Language Access Partnerships Program Manager

Advocate Health; Winston-Salem (NC); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health seeks an experienced Vendor Manager to lead our language services vendor program. You will oversee interpreter agencies, manage SLAs, and drive cost optimization through strategic negotiations and volume management.

In this role you will develop vendor scorecards, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with legal, procurement, and compliance teams. Hybrid work model with enterprise-scale responsibilities and leadership reporting to AVP-level executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, healthcare administration, or related field.
• Master's degree in business administration, supply chain management, or healthcare administration (preferred).
• 7+ years of vendor management experience in healthcare with enterprise-scale programs.
• Certifications in vendor management or procurement are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the enterprise vendor management strategy and program for language services vendors.
• Oversee vendor selection, qualification, and contracting processes for interpreter agencies and translation vendors.
• Monitor vendor performance against SLAs, quality standards, and contracts.
• Drive cost optimization through negotiations, volume management, and rate analysis.
• Manage third-party interpreter agency relationships to ensure quality and compliance.
• Develop and maintain vendor scorecards and performance dashboards.
• Ensure vendor compliance with regulatory standards and credentialing policies.
• Coordinate with Control Tower on utilization, escalation, and coverage gaps.
• Lead vendor onboarding, credentialing, and ongoing compliance checks.
• Negotiate contracts and amendments with vendor partners.
• Analyze vendor cost data, utilization, and ROI to inform decisions.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and compliance teams on contracting and risk.
• Report vendor performance and cost trends to AVP leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement in vendor quality through performance plans.

Skills

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Cost optimization

Vendor performance

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Risk management

Communication & leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business / supply chain / healthcare administration

Master's degree in business / supply chain / healthcare administration

Certifications: CPSM / CPM or similar

Job description

Prefer applicant who resides in one of our enterprise states: GA, IL, NC, WI that meets the specific requirements listed below.

Education

Bachelor's degreerequiredin business, supply chain management, healthcare administration, or related field.

Certification / License

Vendor management, procurement, or contract management certifications preferred.

Work Experience

Typically requires 7+ years of progressive experience in vendor management, procurement, or healthcare contract management.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Expert vendor management skills including selection, contracting, performance monitoring, and relationship management.
• Strong contract negotiation skills with experience managing service level agreements.
• Cost optimization and financial analysis skills including rate analysis and volume management.
• Vendor performance measurement skills with experience building scorecards and dashboards.
• Knowledge of healthcare vendor compliance requirements including credentialing and regulatory standards.
• Strong stakeholder management skills for coordinating across operations, legal, and procurement teams.
• Data analysis skills for vendor cost analysis,utilizationreporting, and ROI assessment.
• Risk management skills for vendor compliance, contract compliance, and business continuity.
• Strong communicationand negotiation skills for vendor interactions and leadership reporting.
• Project management skills for managing vendor onboarding, transitions, and program improvements.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead the enterprise vendor management strategy and program for all language services vendors.
• Oversee vendor selection, qualification, and contracting processes for interpreter agencies and translation vendors.
• Monitor vendor performance against established SLAs, quality standards, and contractual requirements.
• Drive cost optimization across vendor relationships through strategic negotiations, volume management, and rate analysis.
• Manage third-party interpreter agency relationships to ensure quality, reliability, and compliance.
• Develop andmaintainvendor scorecards, performance dashboards, and regular business review processes.
• Ensure vendor compliance with organizational standards, regulatory requirements, and credentialing policies.
• Coordinate with Control Tower on vendorutilization, escalation protocols, and coverage gap management.
• Manage vendor onboarding, credentialing, and ongoing compliance verification processes.
• Negotiate contracts, amendments, and service level agreements with vendor partners.
• Analyze vendor cost data including cost-per-encounter,utilizationratios, andfinancial impact.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and compliance teams on vendor contracting and risk management.
• Report on vendor performance, cost trends, and program effectiveness to AVP leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement in vendor quality through feedback mechanisms and performance improvement plans.

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

Master's degree in business administration, supply chain management, or healthcare administration.

Certification / License

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), or similar credentials.

Experience

7+ years of vendor management experience in healthcare with enterprise-scale program management.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Experience managing language services vendor programs for large healthcare organizations.
• Experience with vendor risk management and business continuity planning.
• Knowledge of language services industry including interpreter agency operations and market dynamics.
• Experience with strategic sourcing and vendor portfolio optimization.
• Experience driving vendor quality improvement through structured performance management programs.

Strategic Impact & Value Creation

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Drive vendor management innovation including strategic sourcing, platform optimization, and market intelligence.
• Evaluate emerging vendor capabilities and technologies that enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
• Lead vendor partnership initiatives that advance language services capabilities and competitive positioning.

Revenue Impact & Financial Stewardship

• Own vendor cost management with accountability for contract negotiations, cost optimization, and financial performance.
• Develop strategic vendor sourcing approaches that balance cost, quality, and coverage across the enterprise.
• Analyze vendor economics and recommend portfolio optimization strategies that improve financial outcomes.

Operational Excellence & Efficiency

• Establish vendor management standards and performance monitoring that ensure quality, reliability, and compliance.
• Manage vendor performance against SLAs and drive continuous improvement through structured management programs.
• Coordinate vendor escalation and coverage gap management in partnership with control tower operations.

Patient Experience & Language Access

• Ensure vendor quality standards support consistent, high-quality interpretation services that meet patient and clinician needs.
• Monitor vendor performance on language diversity and access to supportequitableinterpretation across all languages.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Work requiresuseoftelephone/computer and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Walking, standing, lifting, bending, reaching, stooping, pushing, and pulling arerequireda moderate amount ofthe time. May lift and carry up to 40 pounds on an intermittent basis. Mustdemonstratethe ability to communicate with individuals and groups effectively. Mustpossesscritical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to concentrate. Must be able to work withhighvolume of activities/projects with short deadlines. Work is hybrid and requires the flexibility of working from home office as well as other Advocate Health work locations as required by services provided.

DISCLAIMER

All responsibilities and requirements are subject topossible modificationtoreasonably accommodateindividuals with disabilities.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by an employee occupying this job or position.Employees must follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their leaders.