The Franchise Sourcing Lead is responsible to advise and determine sourcing strategy with the relevant stakeholders and to cover all sourcing needs related to drug development in assigned franchise area, inclusive of ensuring external vendor services are sourced and managed for argenx’ clinical studies according to project needs, business objectives, argenx standards and in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Franchise leadership: Lead and manage Sourcing Management team members and conduct/oversee all sourcing activities in assigned franchise area. Ensure consistency within and across Franchise teams by providing guidance and develop individuals through mentoring and personal development plans. Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to design and input to project planning and strategy within assigned franchise, including input to project budget estimates and forecasts

• Align franchise sourcing needs with overall sourcing strategy and preselected qualified vendors. Drive franchise specific vendor performance and act as escalation point, in collaboration with Vendor Alliance Management. Ensure alignment with other franchises by closely liaising with other franchise sourcing leads

• Vendor selection leadership: Lead cross-functional teams. Lead the vendor selection process for key projects, including project priorities and timelines by preparing RFP packages including detailed specifications for contract activities, reflecting country-specific issues, reviewing and providing cost comparisons for all received proposals, organizing and chairing vendor presentations, and driving the project team decision-making process

• Contract preparation and negotiations: Prepare the contract document for key projects, using the appropriate template and incorporate updated project information. Ensure that final contracts prepared for assigned franchise projects covers vendor activities necessary to fully support the project and that argenx interests are safeguarded as well as requirements are reflected. Ensure that the contract execution process is managed according to argenx requirements. Negotiate contract terms for key projects in liaison with legal and finance department, as applicable. Lead budget negotiations and benchmarking activities as appropriate

• Change Orders: Manage all changes to service scope ensuring timely change order finalization and implementation

• Contract Performance: Monitor contract performance and provide issue escalation support. Maintain contracts in a database and effect timely updates by direct reports. Review project metrics and take appropriate action

• Vendor relationship management: Manage assigned vendor relationships, organize and chair collaboration or project review meetings as applicable

• Compliance: Throughout all sourcing activities, ensure inspection-readiness and compliance with relevant industry standards for assigned franchise area.

• Process and Template Development: Lead development and up-dating of sourcing processes and tools, including contract templates. Lead or participate in corporate initiatives

• Business intelligence: Monitor vendor markets and sourcing environment to keep current on providers and industry trends. Look for best practices and continuous improvement opportunities, stay up to date on relevant local regulations

• During all stages of activities, interact with internal and external stakeholders, customers, legal and finance departments and other functions as appropriate

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong strategic and creative thinker with leadership skills

• Good understanding of project management principles as well as sound knowledge of contract terms and conditions, benchmarking and market analysis.

• Must possess good organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as great attention to detail

• Promoter of strong partnership paradigm

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with a strong track record in negotiating

• Must be able to relate effectively to people at all levels of the organization

• Active, delivery-oriented driver

• Excellent English language skills, additional languages are advantageous

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in scientific, economic, or legal discipline, or equivalent

• 8+ years pharma-related experience or equivalent, including at least 5 years multinational pharma development outsourcing experience

• Experience in line management, including resource planning, performance reviews and development plans,

• Experience working with clinical research organizations and other clinical study vendors