Pharma Contracting & Strategy Lead: Negotiations & Formulary

Evernorth Health Services; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Evernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, seeks a PBS Pharma Contracting & Strategy Principal to shape contracting strategy and lead complex negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The role drives formulary optimization, pipeline readiness, and long-term affordability while coordinating across clinical, formulary, product, and client-facing teams.

The successful candidate will own 1-2 large manufacturer relationships, oversee contract setup and execution, and influence

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical negotiations, contracting, pricing, and/or formulary strategy.
• Strong understanding of PBM, payer, manufacturer dynamics and market access.
• Ability to simplify complex concepts and drive innovative contracting solutions.
• Proven experience structuring and negotiating complex agreements with multi-year terms.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead complex pharmaceutical manufacturer negotiations, including deal strategy and multi-year structures.
• Design contracting strategies that support formulary optimization, pipeline readiness, and affordability objectives.
• Serve as trusted strategic advisor across clinical, formulary, finance, product, and client-facing teams.
• Leverage market intelligence to anticipate shifts in pricing, access, and dynamics and adjust strategy accordingly.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure contracting aligns with enterprise objectives and client value propositions.
• Support client discussions and leadership forums by articulating strategies, trade-offs, risks, and outcomes.
• Assist Contract Specialists in finalizing and managing manufacturer agreements.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial acumen

Influencing stakeholders

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA/ MPH/ PharmD preferred

Job description

Evernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, seeks a PBS Pharma Contracting & Strategy Principal to shape contracting strategy and lead complex negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The role drives formulary optimization, pipeline readiness, and long-term affordability while coordinating across clinical, formulary, product, and client-facing teams.

The successful candidate will own 1-2 large manufacturer relationships, oversee contract setup and execution, and influence