Senior Manager, Vendor Management

Centene Corporation; United States; Remote; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K and stock purchase plans

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off plus holidays

Remote, hybrid, field or office work S

Job summary

Centene Corporation is seeking a Senior Vendor Relations Manager to oversee vendor intake, evaluation, contracting, and performance oversight across health plan initiatives. The role emphasizes compliance, active engagement, and alignment with enterprise objectives.

You will lead vendor meetings, manage RFI/RFP processes, monitor contractual obligations, and guide a team of Vendor Relations Managers to ensure high engagement and smooth transitions to new partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or related field; 5+ years healthcare management experience.
• Experience with reporting and analyzing data; strong Excel skills.
• Project management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee vendor intake and evaluation, including business case development and financial assessments.
• Direct negotiations and drafting of vendor RFIs, RFPs, SOWs, and contracts with non-standard terms.
• Lead vendor meetings to document issues and drive action item completion.
• Ensure compliance with policies and contractual requirements; monitor vendor performance and reporting.
• Manage a team of Vendor Relations Managers and develop their growth within the department.

Skills

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

Excel

Data analysis tools

Job description

Position Purpose:

Manage vendor intake, evaluation, contracting, and performance oversight for assigned vendors and initiatives, ensuring compliance, strong engagement, and alignment with enterprise objectives.

Key Details:

This position is remote within the United States. Candidates must reside within Central or Eastern time zones to be considered.

• Ensure operational integrity, including compliance with all policies and procedures for the Health Plan including adherence to state contract and guidelines.
• Provide guidance on researching and resolving claim disputes with vendor, member or provider issues and route to appropriate person(s) for resolution.
• Lead recurring vendor and stakeholder meetings to document, discuss and resolve issues as well as monitor completion of action items.
• Lead vendor intake and evaluation activities, including business case development, operational and financial assessments, and recommendations to leadership, in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Direct negotiations and draft vendor RFI’s, RFP’s, SOW, and contracts, including redlines and approvals for non-standard terms.
• Assist with the onboarding and transition of new vendors.
• Monitor compliance with all contractual requirements, vendor performance and reporting.
• Manage relationships with vendor partners to promote and maintain a high engagement.
• Manage a team of Vendor Relations Managers and oversee their growth and development and assimilation into the vendor management department and the organization.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or related field or equivalent experience. 5+ years of healthcare management experience, preferably in vendor managed care or the health insurance field. Experience with reporting and analyzing data. Strong Excel skills and working with a variety of software data programs preferred. Project management experience preferred.

Licenses/Certifications:

Certified Third Party Risk Professional (CTPRP) Preferred.

At Centene, we connect people to the care they need to live healthier lives — and the work you do here makes that impact real every day. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that directly support individuals, families, and communities, building your skills while making healthcare more accessible and effective. It’s work with a purpose you can see, backed by a team committed to improving lives well beyond the workday.

Centene offers a comprehensive benefits package including: competitive pay, health insurance, 401K and stock purchase plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off plus holidays, and a flexible approach to work with remote, hybrid, field or office work schedules. Actual pay will be adjusted based on an individual’s skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law, including full-time or part-time status. Total compensation may also include additional forms of incentives. Benefits may be subject to program eligibility.

Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the LA County Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act