VP, Development Clinical Outsourcing

Summary

Join Ultragenyx as the Vice President, Development Outsourcing, a visionary leader responsible for designing and implementing a future-oriented outsourcing model. This key role involves establishing a holistic outsourcing strategy to enhance speed, quality, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness across the Development portfolio. You will lead a high-performing team, foster strategic partnerships, and ensure alignment with business objectives. The position requires a deep understanding of clinical development, outsourcing financials, and vendor oversight. This is a remote position with occasional travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Business and an MBA or equivalent degree preferred
• 15+ years of relevant biotech/pharma work experience in a Procurement, Outsourcing, or similar Finance role that requires strategic and tactical business support
• 10+ years of experience directly negotiating full scope CRO agreements at task and resource by region level and/or building CRO resourcing models
• Superior communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills to frame decisions for senior management and drive optimized decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to be a strong business partner with high-energy and a hands-on approach
• Financial systems fluency & versatility with a passion for delivering the right data in the right format to inform optimal decision-making
• Able to thrive in a very fast-paced environment and be assertive when needed
• Exceptional strategic thinking, influence, and communication skills, with the ability to navigate complex cross-functional landscapes and drive enterprise alignment
• Versatility, flexibility, and willingness to adapt job responsibilities as required to meet the demands and opportunities of a rapidly growing company
• Deep understanding of clinical development, outsourcing financials, vendor oversight, and governance best practices
• Adept at using data to inform decisions, monitor performance, and drive improvements
• High-energy, collaborative leader who thrives in dynamic, high-growth settings and inspires excellence in others
• Travel required approximately 30%

Responsibilities

• Set the Vision and Strategy
• Establish a compelling long-term vision and innovative sourcing strategy for Development Outsourcing that aligns with Ultragenyx’s strategic objectives and unique business model
• Partner across the business to define short- and long-term vision and strategic plan for outsourcing that aligns with business goals and delivery of the portfolio
• Drive collaboration and partnership across the business to achieve unified outsourcing oversight and governance
• Stay at the forefront of industry trends and best practices. Continuously evolve the outsourcing strategy to enable innovation, scalability, and competitive advantage
• Architect a Fit-for-Purpose Model
• Design and evolve a flexible, scalable, and globally enabled outsourcing model that supports current and future needs across clinical development, ensuring fit-for-purpose resourcing, governance, and vendor collaboration
• Drive internal and external partnership to achieve highly functional vendor partnerships
• Lead a High Impact Team
• Inspire, engage, and develop a high-performing team responsible for vendor sourcing, governance, financial oversight of contracts, and relationship management. Cultivate a culture of excellence, empowerment, and continuous improvement
• Lead team responsible for vendor sourcing strategy and execute Request-for-Information (RFI) and/or Request-for-Proposal (RFP) activities for services such as CROs, central laboratories, data management, bioanalytical services, home health, etc
• Lead team responsible for negotiation of all services and terms, including master agreements, scope of work, rate cards, payment terms, change orders, etc
• Lead team responsible for vendor governance, management, metrics and gxp compliance to enable effective collaboration and proactive issue resolution
• Optimize Strategic Partnerships
• Oversee high-value negotiations for master service agreements, scopes of work, rate cards, and change orders. Ensure contracts reflect strategic priorities, optimized pricing structures, and strong risk management
• Establish performance related measures for vendors that ensure effective performance
• Elevate Financial Rigor and Oversight
• Partner with Finance to ensure robust forecasting for vendor contract financials, alignment with budgeting, and reconciliation with study-level financial reviews
• Lead clinical study teams and key stakeholders through comprehensive vendor contact related monthly study financial reviews, and support budget/LRP forecasting and quarterly updates
• Lead clinical vendor contract related financial process standardization, optimization, communication, and documentation initiatives
• Establish and execute on strategies for annual cost saving goals, and periodically report results to senior management
• Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Collaborate closely with Development functions, Finance, Global Procurement, Legal, QA, and other relevant functions
• Proactively report progress and impact to senior leadership, demonstrating ROI and alignment with corporate goals

Preferred Qualifications

8+ years people management experience preferred

Benefits

• Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company
• Volunteer days
• Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings
• Employee wellbeing benefits
• Fitness reimbursement
• Tuition sponsoring
• Professional development plans