Director, Branded and Specialty Rx Contracts

Mwiah; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Cencora is seeking a Director Branded & Specialty Rx Contracts to lead end-to-end distribution agreements and negotiate terms with manufacturers, in coordination with Global Procurement and Channel Strategy.

You will manage internal stakeholders, ensure contract compliance, and optimize processes across matrixed teams to deliver favorable terms and sustained compliance.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of direct contract negotiation experience.
• Pharmaceutical healthcare contracting or distribution sourcing experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in business strategy, business development, corporate strategy, finance, data analytics, marketing, or a related field.
• Master's degree in business strategy preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, business development, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, management consulting, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end contract negotiations for Branded & Specialty Rx distribution agreements.
• Coordinate with Global Procurement, Channel Strategy, and internal stakeholders to align on terms.
• Lead interaction with Legal, Finance, Operations and other functions to document requirements.
• Maintain a library of standard contract language and variations; manage redlining.
• Represent Cencora in complex negotiations with manufacturers; define alliance terms.
• Update business leaders on negotiation status and key updates; ensure compliance with policies.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/related field

Master's degree in business strategy/related field

Tools

Salesforce

SAP

Job description

Under general direction of the V.P. Global Branded Rx Sourcing, the Director Branded & Specialty Rx Contracts is responsible for the execution and day-to-day administration of Branded Rx and Specialty Rx Agreements (including documentation & management of all relevant terms and conditions). They will work closely with Channel Strategy & Product access team to negotiate terms and conditions consistent with business terms agreed to by the Channel Strategy & Product Access team. They will also ensure all relevant Cencora distribution business units’ interests are represented and documented in the agreements and will lead the interaction with internal stakeholders to bring the negotiation to a close.**Primary Duties and Responsibilities:*** Lead distribution agreement negotiations on behalf of the Cencora business units in coordination with Cencora Global Procurement, inclusive of managing the end-to-end contracting and redlining process for their assigned manufacturer accounts.* Drive alignment on negotiation strategy between Cencora business units and manufacturers in conjunction with the Channel Strategy & Product Access team.* Lead the interaction with internal functional stakeholders (i.e. Legal, Finance, Operations, Replenishment Operations (RO) , Chargebacks, Secure Supply Chain etc...) to ensure their input is represented and appropriately documented in all Branded & Specialty Rx distribution agreements.* Key liaison for Branded Rx Sourcing teams & legal for managing contractual requirements and maintaining a library of acceptable variations of standard contract language.* Represents Cencora during complex negotiations with manufacturers; develops key business terms outlining the alliance scope.* Proactively update Cencora business leaders on pending negotiations and relevant manufacturer updates.* Complies with departmental policies and procedures, including but not limited to, contract life-cycle management.* Develops and leads initiatives to optimize business processes within the organization that reduce the burden on the Branded Rx Sourcing team’s resourcing.* Collaborate with internal stakeholders (i.e. Replenishment Operations, 852/867 Data, Finance) to ensure contract compliance and adherence to agreed metrics.* Responsible for contract tracking, & monitoring including all relevant updates to Branded Sourcing technology & CRM Tools (i.e. Saleforce.com).* Collaborate with Cencora sourcing managers to drive out inefficiencies as it relates to new suppliers.* Liaise with internal functional groups to ensure Branded Rx Sourcing’s alignment with internal operational requirements (i.e. Master Data Solutions, Regulatory, Compliance, Manufacturer Operations etc.* Performs related duties as assigned.**Experience and Educational Requirements:*** 5-7 Years of direct contract negotiation experience.* Pharmaceutical healthcare contracting and/or distribution sourcing experience preferred but not required.* Requires broad training in fields such as law, business administration, supply chain, finance, and similar vocations generally obtained through completion of a four-year bachelor's degree program or equivalent combination of experience and education.* Knowledge of CRM applications and ERP systems (i.e. Salesforce, SAP)* Experience managing large volumes of data* Demonstrated experience working in a highly matrixed environment with multiple stakeholders**Minimum Skills, Knowledge and Ability:*** Demonstrated project management and leadership skills* Excellent organizational and negotiation skills* Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing* Strong interpersonal skills* Strong organizational skills; attention to detail* Strong presentation skills and ability to lead cross functional initiatives* Ability to resolve issues effectively and efficiently* Proficiency with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Excel, WordBachelor's degree in business strategy, business development, corporate strategy, finance, data analytics, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience required. Master's degree in business strategy, business development, corporate strategy, finance, data analytics, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience preferred. 10+ years of experience in strategy, business development, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, management consulting, or a related field required. Certification in strategy, business development, or program management preferred. Leads operational strategy with emphasis on customer experience and account outcomes in regulated healthcare environments. Operates effectively in complex, matrixed enterprise environments. Leads cross-functional, cross-team execution through clear alignment, governance, and delivery discipline. Understands program fundamentals and common operating models. Applies program best practices reflected in relevant program content. Understands pharmacy market trends and operational drivers. Applies data analytics and performance reporting practices using tools such as Power BI. Negotiates effectively to align stakeholders and resolve trade-offs. Organizes complex work through prioritization, structure, and follow-through. Communicates clearly in written and verbal formats for executive and operational audiences. Integrates and implements process, technology, and operating model changes to sustain outcomes. Builds productive partnerships across internal teams and external stakeholders. Uses Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce to support planning, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.