Counsel - Commercial Transactions

Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company; St. Louis, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

The Cigna Group seeks a Counsel, Commercial Transactions to provide enterprise-wide legal support for U.S. and global contracting.

You will draft, review, and negotiate an array of commercial agreements with domestic and international suppliers, partnering with Procurement and business teams to align legal and business objectives. You will advise on risk allocation, contract governance, and ongoing vendor relationships, while developing templates and playbooks to standardize negotiations across

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, including vendor, procurement, technology, consulting and services transactions.
• Experience supporting procurement, sourcing, vendor management, or commercial operations is preferred.
• Strong contract drafting, negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to identify legal issues, evaluate risk, and provide practical, business-focused legal advice.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements with domestic and international suppliers.
• Partner with Procurement and business stakeholders to structure transactions balancing legal and business objectives.
• Advise clients on commercial contracting matters, risk allocation, and contract governance processes.
• Identify and assess legal and contractual risks in third-party engagements and provide recommendations.
• Support vendor dispute resolution efforts and negotiate resolutions aligned with business objectives and risk tolerance.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance contract templates, playbooks, negotiation guidance, and standard contract provisions.
• Collaborate with global legal colleagues on international contracting matters.
• Create and deliver training on contracting and vendor management to procurement and business teams.
• Support strategic corporate initiatives including mergers, acquisitions, financing, and other enterprise projects.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Commercial contracts

Risk assessment

Cross-functional collaboration

Legal advisory

Independent judgment

Leadership within matrix org

Communication

Presentation to senior leaders

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

The Counsel, Commercial Transactions position provides enterprise-wide legal support and guidance for U.S. and global contracting activities, with an emphasis on buy-side procurement contracts, technology transactions, and vendor management matters. This role partners closely with Procurement, Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Information Protection, and business stakeholders across the enterprise and reports to the Associate Chief Counsel, Enterprise Corporate Law. The successful candidate will have experience negotiating and drafting a broad range of commercial agreements, assessing legal and business risk, and providing practical, business-focused legal advice in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including consulting, services, technology, software, SaaS, licensing, data, and vendor agreements with domestic and international suppliers.
• Partner with Procurement and business stakeholders to structure transactions while balancing legal, regulatory, operational, and business objectives.
• Advise clients on commercial contracting matters, risk allocation, compliance requirements, and contract governance processes.
• Identify, assess, and provide recommendations regarding legal and contractual risks associated with third-party engagements.
• Support vendor dispute resolution efforts and negotiate resolutions that align with business objectives and risk tolerance.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance contract templates, playbooks, negotiation guidance, and standard contract provisions.
• Collaborate with global legal colleagues and business partners on international contracting matters.
• Create and deliver training on contracting, vendor management, and related legal topics to procurement and business teams.
• Support strategic corporate initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, financing transactions, and other enterprise projects as needed.
• Partner effectively with Compliance, Privacy, Information Protection, Information Technology, Procurement, and operational teams on complex commercial matters.
• Manage outside counsel on specialized matters, as appropriate.
• Lead discussions with stakeholders to gather information, align priorities, and achieve business objectives.
• Support process improvement initiatives and contribute to the continued evolution of contracting and governance practices.
• Share legal knowledge and subject matter expertise across the Legal organization in a collaborative manner.
• Work with Legal, Compliance, and business clients to develop, implement, and coordinate contracting and governance strategies.
• Proactively identify risks of non-compliance related to third-party contracts.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Active license and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+years of experience negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, with significant experience supporting vendor, procurement, technology, consulting, and services transactions.
• Experience supporting procurement, sourcing, vendor management, or commercial operations is preferred.
• Strong contract drafting, negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to identify legal issues, evaluate risk, and provide practical, business-focused legal advice.
• Experience supporting technology transactions, intellectual property matters, privacy considerations, and complex commercial arrangements.
• Experience in healthcare, pharmacy, or another highly regulated industry is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across a matrixed organization.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Proven ability to build strong professional relationships and effectively partner with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to operate independently while exercising sound judgment in complex situations.
• Strong presentation skills and experience communicating with senior leaders and business stakeholders.

Hybrid- in office 3 days week. 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 132,700 - 221,100 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.

Benefits

• 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.

About The Cigna Group Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. 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.

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.