Jobs › Tempus AI

Head of Lab Procurement

Tempus AI · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a high-value negotiation you led. What did you win and what did you give up?

What they are checking: Real negotiation skill on complex commercial terms, not just price.

How do you act as a strategic advisor to a functional leader with a tight budget?

What they are checking: Partnership skills and understanding of leaders' roadmaps, not just cost cutting.

What would you do

How do you reduce supply chain risk for a critical reagent that only one vendor makes?

What they are checking: Thinking about safety stock, contract terms and alternate sources to protect lab operations.

Lab managers at different sites buy the same items in different ways. How do you set a standard?

What they are checking: Ability to change purchasing behavior across sites while keeping lab staff on side.

A vendor raises prices sharply at renewal. What do you do?

What they are checking: Leverage, preparation and alternatives in tough commercial conversations.

About the work

How would you build a category strategy for sequencing equipment, consumables and service contracts?

What they are checking: Strategic category management for the high-value lab spend the posting names.

What service level agreements matter most for sequencing instrument service contracts?

What they are checking: Understanding that uptime and response time directly affect patient turnaround.

How would you use AI tools to improve spend visibility or predict market trends?

What they are checking: Practical ideas for automating procurement work, as the posting expects.

Walk me through how you run an RFP for a major lab platform.

What they are checking: Structured RFx process that balances cost, quality, risk and scientific needs.

How do you measure the success of a procurement function?

What they are checking: Metrics beyond savings, like supply continuity and stakeholder satisfaction.

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The full job description

As published by Tempus AI.

Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry? Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time. Key Responsibilities 1. Strategic Category Management • Develop and execute comprehensive strategies for critical lab spend (e.g., sequencing equipment pacing, consumables, service contracts). • Establish best practices for lab procurement, setting the standard for purchasing behaviors across lab managers and technicians across multiple sites, while also directly leading major RFx and/or negotiations for high-value contracts. • Negotiate complex commercial terms to secure favorable pricing, mitigate supply chain risk, and ensure service level agreements (SLAs) meet business needs. • Champion the integration of AI-driven tools to automate routine tasks, enhance spend visibility, and predict market trends. 2. Stakeholder Partnership • Act as a strategic advisor to functional leaders, understanding their roadmaps and budget constraints to align new possibilities in related external markets with internal business goals. • Build trust and collaboration across lab sites to ensure procurement is viewed as an enabler rather than a blocker. • Facilitate cross-functional teams for major sourcing initiatives (lab leaders, legal, finance). 3. Financial Impact • Define and achieve targets for cost savings and cost avoidance. • Partner with Finance to track savings validation and ensure budget alignment. • Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction while maintaining quality and service levels. Qualifications • Experience: 8-10+ years of procurement experience with a focus on lab categories; prior experience in a procurement function for a high-growth tech or healthcare environment is strongly preferred. • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field, including applicable life science fields. • Tech Savvy: Familiarity with modern ERPs (e.g., NetSuite) and procurement platforms (e.g., Coupa, Zip). Experience implementing or utilizing AI tools in a professional setting is a plus. • Soft Skills: Exceptional negotiation capabilities, executive presence, and the ability to influence without authority. CHI: $130,000-$180,000 The expected salary range may vary for other locations. Actual salary may vary based on qualifications and experience. Tempus offers a full range of benefits, which may include incentive compensation, restricted stock units, medical and other benefits depending on the position. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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