Third-Party Management Senior Advisor

Cigna; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Cigna is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Lead to direct sourcing and contracting activities across MEA. The role involves negotiating supplier contracts and SLAs, evaluating best-in-class suppliers, and driving cost savings and risk reduction through strategic value levers.

Responsibilities include governance across supplier relationships, performance monitoring, and collaboration with TPM and business partners to optimize procurement processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in supply chain management, business administration, or related discipline.
• Minimum 11 years in strategic sourcing, third-party management or related roles.
• Experience negotiating supplier engagements and overseeing complex contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing and contracting activities for MEA across spend categories.
• Review, negotiate, and finalize supplier contracts, SLAs and SOWs.
• Evaluate suppliers via RFx or competitive processes and advise on strategy.
• Monitor supplier performance, governance, risk, and reporting.
• Support enterprise business reviews with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Manage third-party due diligence, risk assessments, and offboarding as needed.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Presentation

Relationship management

Project management

Prioritization

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Analytical capability

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

Tools

Ariba

ProcessUnity

Icertis

Job description

Main Duties Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing Lead sourcing and contracting activities for MEA across assigned spend categories using market insights business priorities spend analysis supplier benchmarks and strategic value levers to deliver cost savings risk reduction improved service outcomes and fit-for-purpose supplier solutions Review draft and negotiate supplier contracts Service Level Agreements Statements of Work and related commercial documentation Evaluate best-in-class suppliers through RFx or similar competitive processes and advise stakeholders on supplier strategy sourcing best practices negotiation approach contract terms and procurement processes Maintain strong stakeholder and supplier relationships disciplined project management and clear communication throughout the sourcing lifecycle Support continuous improvement across sourcing and procurement processes in partnership with the GPTPMS Center of Excellence Third-Party Management Provide strategic direction and governance across MEA markets for assigned supplier relationships including supplier performance monitoring issue resolution risk oversight and governance reporting Track aggregate supplier performance against agreed measures and report outcomes on a monthly quarterly or annual basis as appropriate Identify and execute opportunities to improve supplier governance and procurement processes including initiatives with potential financial or operational impact Lead recurring Enterprise Business Review sessions with business partners matrix stakeholders and suppliers on a quarterly or semi-annual basis to provide strategic guidance and monitor performance Complete supplier governance activities within the TPM tool including supplier profiling research spend reviews and assigned governance tasks Perform vendor-facing assessments including SLA reviews business continuity plan reviews contact updates insurance certificate reviews and other assessments as required Manage and analyze supplier scorecards and surveys to ensure effective measurement of supplier performance and stakeholder sentiment Portfolio Management Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders to understand portfolio requirements and deliver supplier-focused solutions Navigate a complex and evolving supplier landscape balancing changing business strategies priorities and risk considerations Facilitate senior-level discussions between Cigna and supplier leadership Bring strategic thinking and thought leadership to business requirements enterprise agreements Service Level Agreements change orders Statements of Work and related commercial arrangements Collaborate with sourcing teams TPM colleagues and business requestors to support supplier performance management and negotiations Perform reporting and analysis on supplier spend portfolio performance expiring contracts renewals and contract pipeline data to support business areas and strategic sourcing priorities Execute supplier agreement terminations and non-renewals as required ensuring appropriate steps are taken to offboard supplier services effectively Governance and Regulatory Compliance Act as the primary point of contact for governance and compliance matters related to outsourcing and third-party arrangements Support adherence to applicable regulatory requirements and coordinate reporting to Cigna MEA Finance Board as required Maintain and enforce GPTPMS policies in line with relevant regulatory standards Oversee third-party due diligence risk assessments contract maintenance and ongoing monitoring under the applicable regulatory framework Support key regulatory interactions in the UAE as required

Education

Bachelor s degree in supply chain management, business administration, finance, legal, operations, or a related discipline strongly preferred.

Experience

Minimum of 11 years experience in strategic sourcing, third-party management, global procurement, supplier governance, operations, or related management roles. Demonstrated experience managing senior internal and external stakeholder relationships, negotiating supplier engagements, and overseeing complex contracted arrangements in a multinational or matrixed environment.

Skills

Strong knowledge of the full Source-to-Pay lifecycle, including supplier onboarding, due diligence, contracting, governance, performance management, and payment. Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate contracts, Service Level Agreements, Master Service Agreements, and Statements of Work. Strong understanding of legal and commercial supplier contract terms and conditions. Excellent negotiation, communication, presentation, relationship management, project management, and prioritization skills. Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with strong analytical capability.

Language

Fluency in English required; Arabic preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in healthcare, health insurance, health services, pharmacy benefits management, or related regulated industries. Exposure to procurement, third-party management, and contract lifecycle management systems such as Ariba, ProcessUnity, Icertis, or equivalent platforms. Experience across indirect procurement categories, including technology, business process outsourcing, health and wellness, corporate services, and professional services. Experience with international regulatory frameworks, ideally including UAE outsourcing or third-party risk management requirements. Experience coaching or mentoring team members. Industry certifications such as SIG, CSCP, CPM, or equivalent are preferred.