Associate Director, Site Contracting Governance & Strategy

Working with Us Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible. Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us. Position Summary The Associate Director of Site Contracting Governance & Strategy provides strategic leadership for the regional governance function, overseeing a highly skilled team responsible for direct site negotiations, complex budget and legal escalations, and the development of global contracting standards. This role serves as the strategic architect of regional site contracting approaches, driving policy development, portfolio‑level strategy, and enterprise alignment. The role ensures rigorous governance, consistent decision‑making, and executional excellence across all programs, partnering closely with operations team to ensure high‑quality delivery and seamless integration across the contracting lifecycle. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Governance * Provide strategic direction for site contracting governance and strategy team, ensuring consistent negotiation principles, governance rigor, and alignment with global standards. * Shape and drive the regional contracting strategy across portfolio programs, ensuring harmonization, risk mitigation, and operational predictability. * Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of policies, governance frameworks, SOPs, and standards for site contracting. * Serve as the escalation authority for complex budget and legal matters, enabling rapid, sound, and well‑documented decisions. Leadership of High‑Expertise Negotiators * Lead a team of experienced negotiators with direct site‑facing accountability for complex budget escalations, negotiation authority, and legal escalation management. * Ensure the team executes with the highest professional standards, leveraging advanced negotiation approaches, risk management skills, and cross‑functional engagement. * Coach and develop team members to act as subject matter experts for strategic contracting topics, fostering a culture of excellence, autonomy, and innovation. Management of Complex Escalations * Oversee all high‑risk, high‑impact escalations involving legal interpretation, contract deviations, financial risks, budget exceptions, indemnification, and global standards. * Partner with Legal, Finance, and Regional/Central Operations to ensure issues are resolved with speed, consistency, and strategic alignment. * Establish and maintain clear pathways for stakeholder engagement and escalation resolution across the enterprise Strategic Influence & Cross‑Functional Leadership * Represent Site Contracting Governance & Strategy in enterprise‑level forums, providing expert insight on negotiation strategy, financial impact, and risk mitigation. * Drive alignment with RCO, Medical, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and CRO partners to ensure consistent execution of strategy across programs and regions. * Influence enterprise contracting strategy through thought leadership, market insights, and operational intelligence. Documentation Ownership, Policy Governance & Knowledge Management * Own all governance documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, templates, decision trees,...