Trial Vendor Senior Manager - Global Clinical Operations (GCO_

Summary Location: Westworks, London, UK

We are unable offer relocation for this position. Please only apply of this location is accessible for you.

This is a hybrid position with an expectation of 12 days a month onsite working from our Westworks, White City offices.

Home worker contracts can be discussed and offered depending on eligibility criteria being met. This can be discussed at interview stage if applicable.

When we put our heads together, we can do brilliant work. And when we do brilliant work, we can achieve remarkable things for patients as we positively transform healthcare. Our Trial Vendor Senior Managers have direct impact on the success of our clinical trials and the management of our critical vendors.

About The Role As a core member of the Clinical Trial Team (CTT), the Trial Vendor Manager (TVM) serves as the CTT vendor sub-team lead, providing direct operational management and oversight of clinical trial vendors to deliver study outcomes in accordance with schedule, budget, quality, compliance, and performance standards. The TVM is accountable for vendor service delivery at the study level and collaborates closely with the Vendor Start-up Manager (VSM) across major clinical vendor categories, including central labs, eCOA/ePRO, IRT, cardiac and respiratory diagnostics, patient recruitment and retention (PR&R), and imaging. During study start-up, the TVM applies technical and operational expertise to translate protocol requirements into clear vendor specifications and Statements of Work (SOWs), helping to ensure timely study initiation.

You will proactively manage vendor-related risks and potential issues and implement global vendor strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the single point of contact for vendor service delivery at the study level, partnering with vendors and cross-functional teams within the Clinical Trial Team (CTT)
• Provide direct, end-to-end operational oversight of clinical trial vendor deliverables, ensuring alignment with study timelines, scope, quality, and compliance expectations across major vendor categories, including central labs, IRT, eCOA/ePRO, imaging, cardiac and respiratory diagnostics, and PR&R.
• Review vendor-related protocol sections during protocol development and partner with the Vendor Start-up Manager to translate protocol requirements into accurate vendor specifications and Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Oversee vendor financials, including forecasting, budget tracking, validation of work performed, service confirmations, invoice reconciliation, and purchase order management and close-out.
• In collaboration with vendors, study start up leads and vendor start up managers, ensure that all key vendor deliverables and documentation are in place to support submission during study start-up
• Lead UAT activities for vendor systems (e.g., eCOA, IRT), and contribute to vendor system validation
• Drive site activation from a vendor perspective, compile vendor related central documents, and address risks/issues during site activation and throughout the life-cycle of a site
• Manage vendor performance against agreed KPIs, proactively identify risks and issues, drive corrective actions and mitigation plans with vendors and study teams, and maintain complete, inspection-ready oversight documentation.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or equivalent; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years’ clinical operations experience, including direct operational management and oversight of clinical trial vendors across one or more major service categories such as central labs, IRT, eCOA/ePRO, or imaging.
• Strong knowledge of GxP and ICH regulations, clinical trial design, and supplier service specifications.
• Proficiency in vendor management, contracting, and site-related collaborations, including UAT for eCOA and IRT systems.
• Results-driven with proven ability to complete projects within timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, problem-solving, and communication skills in a matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated networking abilities, team collaboration, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong scientific curiosity and good knowledge of working on Clinical Trials with an Oncology focus, would be highly beneficial

Benefits & Rewards At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

**Expected Annual Base Sala…