Contract Negotiator

Job Description

Bring Your Strengths to Wellmark as a Contract Negotiator!

Wellmark’s Contract Negotiators bring a unique skillset to our Strategic Sourcing space that help support our company-wide procurement initiatives. Our Contract Negotiators possess the capability to create and draft complex contracts, including terms and conditions, price, service level agreements, etc., that satisfy business needs and risk. They are experienced negotiators, who can navigate the often challenging conversations we encounter when working with third-party entities, and are master relationship-builders, who understand the importance of maintaining strong connections to internal business partners and vendors, alike.

As a Contract Negotiator, you will be responsible for the drafting and negotiation of contracts on behalf of Wellmark. You will negotiate changes to Wellmark's standard contract language, negotiate favorable pricing, and mitigate risk through utilizing effective sourcing processes in every deal. In addition, you will coordinate contract review processes across the organization and in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external vendors. Last, but certainly not least, you will ensure the protection of Wellmark's interests and comply with applicable laws and organizational policies and procedures.

Ideal candidates will have at least 3 years of contract drafting and negotiation experience with a solid foundation in contract law (terms and conditions, price, SLA’s, etc.). Candidates who have experience handling technology-related contracts, including SaaS, cloud-based, etc., will stand out among the rest. You are chronically curious, possess a growth-minded spirit, have the desire to exceed expectations. Initiative is your middle (maybe first) name. You thrive in a collaborative environment that values insight, creative thinking, and problem-solving. Understanding the nature of the deal is no stranger to you, and you have the capability to determine risks, synthesize complex issues, and communicate effectively with audiences of all kinds. If this sounds like you, apply today!

Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum of 3 years related work experience, legal, contract law, contract compliance/governance, sourcing /procurement  contract administration role; with specific experience in reading, interpreting, understanding, and drafting contract language.
• Must show an ability to effectively establish thriving working relationships with all stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills and be a self-starter.
• Ability to identify and avoid potential conflict of interest to ensure ethical business standards and practices are followed.
• Ability to solve problems, develop solutions and assist the business leaders in achieving their financial and performance goals and objectives.
• Ability to communicate cost models, risk, and business concepts at the executive levels throughout the organization and with any given vendor.
• Exhibit strong people and project management / organizational development skills. An organized and systematic approach to task management that enables timely closure of actions.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain high-performance relationships with internal and external stakeholders and customers.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and communicate upward and across divisions are required.
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think strategically and pro-actively partners with the business to drive results. 
• Must be self-motivated and have a sense of urgency, with the ability to see what needs to be done and take action to ensure successful and timely accomplishments of business needs.  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Power Point).
• Preferred skills:  prior formal contract negations experience. Experience in project management and procurement, which will be leveraged for contract/negotiation deal execution.

Additional Information

a. Negotiate, amend, terminate and renegotiate standard and nonstandard contracts. Independently review nonstandard contracts and proposed edits and negotiate the terms to achieve Wellmark's contract standards and to ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures.

b. Will effectively negotiate contractual terms, pricing, and deliverables to mitigate risk and provide value in all contract negotiations. Facilitate due diligence, as necessary, relating to cost and risk exposure. Will collaborate with support areas to ensure all risks are mitigated including audit, legal, compliance, disaster recovery, etc.

c. Responsible for drafting nonstandard contracts including service levels for contracts when the template agreements do not adequately meet the needs of the project. Provide subject matter expertise to internal stakeholders through low/complexity negotiations from qualification or RFP through contract signature.

d. Review and evaluate business stakeholder requests for proposal or revisions to contracts provides risk assessments and offers alternative approaches to mitigate risks, including alternative contractual language evaluates and coordinates proposals investigates and reconciles significant contract changes involving cost, specifications, schedules, etc.

e. Partner with stakeholders to ensure the best sourcing decision by balancing cost with business requirements. Work in conjunction with business areas to ensure conformance with contractual obligations, to remain cognizant of problem areas, and to implement the required corrective actions in all contracts. Qualify, analyze and effectively communicate stakeholder requirements to minimize pricing and negotiation cycles, and drive deal closure.

f. Responsible for negotiating savings and overall total cost of ownership/value in all negotiations to drive optimal value for Wellmark and ensure all savings and cost avoidance are documented in a timely manner.

g. Provide business advice relating to business terms and conditions communicate business risks to senior/executive management for approval develop a negotiation strategy and lead each negotiation to successful completion. Build relationships and influence the business units to proactively seek strong negotiations on both pricing and terms.

h. Lead multiple, concurrent sourcing initiatives in a cross-functional team environment that will include strategy, vendor selection, market intelligence, vendor and product viability and contract execution.

i. Maintain accurate records and data in all procurement tools including providing timely and accurate project updates, final savings information, contract information, etc.

j. Stay current with sourcing strategies, understand market environments and emerging trends relating to negotiations and contract development.

k. Identify best practices and innovations to improve contracting processes, systems, policies and procedures May participate on project teams to identify areas for improvements.

l. Other duties as assigned.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The policy of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact us at [email protected]