Laboratory Contracting & Sourcing Director

Vizient, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

Vizient, Inc. seeks a strategic sourcing Subject Matter Expert to drive healthcare sourcing initiatives, delivering measurable financial, operational, and clinical value.

You will lead enterprise sourcing projects, negotiate supplier agreements, and develop sourcing strategies in collaboration with laboratory professionals and clinical leaders. This hybrid role requires strong analytics, advanced AI fluency, and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of healthcare sourcing experience.
• Lab diagnostics/lab operations experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading enterprise sourcing initiatives.
• Experience negotiating complex supplier contracts.
• Facilitate cross-functional stakeholder alignment.
• Strong analytical, presentation, and relationship skills.
• Hybrid work model with in-office days in Irving, Chicago, or Centennial.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with client priorities and market opportunities.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing lifecycle: requirements, RFIs/RFPs, supplier evaluations, and post-award activities.
• Negotiate complex contracts and service agreements on behalf of clients.
• Evaluate suppliers for capability, stability, and innovation.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, and operations to resolve issues.
• Present strategies, analyses, and recommendations to executive leadership.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Negotiation

Relationship management

AI fluency

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

When you're the best, we're the best. We instill an environment where employees feel engaged, satisfied and able to contribute their unique skills and talents while living and working as their authentic selves. We provide extensive opportunities for personal and professional development, building both employee competence and organizational capability to fuel exceptional performance through an inclusive environment both now and in the future.

Summary:

In this role, you will serve as the strategic sourcing subject matter expert and trusted advisor for complex healthcare sourcing initiatives that deliver measurable financial, operational, and clinical value. You will lead enterprise sourcing projects, negotiate supplier agreements, develop sourcing strategies, and facilitate value analysis initiatives that support client and organizational priorities. You will provide strategic expertise in the Laboratory category, partnering with laboratory professionals, clinicians, physicians, and supply chain leaders to support evidence-based sourcing and contracting decisions. You will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to drive decision-making, optimize supplier performance, and influence successful implementation of sourcing solutions through strategic leadership and advanced market expertise.

Responsibilities:

• Develop sourcing strategies that align client priorities, organizational objectives, and market opportunities.
• Lead the complete sourcing lifecycle, including business requirements, market assessments, RFIs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contract development, implementation planning, and post-award activities.
• Negotiate complex contractual, operational, service, and financial agreements with suppliers on behalf of clients.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, financial stability, innovation, and market positioning to develop strategic sourcing recommendations.
• Partner with legal, contracting, finance, and operational stakeholders to resolve complex sourcing and contracting issues.
• Lead multidisciplinary value analysis committees and facilitate stakeholder alignment to support evidence-based sourcing decisions.
• Present sourcing strategies, financial analyses, supplier recommendations, and implementation plans to executive leadership.
• Analyze spend, utilization, supplier, operational, market, and financial data to identify sourcing opportunities, mitigate risk, and develop business recommendations.
• Measure and communicate sourcing outcomes, including savings, value realization, quality improvements, supply assurance, and implementation success.
• Apply advanced AI fluency to improve business strategy, complex analysis, stakeholder communications, and decision-making while promoting the effective and responsible use of AI.

Qualifications:

• Relevant degree preferred.
• 7 or more years of relevant experience required, with laboratory experience strongly preferred, including work as a Medical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, or in a related clinical laboratory, diagnostics, or laboratory operations role; experience in a healthcare provider, group purchasing organization, consulting, or other highly regulated industry is also preferred.
• Demonstrated success independently leading complex enterprise sourcing initiatives with laboratory diagnostics, analyzers, automation, reagents, reference laboratory services, lab operations, or clinical testing initiatives preferred.
• Strong experience negotiating complex supplier agreements and commercial contracts.
• Experience facilitating cross-functional stakeholder committees and building consensus among clinical and operational leaders.
• Advanced analytical, communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated advanced AI fluency with the ability to effectively leverage and critically evaluate AI solutions in complex business environments.
• This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring three days per week in the office. Office locations include Irving, TX, Chicago, IL and Centennial, CO.
• Willingness to travel.

Estimated Hiring Range:

At Vizient, we consider skills, experience, and organizational needs in our compensation approach. Geographic factors may adjust the range estimate and hires typically fall below the top range. Compensation decisions are tailored to individual circumstances. The current salary range for this role is $102,400.00 to $179,000.00.

This position is also incentive eligible.

Vizient has a comprehensive benefits plan! Please view our benefits here:

http://www.vizientinc.com/about-us/careers

Equal Opportunity Employer: Females/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender identity, ethnicity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law.