Vendor Alliances Consultant

Capital Blue Cross•Harrisburg, PA

22h•$65,570 - $121,765•Onsite

About The Position

The Vendor Alliances Consultant (VAC) is part of the Vendor Alliances (VA) Consulting team, which is accountable for high-value strategic vendor management activities. The VAC is responsible for executing strategic vendor management activities across a defined portfolio of Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors (those deemed moderate to high in criticality, risk, and spend), in alignment with the (VA) Consulting and Operations model. This role focuses on vendor strategy, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and value realization, while ensuring vendor governance, risk management, and cost optimization objectives are achieved. The VAC partners with business stakeholders to drive strategic outcomes and leverages insights, benchmarking, and analytics to inform vendor decisions. The VAC works with Privacy, Security, Legal and Compliance to ensure the Vendor Lifecycle is operating in accordance with relevant policies, procedures, laws and regulations. Further, this position will represent VA at a variety of internal work groups and Department/Division strategy meetings. As a representative of VA, the individual will ensure adherence to Capital's policies on vendor contracts and advise such groups as to business processes or strategies that align with contract terms and conditions, and those that do not. As a VAC, this individual manages a portfolio of Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors throughout the Vendor Lifecycle. The VAC assists in the ongoing development and modification of Capital's vendor strategy, including sourcing, negotiation, oversight, and disengagement. The VAC serves as an internal consultant to business areas on specific vendor strategy and engagement.

Requirements

Ability to manage a portfolio of high impact, high-risk, high-value vendors
Ability to apply vendor tiering and prioritization frameworks
Ability to translate benchmarking and analytics into actionable negotiation strategies
Ability to influence and drive strong stakeholder engagement
Consistently applies sound business judgment in making decisions that affect the company.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and SharePoint.
Proficient in Contract Lifecyle Management software.
Works independently as well as part of a high-performance team under tight time constraints with multiple priorities, adaptable to change, and able to multi-task, as necessary.
Cultivates and maintains solid, positive relationships with internal business stakeholders and vendors in support of the business.
Demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving skills, collaboration skills, and ability to influence others to reach common goals.
Effectively handles ambiguity and thinks conceptually.
Maintains strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to craft messages appropriate for both the level of and in the preferred style/format of the target audience.
Self-starter who demonstrates the drive, determination, and perseverance to get things done with a “can-do” attitude.
Strong negotiation, contract management, and decision-making skills.
Strong organizational skills, with the ability to effectively reprioritize workload to manage ad-hoc requests and competing priorities.
3 years' experience in a Vendor Management, Vendor Contracting, and/or Vendor Procurement environment.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of vendor tiering frameworks and portfolio segmentation
Knowledge of benchmarking tools and cost optimization practices
Knowledge of vendor oversight best practices
Skilled in contract drafting and negotiation.
Proficient in vendor management practices.
Knowledge of vendor acquisition practices preferred.
Knowledge of healthcare or insurance industry preferred.
Knowledge of Medicare, PPACA, FEP, CHIP and other regulatory requirements that impact vendor contracting preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads through all components of the vendor lifecycle for Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors, including: Vendor strategy and prioritization, Negotiation strategy development and execution, Cross-functional business engagement, Vendor oversight and performance management, Value realization tracking (cost, performance, and risk outcomes)
Participates as a strategic contributor in sourcing events (RFP, RFI, RFQ), including defining requirements, evaluating vendor responses, and supporting negotiation strategy and final vendor selection decisions.
Focuses on improving strategic vendor management practices, including vendor prioritization, negotiation effectiveness, benchmarking utilization, and stakeholder engagement.
Executes on the vendor contracting process including drafting, negotiating, and ensuring proper approval and execution of contracts; monitors vendors’ performance to contract, including performance guarantees and service levels, and regularly communicates with internal business stakeholders regarding vendor performance; participates in decision to disengage or renew vendors and assists with the disengagement or renewal.
Identifies and implements process improvements to increase overall effectiveness of the vendor lifecycle and performs other duties as requested to support the Vendor Alliances department.