Senior Contract Manager Jobs in Connecticut

Overview:

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Senior Contract Specialist, reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Manager, will be responsible for generating, identifying, and sourcing ideas as a result of their own research combined with information provided by Supply Chain Analytics, vendors, GPO's, user groups, benchmarked purchase data and CEC participants, from all YNHHS entities. Compilation of this YNHHS information, coordination of product trials, preparation of financial analysis, and user group review are required to negotiate consensus of all entities in a given solution and subsequent conversion and implementation plan for any product or service. All of this is accomplished in direct support of YNHHS and each entity's business plan. Gaining the agreement of all YNHHS facilities requires the Senior Contract Specialist to function autonomously in most cases, handling complex multiple tasks with minimal supervision. The ability to change priorities dependent upon organizational need is also necessary. Being a leader and advisor is an expectation of this position. Responsible for collaborating with various levels of Supply Chain teammates and Hospital personnel (to include all entities within YNHHS) to explore alternatives and negotiate with vendors, contracts and agreements for the acquisition of various supplies and services such as Capital and Professional equipment, furnishings, projects, inventory and department supplies. This work will focus on standardization, reduced/stable pricing, adhering to appropriate purchasing and contracting policies and preparing contract documents that protect the interest of all of the YNHHS entities. Sr. Contract Specialists are expected to fully utilize the features of Infor Contract Manager and input all contract data, communicate and negotiate in the system, and follow-through by logging savings and tracking associated rebates. For the Sr. Contract Specialist assigned to Supplier Diversity, this position (reporting to the Director, Strategic Sourcing) is responsible for driving the vision, strategic direction and operations of the supplier diversity and local purchasing strategy for YNHHS. Works with internal teammates in supply chain, corporate facilities, and other areas related to enhancing and growing the diverse and local supplier pool with qualified vendors. Assists the Director of Strategic Sourcing with developing and managing external relationships with supplier diversity organizations. Partners with Community Health Equity and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to implement the strategy. Develops and implements an internal and external communication plan about supplier diversity, local purchasing and their goals to drive engagement across the organization. Develops and implements a supplier diversity scorecard to report progress and maintains the supplier diversity section of the website.

Responsibilities:

• Working with clinical and administrative leadership, performing non-salary expense analysis, generating cost reduction initiatives for all of YNHHS, coordinating bid processes, conducting detailed analyses of bid options, negotiating contracts to promote product standardization, utilization review and expense reduction. Senior Contract Specialist provides leadership at monthly swim lane meetings and is responsible for generating ideas for CGC/OGC/NGC review by all entities. This includes compiling present spending data for each institution and researching various options for cost savings that may be available either with the products or the utilization of those products. Senior Contract Specialist prepares a separate cost/value analysis for each entity as well as for the System as a whole. This analysis details the present usage/costs as compared with the potential for reducing those costs as a result of change. Included in this analysis are non-financial factors that will influence the decision. Ultimately work to achieve agreement amongst the representatives of all entities on the strategy for purchase, contract terms and implementation within each entity for a particular product group.

• Administer the Capital Equipment negotiation and acquisition process for all entities of YNHHS. Assure the utilization of GPO contracts as appropriate, utilize benchmarking tools (such as ECRI) and industry equipment information, access the internal budgeting systems for information and leverage the volume of the YNHHS capital needs to obtain the greatest value for all institutions.

• Senior Contract Specialist acts as a liaison between the entities, encouraging the sharing of information and practices while bringing end users, clinical leadership and administrators together in a blended conclusion that can change and improve purchase and/or practice to achieve YNHHS goals. Senior Contract Specialist develops and implements additional opportunities to achieve interaction with key customers/stakeholders at each site to promote increased utilization of system contract services and improve customer satisfaction.

• Senior Contract Specialist must be able to maintain a high tolerance for the changing environments and differing cultures at each site and be able to incorporate those site-specific changes and ambiguities into the overall project negotiation and implementation plan for the system as a whole, redirecting the project as needed.

• Responsible for developing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) that fulfills the requirements and incorporates all input from the professional end users throughout YNHHS. Solicit, analyze and award contracts to vendors using RFP process and in conjunction with overall YNHHS procedures and guidelines.

• The Senior Contract Specialist meets with physicians individually or in groups, at all institutions to seek information to include in the formal RFP process, to explain the available savings, or to assist in the organization of a trial of the products under review. This step is needed to gain consensus for physician preference product decisions.

• Senior Contract Specialist facilitates the negotiation process individually with vendors or with a team of representative users to achieve the preferred financial results as well as the desired terms and conditions needed by each institution.

• Maintain comprehensive contract files in the Infor Contract Manager tool in accordance with overall YNHHS procedures.

• Responsible for ongoing management of all contracts assigned in their area of responsibility. Responsible for maintaining System vendor relationships, monitoring contract compliance and responding to service level issues as identified by the entities of YNHHS.

• Facilitates the implementation of new products at each site so as to enable continuity of purchasing ability throughout the YNHHS.

• Act as liaison between the entities and attends institution-specific committees as necessary, encouraging the sharing of information and practices.

• Review, monitor and make comparisons of national, regional and local contracts (Vizient, NPC, etc.) to determine and ensure value to YNHHS and its affiliates. Participate in GPO councils as appropriate to provide member input and/or gain benchmarking information and networking.

• Responsible for supply chain savings targets, standardization initiatives and other YNHHS and hospital business plan initiatives as agreed upon annually in the form of personal goals.

• Follow all Corporate Compliance guidelines and Patient Confidentiality guidelines. Maintains the confidentiality of pricing among vendors and other outside parties.

• For the Sr. Contract Specialist assigned to Supplier Diversity, position responsibilities include:

• Develops and implements the Supplier Diversity and Local Purchasing Plan to increase local and diverse purchasing throughout YNHHS.
• Partners with Community Health Equity, Community Relations, Health Equity and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, among other departments, to communicate the business case for supplier diversity.
• Engages budget owners across the system to hardwire supplier diversity into our daily work.
• Serves as an internal subject matter expert providing guidance and counsel on supplier diversity. Communicates key trends in the field.
• Manages the collection of diverse and local supplier spending data and information across the enterprise quarterly and annually, develops and shares a monthly scorecard, tracks progress and identifies opportunities or gaps. Utilizes the Vizient and Supplier Gateway Supplier Diversity tools to enhance the program.
• Proactively identifies internal procurement opportunities where high quality, cost effective diverse or local suppliers can be utilized. Responsible for achieving at least three times the position salary value in annual cost savings through using local and diverse suppliers.
• Supports the Director of Strategic Sourcing to conduct and lead Supplier Diversity and Local Purchasing training sessions to internal team members and budget owners and external stakeholders. Supports stakeholders system-wide to help meet objectives.
• Develops and leads an Internal Supplier Diversity Advisory Council to support this work.
• Manages the development, implementation and tracking of the Tier 2 program.
• Leads supplier outreach, education and networking to build relationships and identify diverse and local supplier connections. Builds positive relationships with key Supplier Diversity community partners. Establishes a Community Advisory Committee to assist in this work.
• Develops and implements a diverse supplier onboarding program.
• Actively participates in the Healthcare Anchor Network, GNEMSDC, WBENC and other MWBE advocacy organizations.
• Attends conferences and workshop events supporting supplier diversity and representing YNHHS.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) required in Finance, Business, Materials Management or related field, or actively pursuing a degree to be completed in a reasonable timeframe. MBA preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in Supply Chain Management, preferably within Healthcare. Experience collaborating with various levels of personnel to explore alternatives to acquisition of various supplies and service such as Capital and Professional equipment, furnishings, projects, inventory and department supplies. Experience with contract, agreements and negotiating with vendors. RN or Clinical/Technical experience preferred. Experience with Healthcare GPOs is also preferred. For the Supplier Diversity role, experience with health care supply chain, supplier diversity and/or hospital operations preferred. Experience interacting with high level leaders and management, as well as with community partners and diverse supplier non-profit advocacy organizations desired.

LICENSURE: CMRP designation or equivalent & relevant professional certification (Six Sigma, APICS CPIM or CSCP, etc.) preferred.

SPECIAL SKILLS:

- Excellent communication skills (written, oral and presentation).
- Ability to work independently.
- Problem solving skills.
- Effective time management skills.
- High level of aptitude in spreadsheet, databases, and electronic commerce.
- Ability to facilitate cross-functional work teams.
- Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required and familiarity with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system preferred.
- Ability to lead value analysis teams and bring value analysis projects to a timely conclusion (including documentation in Infor Contract Manager) is a must.
- For Supplier Diversity, must have a strong passion for achieving results by working with multiple and diverse stakeholders across the enterprise and the community.
- Passionate for improving community health through diverse and local purchasing strategies.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran