Procurement & Subcontract Manager - Life Sciences

Procurement & Subcontract Manager - Life Sciences / Pharmaceutical Construction

Location: Dallas, Texas

Employment Type: Permanent / Full-Time

Department: Procurement / Commercial

Project Environment: Large-Scale EPC / Design-Build Capital Projects

Reports To: Senior Procurement Leadership

Position Overview

We are supporting a leading international engineering, procurement and construction organisation in the appointment of an experienced Procurement & Subcontracting Manager to support major Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical capital projects across the United States.

The successful candidate will manage procurement and subcontracting activities throughout the project lifecycle, from sourcing strategies, competitive tendering and contract negotiations through subcontract administration, supplier performance and commercial closeout.

This position requires a strong understanding of GMP-regulated pharmaceutical and biotechnology facilities, including cleanrooms, specialist process equipment, critical utilities and complex mechanical and electrical installations.

We are particularly interested in candidates with direct experience working for EPC contractors, engineering companies or construction management organisations delivering major pharmaceutical or biotechnology facilities.

This is a hands-on, project-focused position requiring strong commercial judgement and close collaboration with Engineering, Construction, Quality and Commissioning teams.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Management

• Develop and execute project procurement strategies aligned with construction schedules, budgets and engineering requirements.
• Manage sourcing, competitive tendering, evaluation, negotiation and award of materials, engineered equipment and specialist services.
• Prepare and issue RFQs, RFPs and tender documentation for complex technical procurement packages.
• Coordinate technical and commercial bid evaluations with Engineering, Construction and Project Management teams.
• Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, delivery schedules, contractual terms and commercial risks.
• Prepare bid comparisons, award recommendations and procurement documentation.
• Manage procurement schedules, including critical-path and long-lead equipment requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance, manufacturing progress, documentation and delivery commitments.

Subcontract Management

• Develop subcontracting strategies for specialist construction and installation packages.
• Manage subcontract tendering, bidder qualification, commercial evaluation, negotiation and award.
• Administer construction subcontracts throughout execution, ensuring contractual and commercial obligations are met.
• Oversee subcontractor performance, payment applications, variations, change orders and contractual correspondence.
• Support the resolution of commercial claims, disputes and contractual issues.
• Coordinate with Construction Management and Project Controls to monitor subcontractor progress, cost and schedule performance.
• Manage subcontract closeout, final accounts and outstanding commercial obligations.

Life Sciences / Pharmaceutical Project Delivery

• Support procurement and subcontracting activities associated with GMP-regulated pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing facilities.
• Manage procurement interfaces involving cleanrooms, specialist HVAC, process piping, pharmaceutical equipment and critical utilities.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Quality, Commissioning and Qualification teams to ensure technical and documentation requirements are incorporated into procurement packages.
• Understand the commercial implications of stringent quality, cleanliness, validation and regulatory requirements.
• Support equipment vendor and subcontractor coordination during installation, testing, commissioning and project handover.
• Ensure procurement and subcontracting activities align with project schedules, quality standards and client expectations.

Commercial & Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Project Directors, Project Managers, Engineering Managers, Construction Managers and Project Controls teams.
• Maintain procurement forecasts, commercial reporting, cost commitments and risk registers.
• Support project change management, commercial decision-making and contract compliance.
• Build effective relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, clients and internal stakeholders.
• Provide guidance to procurement and subcontracting personnel while remaining directly involved in complex packages.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Significant procurement, subcontracting or commercial management experience within EPC, engineering, construction or major capital project environments.
• Direct experience supporting the construction or expansion of pharmaceutical, biotechnology or biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
• Strong understanding of procurement and subcontracting requirements within GMP-regulated environments.
• Proven experience managing sourcing, RFQs/RFPs, bid evaluations, commercial negotiations and contract awards.
• Experience administering complex construction subcontracts, including variations, payment applications, claims and closeout.
• Technical procurement experience involving engineered equipment, mechanical systems, electrical installations or specialist process facilities.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary Engineering, Construction, Quality and Commissioning teams.
• Strong negotiation, contractual, commercial and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Willingness to work on-site and mobilise to project locations as required.

Highly Desirable Experience

• Major pharmaceutical or biotechnology facility expansions, brownfield modifications or new-build manufacturing projects.
• Experience with EPC or design-build contractors delivering complex Life Sciences facilities.
• Procurement or subcontracting responsibility for cleanrooms, process piping, hygienic systems, specialist HVAC and critical utilities.
• Familiarity with cGMP, FDA-regulated environments and associated quality documentation requirements.
• Experience procuring pharmaceutical process equipment and coordinating FAT/SAT, commissioning or qualification interfaces.
• Commercial management of specialist mechanical, electrical and process installation subcontractors.
• Experience managing high-value procurement packages and complex construction subcontracts.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have developed their career within an EPC, engineering or construction organization delivering major pharmaceutical and biotechnology facilities.

They will have a strong understanding of both technical equipment procurement and the commercial management of specialist construction subcontractors, with the ability to manage packages from initial tender through final closeout.

We are particularly interested in hands-on procurement and subcontracting professionals who can work directly with Engineering and Construction teams, negotiate complex commercial agreements and manage supplier and subcontractor performance.

Candidates whose experience is primarily corporate procurement, indirect purchasing or strategic departmental leadership without direct capital-project delivery experience are unlikely to be as well suited.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of major Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical facilities within a leading international EPC environment.

The successful candidate will manage commercially significant procurement and subcontract packages, collaborate with experienced technical and project leadership teams, and play a key role in the successful delivery of complex, high-value capital projects.