Senior Manager, R&D Contracts and Sourcing

Job description

The Role:

Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases.

As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives.

Moderna's commitment to advancing the technological frontier of mRNA medicines ensures a challenging and rewarding career experience, with the potential to make a significant impact on patients' lives worldwide.

Moderna is solidifying its presence within our international business services hub in Warsaw, Poland, a city renowned for its rich scientific and technological heritage.

This hub provides critical functions, meeting the growing demand of Moderna’s global business operations.

We're inviting professionals from around the world to join our mission and contribute to the future of mRNA medicines.

Moderna’s Global Procurement team is looking for a highly capable Senior Contracts and Sourcing Manager to join its international business services hub in Warsaw.

This pivotal role supports drug development programs within the Research and Development organization by leading complex service provider contracting and strategic sourcing activities across clinical, preclinical, regulatory, and scientific domains.

Operating as an individual contributor, the role requires a sharp negotiator and cross-functional collaborator, with a passion for building efficient, scalable, and digitalized processes.

You will be central to ensuring Moderna’s R&D contracts are not only compliant and timely, but also strategically aligned with our global vendor landscape.

This role provides the opportunity to work across continents with stakeholders in Legal, Finance, Procurement, and R&D, all while shaping contract lifecycle best practices for a fast-growing, high-impact biotechnology company.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone eager to lead process transformation, explore the power of digital procurement tools, and get close to generative AI tools that will shape the future of clinical contracting.

Here’s What You’ll Do:

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Lead the negotiation and execution of complex contracts across the R&D portfolio, including clinical, preclinical, regulatory, laboratory, data, and consulting agreements.

• Collaborate with category managers and functional stakeholders to support competitive sourcing events, including RFPs and vendor assessments.

• Manage the cross-functional evaluation of proposals as part of the vendor selection process.

• Shape and implement negotiation strategies in collaboration with Legal and Global Procurement.

• Negotiate contract terms and budgets, utilizing internal benchmarks and strategic frameworks.

• Execute contracts in alignment with Moderna’s governance and compliance protocols.

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Oversee the complete contract management lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness.

• Maintain centralized systems for contract tracking, approvals, renewals, and reporting.

• Identify and lead process improvements, automation, and use of digital procurement platforms and contract lifecycle tools.

• Contribute to the development of RFP templates and contract standardization efforts.

• Partner with Legal, Finance, and R&D to manage contract volumes without compromising speed or quality.

• Actively participate in Moderna’s corporate initiatives, embedding operational excellence into contracting workflows.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

• “We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.”
  In this role, you’ll champion the use of digital contracting and procurement platforms.
  
  Your ability to spot automation opportunities and simplify sourcing processes will drive efficiency, reduce cycle times, and increase Moderna’s scalability across a growing global portfolio.

• “We behave like owners.
  
  The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”
  You will take full ownership of the contracting lifecycle, ensuring both operational excellence and strategic alignment.
  
  You’ll think beyond task execution, always considering how your work impacts the broader R&D mission and the lives of patients worldwide.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Business or Legal discipline, or related field required

• 6-8+ years in the pharmaceutical, life sciences or related industry, and 4+ years in sourcing and/or contract negotiation/management

• Experience with various contract types and service categories

• Understanding of drug development processes in both small molecules and biologics

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

• Strong organizational and facilitation skills as well as great attention to detail

• Excel within a dynamic, and nimble work environment that depends on strong links and collaboration with external stakeholders (CRO partners, research organizations, alliance partners, etc.)

• Ability to work independently and successfully in a matrix environment, and to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously

• Outstanding communication skill and excellent English skills, both written and verbal

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications):

• Ability to work in a multicultural team environment and interact with a wide variety of customers

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

• Capable of taking an innovative approach to problem-solving, with an integrated view of business and scientific issues

• Skilled at developing and maintaining professional interpersonal relationships with colleagues internally and externally to complete given tasks

• Possess high levels of professionalism, poise and have a can-do attitude

• Address cross-functional issues and balance competing priorities effectively

• Thrive in a fast-paced innovative environment while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient

• Demonstrated proficiency with CLM’s, word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation software (MS Office skills such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint)

• A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.

 That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Quality healthcare and insurance benefits
• Lifestyle Spending Accounts to create your own pathway to well-being
• Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
• Family planning and adoption benefits
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investments
• Location-specific perks and extras!

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.