The mission of a Vendor Strategy Manager is to design implement and manage effective strategies for the selection evaluation and optimization of key vendors supporting clinical trial operations.

The Vendor Strategy Manager will strive to maximize the value of the vendor network foster long-term trusted relationships and mitigate risks associated with outsourcing services in a regulated and dynamic environment also serving as the primary point of contact between the company and its vendors ensuring that contracted services meet the required standards of quality timelines and budgets essential for the success of clinical trials.

Key responsibilities (supply chain focus)
Vendor/category strategy

Build and maintain the strategy for transportation/logistics warehousing cold chain packaging or other supply chain vendor categories.
Define network and vendor footprint approach (coverage redundancy lanes service tiers).

Sourcing and vendor selection

Lead/coordinate RFPs for carriers 3PLs packaging temperature-controlled services and related providers.
Develop evaluation models (service capability compliance maturity cost-to-serve network fit scalability).
Contracting SLAs and commercial management

Negotiate rate cards lane pricing accessorials fuel surcharge structures and contract terms (with Procurement/Legal).
Define SLAs/KPIs such as OTIF on-time pickup/delivery claims rate temperature excursion rate order accuracy dock-to-stock cycle time and customer-impact metrics.

Performance governance

Run operational governance (weekly/monthly) and QBRs; build scorecards and performance dashboards.
Drive corrective actions for service failures (late deliveries damages shortages temperature excursions).
Risk quality and compliance

Ensure vendors meet requirements around GDP/GxP (as applicable) cold chain handling chain of custody security DEA/controlled substance handling (if applicable) audits CAPAs and business continuity.
Maintain contingency plans for lane/carrier disruption and capacity constraints.
Cost-to-serve and savings delivery

Identify and realize savings via lane optimization mode shifts consolidation packaging optimization and demand shaping.
Monitor cost drivers (accessorial leakage detention/demurrage re-delivery expedited freight spoilage).
Operational improvement and initiatives

Lead joint continuous-improvement projects (dock scheduling pick/pack process returns packaging standards).
Drive adoption of tools (TMS/WMS visibility track-and-trace exception management).

Stakeholder leadership

Partner closely with Distribution Center ops Transportation Customer Service Quality Security Finance and Procurement.
Communicate vendor health risks and major escalations to leadership.
Typical metrics owned/tracked
Service: OTIF on-time delivery % order accuracy cycle time fill rate
Quality: damage/claims % temp excursion % deviation/CAPA closure time
Cost: cost per shipment/order accessorial % premium freight % savings realized
Risk: audit findings insurance compliance incident rate BCP readiness

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Education and Background:

• Bachelorsin:

  • Supply Chain Management Logistics Operations Management

  • Business Finance Industrial Engineering

  • Data/Analytics or Information Systems (for TMS/WMS-heavy roles)

• Masters (nice to have):

  • MBA MS Supply Chain/Operations MS Industrial Engineering

• Certifications (often valued)

• APICS/ASCM: CPIM CSCP CLTD

• ISM: CPSM (procurement/vendor management)

• Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt / Black Belt

• If cold chain/regulated distribution is in scope: familiarity withGDP/GxPconcepts (certs vary by region)

• 510 yearsin a mix of:

  • Transportation management (parcel/LTL/FTL international freight brokerage)

  • 3PL/warehousing operations and performance management

  • Procurement / strategic sourcing for logistics packaging or ops services

  • Supplier/vendor management with structured governance (QBRs scorecards SLAs)

• Proven track record in:

  • RFPs and negotiations(rate cards lanes accessorial controls)

  • KPI/SLA designand performance improvement programs

  • Cost-to-serve analysisand savings realization

  • Risk management(capacity disruptions contingency planning)

• Tools and skills (commonly expected)

• Analytics:Excel (advanced) Power BI/Tableau basic SQL a plus

• Supply chain systems:TMS/WMS track-and-trace/visibility platforms

• Contracting: SOWs SLAs penalty/credit frameworks governance cadence

• Strong cross-functional leadership (Ops Quality Security Finance Customer teams)

• Domain knowledge that stands out in pharma distribution

• Cold chain handling basics deviation/CAPA mindset audit readiness

• Security/chain-of-custody awareness (especially for high-value or controlled products)

What Cencora offers

Benefit offerings outside the US may vary by country and will be aligned to local market practice. The eligibility and effective date may differ for some benefits and for team members covered under collective bargaining agreements.

Affiliated Companies

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 companys 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 . We will make accommodation determinations on a request-by-request basis. Messages and emails regarding anything other than accommodations requests will not be returned