Sourcing Specialist

Location: Burton upon Trent - Hybrid Division: Sourcing & ProcurementContract Type: 3 month contract (opportunity to go permanant)

A global pharmaceutical company is seeking a proactive and driven immediately available Sourcing Specialist to join its sourcing and procurement team. This role plays a key part in enabling timely and compliant access to comparator and critical medicines for clinical trials and for patients with unmet medical needs.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Sourcing Manager to ensure the efficient and regulatory-compliant procurement of medicines, particularly hard-to-source or unlicensed products. You will support international sourcing activities, manage supplier relationships, and contribute to strategic procurement initiatives across clinical trial supplies and global access programmes.

Sourcing & Procurement Operations

• Source comparator and hard-to-find medicines globally, securing competitive pricing and supply assurance.

• Conduct competitive tenders and price negotiations with international suppliers.

• Build and analyse cost models to support sourcing decisions and cost control.

• Maintain a broad and compliant global supplier base, with a particular focus on expanding US supplier relationships.

Supplier & Market Strategy

• Evaluate and negotiate supplier contracts with favourable commercial and risk-mitigating terms.

• Develop sourcing strategies that improve profitability and supply chain efficiency.

• Partner with internal stakeholders to source robust alternatives during shortages and reduce supply chain risks.

Compliance & Process Improvement

• Ensure adherence to regulatory standards, quality assurance, and internal policies.

• Mitigate risks related to counterfeit or unethical sourcing.

• Review and improve end-to-end procurement processes, including contract and supplier management. 

Collaboration & Development 

• Act as an escalation point for supplier issues and contribute to cross-functional resolution.

• Support the professional development of procurement practices across the team.

• Maintain current knowledge of trends in clinical trials, global access, and pharmaceutical procurement.

• International procurement experience is essential; exposure to US markets is strongly desirable.

• Background in clinical trials, comparator sourcing, or pharmaceutical product procurement.

• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier contracts and managing performance.

• Strong commercial and analytical skills with a strategic mindset.

• Highly organised, capable of managing multiple priorities under pressure.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and interpersonal skills.

• Experienced in using ERP systems (Oracle preferred) and proficient in Microsoft Office.

• Understanding of global, US, and EU procurement regulations and compliance standards.