Pharma Contracting & Strategy Principal - Evernorth Health Services

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

PBS Pharma Contracting & Strategy Principal will report to the Managing Director, Pharma Contracting & Strategy and play a critical role in shaping contracting strategy and leading complex negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers. This position serves as a trusted subject matter expert across the pharmaceutical landscape, influencing internal and external stakeholders on contracting strategy, formulary optimization, emerging drug pipelines, and evolving manufacturer pricing & access dynamics. Beyond contracting experience, the individual will be responsible for serving as the connection point for key category strategies, across our internal and external client stakeholders.

This individual is expected to think holistically about deal structure and contractual terms, leveraging and connecting manufacturer relationships, team knowledge, market intelligence, and broader market forces to drive predictable, competitive net pricing and flexibility for clients. In this role, you will lead efforts to create holistic strategies by consulting with PBS clients, develop strategic initiatives, and work cross‑functionally with formulary, contracting, product, drug pipeline strategy, and client‑facing teams.

You will own 1-2 large manufacturer relationships, including contract negotiations, invoicing issues, dispute resolution, audit questions, and consulting on contract setup and execution.

Essential Functions

• Own and lead complex pharmaceutical manufacturer negotiations, including deal strategy, contract architecture, financial terms, performance metrics, and multi‑year structures
• Design and influence contracting strategies that support formulary optimization, pipeline readiness, competitive positioning, and long‑term affordability objectives
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor and leader, able to bring together information across key pharmaceutical contracts, informing decision‑making across clinical, formulary, finance, product, and client‑facing teams
• Apply deep understanding of manufacturer behavior, portfolio strategy, and pipeline evolution to determine negotiation timing, positioning, and leverage
• Leverage market intelligence and manufacturer relationships to anticipate shifts in pricing, access, and competitive dynamics, proactively adjusting contracting strategy as needed
• Partner cross‑functionally to ensure contracting strategies align with enterprise objectives, client value propositions, and downstream operational execution
• Support client discussions and internal leadership forums by clearly articulating contracting strategies, trade‑offs, risks, and expected outcomes
• Support Contract Specialists in finalizing and managing manufacturer agreements to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant contract execution

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or similar) preferred
• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical negotiations, contracting, pricing, and/or formulary strategy
• Deep understanding of the pharmaceutical landscape, including manufacturer strategies, formulary management considerations, supply chain dynamics, and emerging drug pipelines
• Ability to simplify complex concepts and bring knowledge together to drive innovative solutions
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to evaluate deal economics, pricing structures, and long‑term value constructs
• Ability to synthesize market intelligence, manufacturer behavior, and market positioning into clear, actionable contracting strategies
• Demonstrated experience structuring and negotiating complex agreements, including financial terms, performance guarantees, and multi‑year arrangements
• Proven ability to influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders while balancing organizational objectives and partner considerations
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross‑functional teams and external stakeholders
• Exceptional written, verbal, and executive‑level communication skills, including the ability to articulate trade‑offs, risks, and value propositions to senior leaders and clients
• Demonstrated strategic mindset with the ability to balance near‑term negotiation outcomes and long‑term enterprise objectives
• Adaptable and comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity, and evolving market dynamics
• Self‑starter with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a broader team environment
• Relevant experience in PBM, payer, manufacturer, or healthcare consulting environments strongly preferred
• Willingness to travel up to 25%

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

About Evernorth Health Services

Evernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, creates pharmacy, care and benefit solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email [e-mail] for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco‑free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.