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, or 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