Procurement Relations Lead
About the role
Procurement Relations Lead
Real Chemistry is seeking a Procurement Relations Lead to join our team.
This is a U.S. hybrid role, based in or near one of our U.S. hubs including Boston - Massachusetts; Carmel - Indiana; Chicago - Illinois; Lambertville - New Jersey;
This role is ideal for a relationship-driven leader who knows how to navigate client procurement and strategic sourcing environments to unlock and expand long-term partnerships. Reporting to the Head of Business Strategy and Growth, you will serve as a trusted bridge between Real Chemistry and our clients’ procurement and strategic sourcing teams — opening doors, building credibility, deepening engagement, and creating the opportunity for growth.
What You’ll Do
- Build and own trusted relationships with new and select existing client procurement and strategic sourcing stakeholders, serving as a credible, consistent point of contact who understands their goals and drives solution identification and growth opportunities.
- Proactively generate and qualify new leads within client procurement and strategic sourcing organizations, building and advancing a robust pipeline of introductory and expansion opportunities across capabilities and markets.
- Plan, organize, and lead client procurement capability meetings, developing and delivering curated, client-relevant content for introductory, capability, and relationship conversations that showcase Real Chemistry’s full range of services and solutions.
- Serve as a consistent door opener for Real Chemistry, proactively introducing capability and account leads to new stakeholders, business units, and decision-makers within client procurement organizations to create fresh entry points for growth.
- Partner closely with existing client leads to develop a deep understanding of each client’s business, priorities, and procurement dynamics — translating those insights into strategies that expand and strengthen our engagements.
- Support evolution of Real Chemistry’s overall framework for engaging client procurement teams, creating a repeatable model that supports growth across our extended portfolio.
- Keep senior stakeholders informed on relationship status, growth opportunities, and any risks to existing engagements.
- Drive post-engagement debriefs to capture learnings and continuously strengthen how we build and grow client relationships.
This Role Is a Good Fit If You
- Lead with relationships — you build trust quickly, invest in long-term partnerships, and know that the best commercial outcomes follow genuine connection
- Are energized by growth — you see every client interaction as an opportunity to expand what’s possible and are motivated by opening new doors
- Are a natural connector who can move fluidly between client-facing conversations and internal collaboration across teams and disciplines
- Are a strategic thinker who can also execute with precision — especially in situations without an existing playbook
- Are comfortable leading through influence rather than authority in a highly matrixed organization
- Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven agency environment and adapt quickly as priorities shift
- Are driven, resourceful, and comfortable with ambiguity as the business evolves
- Value continuous improvement and are always looking for ways to make relationships and processes stronger
What You Should Have
- 12+ years of experience in client relationship management, account leadership, strategic sourcing, or procurement — with at least 5 years in a senior leadership position; candidates from account or client services backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply if they bring deep, demonstrated experience engaging client procurement and strategic sourcing organizations
- A proven track record of generating new business leads and building and growing strategic client relationships, including meaningful experience navigating and influencing client procurement, strategic sourcing, or finance stakeholders — with demonstrated success opening doors to new stakeholders and leading capability meetings that convert into new engagements
- Deep healthcare industry experience across pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences companies, or agency partners
- Understanding of the procurement landscape, including market trends, client ESG priorities, and regulatory requirements across the healthcare ecosystem — including global experience
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust at all levels of a client organization and articulate the Real Chemistry value proposition compellingly
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple relationships and priorities simultaneously
- Highly motivated self-starter who can create structure and momentum where none exists
Pay Range: $170,000-$190,000
This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on job-related, non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to work experience, skills, certifications, and geographical location. The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time