cross-functional Leadership

  • Negotiation & Influencing Skills

  • Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

  • Data-driven Decision Making

  • Strong Communication & Coordination Skills


ABOUT THE ROLE FOR JOB SEEKERS
This role is ideal for professionals looking to advance into senior leadership positions within global clinical operations and vendor governance. It offers exposure to complex, multi-country clinical trials and the opportunity to drive strategic operational outcomes in a highly regulated environment.