Job Description
Job overview
Are you a Clinical (Project) IRT Manager with a passion for vendor excellence and study startup success?
We’re looking for a Vendor Startup Manager (VSM) to join our Single Sponsor Department, dedicated exclusively to Novartis. In this role, you’ll bring technical expertise to accelerate vendor service delivery during the critical startup phase of global clinical trials.
What We’re Looking For
To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:
✅ Strong vendor management skills and deep knowledge of clinical trial startup processes
✅ Strategic thinking and the ability to assess risk and implement contingency plans
✅ Experience with vendor contracting, budgeting, and onboarding
✅ Excellent communication and collaboration skills across internal and external stakeholders
✅ Hands-on experience with tools like IRT, UAT (User Acceptance Testing) and UVP (Unified Vendor Portal)
What You’ll Do
As a Vendor Startup Manager, you’ll be the go-to expert for vendor service categories during study startup. Your key responsibilities include:
Protocol & Specification Review – Ensure vendor input is reflected in final study specs
Study Specification Worksheet (SSW) – Support vendor selection and bid process
Vendor Kick-Off & Onboarding – Lead meetings and ensure readiness for DB go-live
Budget & Contract Support – Review quotes and assist with negotiations
Risk Mapping & Contingency Planning – Proactively identify and mitigate startup risks
Performance Oversight – Monitor vendor delivery and escalate issues as needed
UAT Execution – Conduct robust testing and design for IRT systems
Collaboration – Partner with TVMs, VALs, Procurement, and QA to drive startup success
What You’ll Deliver
Accelerated and high-quality vendor startup
Vendor risk maps and performance tracking
Audit-ready documentation and compliance
Continuous improvement and best practice sharing
Expertise in key service categories like Central Labs, Imaging, and Diagnostics
This is a high-impact opportunity to shape the success of global clinical trials from day one. If you’re ready to lead vendor startup excellence in a dynamic, sponsor-focused environment—we’d love to hear from you!
This position is not eligible for UK VISA Sponsorship
IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at