Account Director - Pharma Strategy & Contracting - Express Scripts - Hybrid or Remote

The Cigna Group; Morris Plains (NJ); Remote; USD 104,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cigna Group is seeking an Account Director (Contract Sr. Advisor) to support negotiations for major pharmaceutical manufacturer accounts. You will review contracts, negotiate redlines, and drive strategic business reviews to help exceed client expectations.

In this role you collaborate with legal, invoicing, rebates, and formulary teams, manage cross‑functional relationships, and contribute to strategic initiatives. A strong background in contracts and pharma is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field preferred with 8+ years of experience.
• Experience negotiating contracts in managed care/pharma recommended.
• Strong critical thinking and ability to position value proposition.
• Able to manage timelines and document project progress.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, analytical and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with pharmaceutical and PBM industries.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic support to negotiations team for assigned accounts.
• Review, interpret, and negotiate redlined agreements and final matrices.
• Collaborate with legal, invoicing, rebates, and formulary teams.
• Manage pharma relationships across multiple departments.
• Ensure accurate contractual requirements and timely invoicing and rebates.
• Contribute to data requests and client strategy development.
• Lead special projects and participate in strategic initiatives.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Contract negotiation

Financial analysis

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Communication skills

Pharma/PBM knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Account Director (Contract Sr. Advisor) provides strategic support to the negotiations team for a number of assigned pharmaceutical manufacturer accounts. Responsibilities include: contract review and interpretation, review and negotiate redlined agreements, finalizing matrices, strategic business review and participation in strategic initiatives. Understanding the financial impact of assigned accounts is critical. The position will align to the Director of Account Management. This position will work closely with various matrix partners, including legal/contracting, invoicing, rebate optimization, and formulary teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborate with negotiators and department leadership to determine strategic business review vision, objectives, strategy, and presentation content.

• Partner with negotiators to execute on manufacturer, product class, and drug strategies. Collaborate with assigned manufacturers and matrix partners to guide contracts through the review process, leading to execution of agreements within required timelines.

• Collaborate with Ascent Health Services and matrix partners, remaining aware of firewall requirements at all times.

• Manage pharma relationships and develop partnerships with assigned manufacturers across multiple departments within ESI’s Supply Chain.

• Ensure accuracy of all contractual requirements and respond to inquiries within ESI to ensure accurate and timely invoicing and payment of rebates.

• Consult with negotiators and department leadership to determine data needs and submit data requests. Build and maintain relationships with internal and external contacts.

• Leverage business review knowledge across all assigned accounts to provide consultative feedback to negotiators and input on client strategy.

• Develop and demonstrate an understanding of assigned manufacturer needs, thinking critically as to how service offerings meet these needs.

• Participate in other strategic initiatives and lead special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum educational requirement: Bachelor's degree in related field preferred and at least 8 years of relevant experience.

• Minimum three years’ experience in negotiating contracts, preferably in the managed care and/or pharmaceutical industries.

• Sophistication at positioning our value proposition and our ability to meet client needs. Strong critical thinking skills.

• Ability to manage timelines to meet deadlines and document progress on projects as required. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule during times of peak volume.

• Ability to assess program metrics and financials. Excellent Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office Suite skills.

• Superior verbal and written communication, analytical and organizational skills. Ability to prioritize work and make independent recommendations.

• Ability, confidence, and experience to be counterparts with other managers and directors on team. Demonstrated ability to adapt in a dynamic work environment.

• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical and PBM industries.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 103,900 - 173,100 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan.

At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year, paid holidays, and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs, .

• medical
• vision
• dental
• well-being and behavioral health programs
• 401(k)
• company paid life insurance
• tuition reimbursement
• a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year
• paid holidays
• leaves of absence

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.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email [e-mail] for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.