Lead Director, Specialty Trade

7505 Caremark, L.L.C.; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 232,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Retirement savings options

Wellness programs

Job summary

CVS Health seeks a Lead Director Specialty Trade Relations to drive strategies in procurement, distribution and access with pharmaceutical manufacturers. You will manage high-level supplier relationships, optimize cost of goods, and advance specialty services across multiple business units.

The role requires senior-level contracting experience, strategic vision, and ability to balance competing priorities. Travel up to 20% and collaboration across teams are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years work experience in pharma contracting, specialty pharmacy, healthcare, or related fields.
• 8 years experience in specialty pharmacy, healthcare, contracting or pharmaceutical industry required.
• Experience in business development and contracting with senior-level audiences.
• Ability to travel up to 20% as needed.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate development and negotiation of contracts with pharma/manufacturer partners.
• Guide manufacturer strategy, account relationship management, and cost management.
• Develop procurement, distribution, and rebate-based strategies.
• Lead negotiations to improve cost of goods and drive efficiencies.
• Mentor junior colleagues and provide cross-functional collaboration guidance.

Skills

Contracting experience

Negotiation

Business development

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Position Summary

CVS Health is one of the leading specialty pharmacies in the country, dispensing or managing more than $70B of specialty medications annually. Continued leadership in this space is a key fundamental priority for the organization. The Specialty Trade organization is a critical partner responsible for gaining access to drugs through either broad or limited distribution arrangements, negotiating product acquisition economics and selling in valuable services that differentiate us as a leading specialty pharmacy.

Do you want to make a large impact in your next role? Join CVS Health as a Lead Director Specialty Trade Relations, where you will be involved in the development and execution of key strategies and initiatives with specialty pharmaceutical manufacturers. Strategies will include procurement of products, distribution strategies, acquisition economics, specialty services such as data and reporting services, adherence programs and other performance services.

In this high impact role, you will have direct account responsibilities for established blood product manufacturers (hemophilia & IVIG), manage pharma relationships at a leadership level, be accountable for the cost of goods of pharmaceutical manufacturer products, and improvement in the reduction of these costs, while also identifying and executing new opportunities for current and new manufacturers. Here, you are an integral member of the team. Your experience with market access and B2B, as well as your success effectively managing multiple manufacturer relationships will be key. You will utilize your creativity and skilled collaboration across multiple key business units as well as your strategic vision and critical thinking capabilities. You should be comfortable balancing multiple priorities at a time, such as when dealing with multiple contract negotiations and multiple manufacturer initiatives.

A Brief Overview

Facilitates the development and negotiation of contracts with pharmaceutical and medical supply manufacturers. Guides the development of manufacturer strategy, account relationship management, and cost management. Formulates strategies for procurement of product and supply arrangements, distribution strategies, tier and rebate-based performance arrangements, and formulary management.

What you will do

Works to achieve operational, functional, and business targets with measurable impact on progress against goals for the Pharma Contracting area. Contributes to the development of complex strategies that encompass the organization's goals and position by utilizing project management tools, data analyses, and stakeholder feedback. Instructs account management and manufacturer negotiations to control drug and medical supply costs. Applies advanced knowledge of pharma contracting to ensure the successful establishment of pharma and medical supplier contracts. Devises negotiation strategy to drive financial and operational efficiencies. Acts independently to identify and evaluate new business opportunities to generate additional margin. Guides junior colleagues through consultation and mentoring in techniques and processes and provides functional (matrix) supervision.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years work experience
• 8 years experience in specialty pharmacy, healthcare, contracting or pharmaceutical industry required.
• Successful experience in business development and contracting, experience effectively presenting in front of large, executive level customer audiences required.
• Ability to travel, up to 20% of the time, as needed, per business needs
• Adept at execution and delivery (planning, delivering, and supporting) skills
• Adept at business intelligence
• Adept at collaboration and teamwork
• Mastery of problem solving and decision making skills

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA Preferred
• 5 years experience in managing specialty/biologic manufacturer relationships preferred.
• 2 years experience with contract negotiations and successful completion of contracts strongly preferred.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; equivalent combination of experience and/or education may be considered.

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is: $100,000.00 - $231,540.00. This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families. This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families.

The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Retirement savings options
• Wellness programs
• Other resources, based on eligibility

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 10/30/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.

Our Work Experience

Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about us: our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hard working, curious, trustworthy, humble, and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in the area.