Associate Principal Scientist – Vendor Management

MSD

Associate Principal Scientist for Biomarker Operations managing vendor relationships in a global healthcare leader's translational medicine area. Overseeing vendor productivity, compliance, and operational excellence.

Posted 4/26/2026full-timeNorth Wales • New Jersey, Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $129,000 - $203,100 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Ownership to ensure assigned vendor deliverables and timelines are clear, resources are appropriately planned and managed, communications are effective, risk management plans are in place, and information is accurately tracked and accessible.
Work with vendors to continuously improve their level of service
Identify, troubleshoot, and solve operational issues
Collect metrics on vendor performance and develop action plans when needed
Ensure vendor agreements and other appropriate vendor documents are in place
Manage budget forecasts, tracking, and invoice payments as needed
Guarantee vendor capacity meets demand
Assess, pilot and onboard new vendors, capabilities, and technologies to our company’s standards
Participate in external vendor audits and due diligence
Ensure both internal and external compliance
Monitor processes and identify opportunities for improvement
Maintain effective communication and working relationships with project team members, vendors and other internal supporting teams

Requirements

What you’ll need

For BA/BS: ≥ 8 years in a Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical or Health/Life Science related degrees
For MS or higher degree: ≥ 5 years in a Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical or Health/Life Science related degrees
Experience working at a clinical trial central laboratory or specialty laboratory vendor and managing sponsors
Experience in biomarker operations from a vendor oversight perspective
Project Management experience within a science context
Excellent communicator
Problem resolution and mitigation experience in a complex multilevel hierarchy company
Demonstrates advanced understanding of omics (ex. proteomics, genomics, multiomics) assay workflows, including assay execution, data generation, quality control, and results reporting processes.

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
retirement benefits, including 401(k)
paid holidays
vacation
compassionate and sick days

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

vendor managementbudget forecastingoperational issue resolutionmetrics collectionrisk managementproject managementbiomarker operationsomics assay workflowsdata generationquality control

Soft Skills

effective communicationproblem resolutionrelationship managementorganizational skillscollaborationleadershipanalytical thinkingadaptabilityattention to detailstrategic planning