Vendor Relations Specialist (Hybrid)

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 66,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Baltimore, MD is seeking a Vendor Relations Specialist to manage corporate vendor relationships, support the Embedded Business Unit Vendor Managers, and align with the enterprise engagement strategy.

The role focuses on developing partnerships, evaluating supplier performance, and reporting market intelligence to drive opportunities while ensuring compliance and risk management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or 4 additional years of related work experience.
• At least 5 years of vendor management, procurement, sourcing, pricing or related experience.
• Ability to learn new software and vendor management tools.

Responsibilities

• As an integral function of the central vendor management office, provide oversight, guidance, standards, tools and templates for vendor management activities.
• Engage Embedded Business Unit Vendor Managers and stakeholders to align on vendor strategies and usage of standardized tools; communicate risks and opportunities to leadership.
• Develop and manage vendor relationships across CareFirst, collaborating with Procurement to ensure holistic sourcing and risk management; report on vendor performance to the centralized VMO.

Skills

Vendor management

Negotiating contracts

Financial acumen

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Resp & Qualifications

PURPOSE

The Vendor Relations Specialist is responsible for corporate vendor and supplier management assigned to a specific Division, and focuses on developing and managing business partnerships. This role provides support for business operational needs identifying opportunities for improvement that align with the enterprise vendor engagement strategy. serves as a strategic advisor to the CareFirst Embedded Business Unit Vendor Managers and business owners.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• As an integral function of the central vendor management office, this position has a centralized view of the core enabling, core operational and commodity vendors across the business units at CareFirst and provides oversight and guidance to the Embedded Business Unit Vendor Managers including the standards, tools and templates required to execute vendor management activities.
• Actively engage the Embedded Business Unit Vendor Managers and internal stakeholders to ensure frequent communication and alignment on overall CareFirst vendor management strategies and the usage of the latest standardized tools and templates on vendor management. Serves as a trusted advisor to the Embedded Business Unit Vendor Managers and the business owners on vendor issue management and long term strategy development. Communicates vendor strategies, associated risks, and value creation effectively to leadership. Manages supplier partner performance and track remediation and improvement opportunities as needed. Handle vendor evaluation and vendor management related reports
• Develops and manages new and potential vendor relationships that could work in line with organizational values. Collaborates with the business unit and Procurement to ensure that sourcing or supplier events are looked at holistically across CareFirst and not siloed within each business unit. Assists with vendor risk profiles, providing feedback to the centralized VMO regarding scoring, metrics and compliance requirements. Accountable for aggregating and reporting vendor performance (core enabling, core operational, commodity vendors) to the centralized VMO. Responsible for maintaining and reporting market and supplier intelligence, as a means to drive future business opportunities and recognize inherent threats.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education Level: Bachelor's Degree OR in lieu of a Bachelor's degree, an additional 4 years of relevant work experience is required in addition to the required work experience.

Experience: 5 years experience in vendor management, business development, procurement, sourcing, pricing or related field

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to learn new software and vendor management tools.
• Ability to quickly and consistently establish rapport to collaborate effectively with stakeholders, team members, and service providers.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of negotiating contracts and work orders.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Must be able to meet established deadlines and handle multiple customer service demands from internal and external customers, within set expectations for service excellence. Must be able to effectively communicate and provide positive customer service to every internal and external customer, including customers who may be demanding or otherwise challenging.

Salary Range

$65,880 - $130,845

Salary Range Disclaimer

The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the work is being performed. This compensation range is specific and considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, internal peer equity, and market and business consideration. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range, as compensation decisions depend on each case's facts and circumstances, including but not limited to experience, internal equity, and location. In addition to your compensation, CareFirst offers a comprehensive benefits package, various incentive programs/plans, and 401k contribution programs/plans (all benefits/incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).

Department

Procurement & Vendor Management

Equal Employment Opportunity

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of theCompany to provide equal employment opportunities to allqualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Federal Disc/Physical Demand

Note: The incumbent is required to immediately disclose any debarment, exclusion, or other event that makes him/her ineligible to perform work directly or indirectly on Federal health care programs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The associate is primarily seated while performing the duties of the position. Occasional walking or standing is required. The hands are regularly used to write, type, key and handle or feel small controls and objects. The associate must frequently talk and hear. Weights up to 25 pounds are occasionally lifted.

Sponsorship in US

Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without Sponsorship

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