Ancillary Sourcing Specialist

The Ancillary Sourcing Specialist plays a critical role in supporting clinical trial operations by managing the procurement and sourcing of ancillary supplies. This position involves collaborating with internal teams, external vendors, and clients to ensure accurate quotations, timely delivery, and compliance with regulatory standards. By analyzing market trends, optimizing sourcing strategies, and maintaining supplier relationships, the Specialist contributes to the efficiency, quality, and success of clinical trial supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Address incoming client inquiries for ancillary supplies promptly, providing clear and accurate information on pricing, product availability, lead times, and other relevant details.

• Analyze client requirements and project specifications to create customized proposals that meet client needs effectively.

• Join commercial meetings with customers to engage and approach target clients.

• Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to gather necessary information for accurate client quotations while ensuring compliance with pricing guidelines and regulations.

• Review and refine pricing strategies to remain competitive in the marketplace while maximizing company profitability.

• Track project progress, monitor timelines, and address any issues/risks that may impact deliverables.

• Request procurement-related documentation as required.

• Maintain up-to-date customer messaging at all times.

• Ensure all billing activities are forecasted within the month.

• Conduct detailed market analysis to identify emerging trends, potential growth opportunities, and competitive dynamics in the ancillary supplies market.

• Collaborate with the Vendor Management team to develop sourcing strategies for ancillary materials, services, and suppliers based on project requirements and organizational goals.

• Conduct market research to identify potential suppliers that meet quality standards, cost-effectiveness requirements, timelines, and regulatory compliance.

• Contribute to building and maintaining relationships with key suppliers/vendors involved in ancillary sourcing activities for clinical trials.

• Assist in negotiations with suppliers/vendors to secure service level agreements (SLAs) and other operational and quality terms while ensuring regulatory compliance for clinical trials.

• Monitor supplier performance against established metrics/SLAs to maintain compliance with quality standards, delivery timelines, and cost targets within drug sourcing projects for clinical trials.

• Support data analysis related to sourcing performance, costs, savings achieved, and other key metrics; contribute insights for decision-making.

• Provide regular reports highlighting trends and recommendations for process optimization within ancillary sourcing projects for clinical trials.

• Ensure all purchase orders are tracked with relevant information to capture and monitor key data.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Operations personnel (clinical operations teams), Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA) teams, Qualified Persons (QPs), and Supply Chain teams to ensure seamless integration of clinical trial supplies/services into ongoing operations.

• Liaise with internal stakeholders (e.g., Clinical Operations) to understand project needs, timelines, specifications, and budget constraints; align sourcing strategies accordingly.

• Communicate effectively with Operations to ensure a smooth transition from quote/purchase order to delivery, including timelines.

• Identify potential risks associated with ancillary sourcing activities (e.g., supply chain disruptions) and contribute to developing risk mitigation strategies/crisis management plans to minimize impact on clinical trial operations.

• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations/guidelines, including GxP, throughout all stages of procurement/sourcing activities specific to clinical trials.

• Identify opportunities for process improvements within the ancillary sourcing function and propose changes to optimize efficiency and effectiveness through automation or digitization where applicable.

• Support the QA team in investigating customer complaints, deviations, or audits related to ancillaries sourced for clinical trials.

• Provide necessary information, documentation, and support to assist in determining root causes, implementing corrective actions, and preventing future occurrences.

Education and work Experience

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business administration, supply chain management, life sciences, or a related field.

• 3+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or procurement roles, preferably within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.

• Strong understanding of clinical trials sourcing processes and regulations.

• Experience in ancillary sourcing activities preferred.

Skills and Knowledge

• Understanding of indirect sourcing processes and best practices within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Clinical Trial supply experience.

• Familiarity with clinical trial protocols and regulations governing ancillary sourcing.

• Experience in Proposal Development / KAM with good customer service skills.

• Knowledge of Global markets and ancillary sourcing.

• Proficiency in supplier evaluation, negotiation support, and contract management.

• Strong organizational and coordination skills.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

We provide compensation, benefits, and resources that enable a highly inclusive culture and support our team members' ability to live with purpose every day. In addition to traditional offerings like medical, dental, and vision care, we also provide a comprehensive suite of benefits that focus on the physical, emotional, financial, and social aspects of wellness. This encompasses support for working families, which may include backup dependent care, adoption assistance, infertility coverage, family building support, behavioral health solutions, paid parental leave, and paid caregiver leave. To encourage your personal growth, we also offer a variety of training programs, professional development resources, and opportunities to participate in mentorship programs, employee resource groups, volunteer activities, and much more. For details, visit https://www.virtualfairhub.com/cencora

*This Salary Range reflects a National Average for this job. The actual range may vary based on your locale. Ranges in Colorado/California/Washington/New York/Hawaii/Vermont/Minnesota/Massachusetts/Illinois State-specific locations may be up to 10% lower than the minimum salary range, and 12% higher than the maximum salary range.

Cencora is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or membership in any other class protected by federal, state or local law.

The company's continued success depends on the full and effective utilization of qualified individuals. Therefore, harassment is prohibited and all matters related to recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, promotions and transfers comply with equal opportunity principles and are non-discriminatory.

Cencora is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the employment process which are consistent with legal requirements. If you wish to request an accommodation while seeking employment, please call 888.692.2272 or email hrsc@cencora.com. We will make accommodation determinations on a request-by-request basis. Messages and emails regarding anything other than accommodations requests will not be returned

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