Associate Director of Category Management

ABOUT EVERNORTH:

Evernorth exists to elevate health for all, because we believe health is the starting point for human potential and progress. As champions for affordable, predictable and simple health care,

we solve the problems others don't, won't or can't.

Our innovation hub in India will allow us to work with the right talent, expand our global footprint, improve our competitive stance, and better deliver on our promises to stakeholders. We are passionate about making healthcare better by delivering world-class solutions that make a real difference.

We are always looking upward. And that starts with finding the right talent to help us get there.

Associate Director of Category Management & Strategic Sourcing

Position Overview

In this role, you will provide overall direction and leadership for our teams of category management and strategic sourcing professionals in Hyderabad. You will be a part of our Global Procurement, Third Party Management, & Shared Services (GPTPMS) organization, which provides procurement-related services to the greater Cigna Group organization. A key function of this position is managing teams to deliver procurement category strategies, driving business value through our suppliers, and providing negotiation leadership for critical supplier contracts. This position will serve a critical role in establishing a Category Management and Strategic Sourcing (CMSS) presence within the innovation hub.

The Evernorth℠ strategy is fully aligned with our business strategy, resulting in an opportunity for you to influence future procurement and sourcing direction for the hub, talent recruitment and mentoring, and CMSS strategic direction at the hub, with the shared goal of evolving our world class procurement organization.

This is a hands-on position reporting to management within GPTPMS with visibility to the highest levels of the organization, who are motivated to see the successful results of our efforts and growth of our procurement excellence in the innovation hub.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of Category Management and Strategic Sourcing professionals across indirect procurement categories

• Manage overall category strategic direction utilizing market conditions, business strategies, strategic importance, benchmarking and other levers to drive value in assigned categories

• Through business unit and partnerships, develop, and execute on sourcing opportunities driving cost savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction, enhanced business outcomes and improved service for suppliers across the enterprise

• Provide leadership for teams to achieve contracting excellence in negotiations and drafting of master service agreements, statements of work, amendments, and other contracts

• Lead cross-functional teams to evaluate best in class suppliers through RF(x) market competitive events with the goal of optimizing supplier engagements

• Be a go-to trusted advisor for your team in terms of coaching and mentorship on sourcing best practices, negotiation techniques, contract terms, commercial negotiations, procure-to-pay issues, and other procurement activities

• Ensure consistent communication and project management with stakeholders of assigned sourcing intakes throughout the organization

• Develop a strong understanding and forecast of key cost drivers and market factors in assigned categories through continuous research and monitoring.

• Support continuous improvement in all aspects of the sourcing and procurement process; liaise with the GPTPMS center of excellence organization in the US to ensure alignment with process, best practices, and talent strategy

• Maintain and promote sound relationships with suppliers, stakeholders and the business community. Liase with the US GPTPMS and Third-Party Management Teams when Supplier relationship or performance may factor into sourcing projects

• As a leader, act as a change agent and demonstrate resiliency as changes occur.

• Manage recruiting, onboarding, and training success of new hires within GPTPMS in Hyderabad to support building a core procurement capability

• Be a point of escalation for your team for internal matrix partners, suppliers, and business stakeholders during sourcing activities, critical supplier negotiations, and other related activity

Qualifications

Required Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact with all levels of the organization.

• Strong skills in understanding legal and commercial supplier contract terms and conditions

• Strong interpersonal/relationship management skills.

• Strong time and project management skills.

• Broad knowledge of all aspects of the Source to Pay lifecycle including onboarding, due diligence, contracting, and payment

• Ability to identify opportunities for cost reduction and process improvement

• Ability to interpret accounting practices, policies, regulatory requirements as they relate to the procurement process

Required Experience & Education:

• 16+ Years of relevant experience

• At least 3-5 years in a leadership or managerial role

• Experience with procurement and sourcing in an onshore/offshore model.

• College degree (Bachelor) in related technical/business areas or equivalent work experience.

• Experience in a broad range of indirect procurement categories; technology category experience preferred

• Exposure to Ariba or similar Procurement systems and iCertis or similar Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems

• Experience working with a matrix organization and other internal partners to execute on goals

Desired Experience:

• Experience in the health-related fields such as health services, health insurance, pharmacy benefits management, and

• Experience with HIPAA, Business Associate Agreements (BAAs), and other related US Healthcare concepts

• Experience with Purchase Order terminology and Procure-to-Pay processes and industry standards

• Coaching and mentoring of team members

• Industry certifications such as SIG, CSCP, CPM or similar

Location & Hours of Work

• Full-time position, working 40 hours per week. Expected overlap with US hours as appropriate

• Primarily based in the Innovation Hub in Hyderabad, India in a hybrid working model (3 days WFO and 2 days WAH)

Equal Opportunity Statement

Evernorth is an Equal Opportunity Employer actively encouraging and supporting organization-wide involvement of staff in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to educate, inform and advance both internal practices and external work with diverse client populations.

About Evernorth Health Services

Evernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, creates pharmacy, care and benefit solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.