Clinical Vendor Acquisition Manager

About this role

About Care Access

Care Access is working to make the future of health better for all. With hundreds of research locations, mobile clinics, and clinicians across the globe, we bring world-class research and health services directly to communities that often face barriers to care. We are dedicated to ensuring that every person has the opportunity to understand their health, access the care they need, and contribute to the medical breakthroughs of tomorrow.

With programs like Future of Medicine , which makes advanced health screenings and research opportunities accessible to communities worldwide, and Difference Makers , which supports local leaders to expand their community health and wellbeing efforts, we put people at the heart of medical progress. Through partnerships, technology, and perseverance, we are reimagining how clinical research and health services reach the world. Together, we are building a future of health that is better and more accessible for all.

To learn more about Care Access, visit www.CareAccess.com .

How This Role Makes a Difference

Reporting to the Director of Study Feasibility & Clinical Partnerships, the Clinical Vendor Acquisition Manager plays a critical role in identification, sourcing, onboarding, and management of vendor relationships to support Care Access objectives. This role, in collaboration with Feasibility, SSU, Finance, and Site Operations, ensures cost-effective procurement, strong contractual protection, compliance, and high-performing clinical vendor partnerships.

How You'll Make An Impact

• Clinical protocol review and vendor requirements identification

• Review clinical protocols and other study documents to determine vendor scope and compatibility; translate protocol elements into vendor qualifications and study requirements

• Clinical vendor acquisition

• Identify potential vendors based on the requirements of the protocol and other sponsor-provided study documents

• Conduct market research to assess vendor capabilities, pricing models, and risk factors

• Develop and maintain a preferred clinical vendor network

• Lead RFPs, RFQs, and vendor selection processes

• Contracting & negotiation

• Supports the review and finalization of clinical vendor contracts process, in collaboration with the internal team, legal, and finance teams.

• Help track contract renewals, expirations, amendments, and compliance requirements. Notify Manager and Legal Team for contracts requiring notice for non-renewals.

• Track and compare vendor pricing and utilize historical data and current markets for negotiation, if applicable.

• Vendor Management

• Identify and troubleshoot vendor-related issues impacting clinical execution or study timelines; act as clinical escalation point for vendor readiness concerns

• Establish performance metrics and monitor clinical vendor performance against SLAs and KPIs.

• Resolve service, performance, and billing issues in a timely manner.

• Drive continuous improvement and cost optimization initiatives

• Maintain clinical vendor documentation and compliance records

• Serve as the point-of-contact for clinical vendors, ensuring timely responses when study manuals are unavailable.

• Standardize and improve communication pathways between clinical vendors, SSU teams, and internal stakeholders.

• Develop and refine clinical vendor management processes to optimize efficiency and quality.

• Guide internal and external stakeholders on clinical vendor requirements, protocol expectations, training, and procedures.

• Participate in governance calls and internal meetings to provide updates on clinical vendor performance and risk status.

• Develop tools, templates, and training materials to strengthen clinical vendor onboarding and oversight processes

• Maintain internal database in Sharepoint as well as SalesForce.

• Review study information and use internal databases, trackers, and dashboards as resources.

The Expertise Required

• Strong understanding of clinical protocols, trial execution, and start-up workflows.

• Prior vendor experience with the ability to discuss protocol clinical aspects with vendors.

• Skilled at guiding vendor partners and internal teams on protocol expectations, training, and procedures.

• Effective communicator of vendor requirements both internally and externally.

• Experience working with site networks; direct site-based experience strongly valued.

• Ability to negotiate and 'sell' Care Access’s value to vendor partners

• Experience interacting with investigators, clinical staff, and site teams to support operational decision-making.

• Strong cross-functional communication skills in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

• Creative, outside-the-box problem solving with openness to brainstorming solutions.

• Proactive mindset with ownership, accountability, and focus on clinical quality.

• Ability to foresee risks based on historical knowledge, manage escalations efficiently, and follow up across governance structures.

• Data management skills for tracking KPIs, vendor performance, and escalation logs.

• Ability to hold vendors accountable to agreed timelines and deliverables.

• Capacity to effectively document historical vendor performance and leverage it for future pipeline planning.

• Experience creating and implementing new processes based on role and company needs.

• Experience reviewing, interpreting, and providing feedback on vendor contracts, including identifying risks, obligations, and compliance requirements.

• Proven ability to manage the full lifecycle of vendor contracts, from negotiation through execution, renewal, and termination.

Certifications/Licenses, Education, and Experience

• Minimum Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, healthcare, nursing, or related field (advanced degree preferred).

• Minimum Experience:

• 3–5 years of experience in clinical operations, clinical vendor management, or clinical trial start-up.

• Prior vendor-facing exp

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