This position is currently based in our Cambridge, MA office. Please note that our offices will be relocating to Waltham, MA later this year, and this role will transition accordingly. We follow a flexible, “magnet not mandate” approach to in-office work, encouraging collaboration and onsite engagement while supporting hybrid flexibility based on role and business needs.

Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million. At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them. 
Our tenacious, passionate employees’ challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease.

This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you?

Director of Procurement andSourcing

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this role is responsible for leading, enhancing, and overseeing all aspects of the requisition-to-pay processes and sourcing. The role will support Akebia’s research activities, including on-going clinical trial activities, as well as ongoing commercialization of the company’s two approved products.  This includes managing Akebia’s global contracting process and negotiating contracts, including vendor purchase agreements, MSAs, SOWs, license agreements and NDAs. The role will entail overseeing the continued enhancement and execution of tools and systems to support all functions with sourcing, negotiating, reviewing, and executing contracts and procurement transactionstomeettheneedsoftheorganizationanddrivecontinuousimprovement.He/shewilllead the organizational evolution by addressing gaps in core capabilities and associated process and technology/systems upgrades, as appropriate. The leader will work closely with departments across the organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

OrganizationalandLeadership

·       LeadtheProcurementandSourcingorganizational structure to support the current and future needs of the company.

·       Work with ET/LT to improve and enhance procurement function

·       Draft, review, revise and negotiate a wide variety of contracts with customers and suppliers.

·       Lead contract negotiations, liaising with relevant department leaders as appropriate; support and advise internal clients.

·       Analyze contract risk – highlight and communicate business and financial risks/considerations during contract negotiation process.

·       Maintain tracking systems to provide stratus report on pending contracts; track and report various requisition-to-pay turnaround times.

·       Enhance and streamline current procurement processes, in collaboration with Finance and Legal departments.

·       IncollaborationwithFinance,ensuretheexecutionofaseamlessandefficientRequisition-to-Pay process in support of corporate financial reporting activities.

Sourcing

·       SetthestrategicandtacticaldirectionforStrategicSourcingandProcurement,alignedwiththe company’s goals and company policy.

·       Asabusinesspartner,supportallinternalfunctionsthathaverequirementstoidentifynewand the most appropriate sources of supply.

·       DrivetheGMPStrategicSourcinginitiativesbyengagingCMCandSupplyChainfunctionsin addressing current and future needs; ensure compliance with GxP and regulatory requirements.

·       Establishandexecutecategorysupplystrategies,leadcross-functionalsourcingandcontract negotiations; examine and re-evaluate existing contracts, where appropriate.

·       LeveragefunctionaldepartmentsandoverseecentralizationofRFPandsupplierselection process, driving the team towards timely decisions.

·       Ensure appropriate communication, issues resolution, and involvement across functions, programs,andproviderstocreateanatmosphereofjointaccountabilityforcostcontrol,quality delivery, and business relationships.

·       Leadthesupplierbusinessreviewprocess andparticipatein thecreationandimplementationofMaster Service Agreements driving best-in-class cost models and pricing.

·       Leadcross-functionalvendormanagementinitiativestodriveimprovementintheoverall supplier performance.

·       WorkextensivelywiththeClinicalDevelopmentandCMCfunctionsinsecuringandmanaging preferred CRO’s and CMO’s, including dual manufacturers at competitive pricing.

·       DevelopandimplementappropriateKPI’stomeasurebothsupplierandfunctionaleffectiveness.

Procurement Operations

·       Reviewandexecuteprocurementtransactionsonbehalfofallfunctions,includingobtainingall necessary internal approvals to necessitate the issuance of a purchase order.

·       MaintainSarbanes-Oxleycompliance,supportingprocessesanddocumentation.

·       Trainandsupportfunctionaldepartmentsonallrelatedprocessesandpolicies.

·       Serveasthekeyescalationpointandissueresolutioncontactforallbusinesssupplierrelated issues.

Information System Support

·       DevelopprocessesthatarealignedwithAkebia’sinformationsystemsenvironment.

·       DriveprocessefficienciesandmaturitythrougheffectiveenhancementandutilizationofIT business solutions.

·       Utilize and manage spend and transactional data to build critical support processes and identify areas for improvement, streamlining, spend consolidation, savings, etc.

·       Supporttheinternalandexternalquarterlyandyear-endaudits

Basic Qualifications

·       8+yearsofexperienceinprocurementrelatedactivitiesinthelifescienceindustry and

·       10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing and supplier management. 

·       This is a lead negotiator role.

·       Mustpossessdemonstratedpriorexperienceinprocessdevelopment,strongcollaborationskills to partner with internal and external stakeholders, ability in organizing, analyzing and reporting complex information.

·       RequiresaBA/BSwithanMBApreferred.

·       ExcellentknowledgeofProcurementOperations and Sourcing

·       Understandscomprehensiveglobalpharmaceuticalregulatoryrequirements(e.g.cGMP,GDP, and GCP).

·       Possessexcellentanalytical,communication,decisionmaking,interpersonalandorganizational skills.

·       ComprehensiveknowledgeofMicrosoftWord,Excel,andPowerPointandothernormaloffice software.

·       UnderstandscomprehensiveSarbanes-Oxleyregulatoryrequirements.

·       Teamplayerwhocanhandlemultipletaskssimultaneouslyinafast-growingcompany,good time management skills, and willingness to exert extra effort as required.

Thesuccessfulcandidatewillalsoexhibitthefollowingattributesorskills:

·       StrategicVision–Abilitytorecognize,forecastandcommunicateevents,whichmayimpactthe business.

·       Leadership–Abilitytoguideateamintheday-to-dayandlong-termrelatedactivities.

·       Communication – ability to communicate ideas and data both verbally and written, in a persuasive, organized and appropriate manner, including running meetings and preparing presentation for internal and external groups.Ability to communicate effectively with Senior Management.Abilityto“pushback”inarespectfulmannerandtopresent“unpopular”ideas and messages when necessary.

·       Analytical – ability to determine methods and types of analyses to be performed to address a businessquestion.Abilitytointerpretandquestiondatainputstofinancialmodelsandsupport alternative recommendations as necessary.

·       Management–abilitytosetprioritiesforateamandmeetspecificdeadlinesinachanging environment.Ability to be flexible, accommodating, and deal with change effectively.

·       CustomerServiceOrientation–Abilitytogaintrustofexecutivesandcontributetotheirsuccess from information gained through networking and an understanding of the business.

·       Teamwork–Abilitytofostergoodworkingrelationshipsamongteammembers andwork effectively in and contribute to a team environment.

·       Entrepreneurial–Abilityanddesiretotakeownershipofactivitiesandprojects,desiretoshape the organization, consistent “out-of-the-box” thinking.

·       AbilitytoattractbestIclassProcurementresourcestothecompany.