Quality Assurance and Vendor Management Associate

About the role

At Innovative Trials, we are dedicated to accelerating clinical trials and improving patient outcomes worldwide. We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented Quality Assurance & Vendor Management Associate to join our team.

In this dual-focus role, you will work closely with the Quality Manager to champion our Quality Management System (QMS), acting as a key GCP and regulatory compliance "gatekeeper." You will safeguard company and industry standards while overseeing the full lifecycle of external service providers—from qualification and onboarding to performance governance and ESG monitoring.

What we are looking for

• Experience: 2+ years of QA or Vendor Management experience within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or clinical research industry.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Solid working understanding of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), ISO 9001 standards, and familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Technical Skills: High proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, with the aptitude to quickly learn specialised software and electronic systems.
• Core Competencies:
  • Exceptional attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
  • Clear, confident written and verbal communication, with the assertiveness to constructively challenge processes and maintain standards.
  • Resilience, composure under pressure, and the agility to balance shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • A proven track record of seeing projects and actions through to completion.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Assurance

• QMS Oversight & Logs: Maintain and track CAPA, Change Control, and Quality Event (QE) logs; follow up with action owners to ensure timely closure and effectiveness assessments.
• Investigations & Non-Conformances: Organize investigation meetings for client complaints and internal non-conformances, draft detailed reports, and coordinate corrective/preventive actions.
• Controlled Documents (CDs): Manage the end-to-end review lifecycle for SOPs and controlled documents, update the CD Matrix, and maintain GCP-compliant document repositories in Google Drive.
• Audit & Validation Support: Assist with internal and external audit documentation, client RFI submissions, QA archiving, and software purchasing/validation processes.
• Compliance & Advisory: Aid in preparing Quality Review Meeting presentations, perform risk assessments, and provide quality guidance across teams, including data protection, AI governance, and general regulatory queries.

Vendor Management & ESG

• Vendor Lifecycle Management: Review prospective vendor onboarding, liaise with department heads to identify procurement needs, and maintain the Approved Vendor List (AVL) with timely re-qualifications and audit support.
• Performance & Governance: Monitor vendor delivery, lead governance meetings with key operational vendors, negotiate vendor rebates, and manage a compliant catalog of participant retention items.
• ESG Initiatives: Collaborate with stakeholders to drive our Environmental, Social, and Governance program, monitor and report Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and track vendor ESG responsibilities and KPIs.

How We Support You

We know that to take care of our business, we must first take care of you. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your life inside and outside of work:

• Your Time & Flexibility: Flexible working arrangements, 24 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, and regular company events to celebrate our collective success.
• Financial & Future Security: A competitive salary, discretionary bonus, People’s Pension, a recruitment referral programme, and long service rewards.
• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive healthcare, life assurance, flu jabs, and a dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support your overall wellbeing.
• Lifestyle & Commute: An EV Car Scheme, a Cycle to Work scheme, and free on-site parking.

If you are a quality-driven professional looking to expand your expertise across QA, vendor governance, and sustainability, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience.