Sr Director Trade Relations - SMC

The hiring range for this role is:

$173,000.00 - $185,000.00

Synergie Medication Collective is a new medication contracting organization founded by a group of Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliated companies to serve both Blues and select independent health plans. Synergie is focused on improving affordability and access to costly medical benefit drugs — ones that are injected or infused by a health care professional in a clinical setting — for nearly 100 million Americans.

The Sr. Director, Trade Relations of Synergie Medication Collective, in collaboration with the Head of Trade Relations and Chief Trade Relations Officer, will negotiate contracts and maintain relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers for the GPO. The Sr. Director will have significant experience in negotiating contracts and relationship management with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The SME will work to leverage the assets that currently exist within the Blue System and work with peers of a larger organization to maximize scale in support of driving better costs for members. This position will report to the Head of Trade Relations Officer and will be a critical member of the trade team. This initiative is nothing less than transformative, with the goals of positioning the BCBS health plans to deliver on the quadruple aim in health care (service, access, quality, and affordability). We are looking for someone passionate about transforming health care, building and growing an organization and collaborating on future innovation.

Job Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Partner with Synergie teams to develop, review, and align strategies and negotiate with pharmaceutical manufacturers; collaborate on rebate bid analysis and rebate agreement process to ensure alignment with corporate goals, performance standards and expected outcomes

• Partner with the Head of Trade Relations and Chief Trade Relations Officer in the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and collaborate with key internal teams to create program/product value to clients, members, providers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers

• Work closely with Synergie teams, related to medical policy and drug list development, pharmaceutical manufacturer programs and contracts, and ongoing evaluation of drug therapy classes for rebate and other financial opportunities; ensure effective communication and strategic collaboration within GPO

• Represent Synergie’s objectives and perspective to external partners (i.e., pharmaceutical manufacturers, clients, others) and communicate to ensure understanding of mutual objectives

• Ensure manufacturers’ products are brought forth internally to evaluate rebate and management opportunities for Synergie’s business

• Serve as a department resource for escalated client issues, contract analysis, and contract language needs in rebate contracting

• Represent Trade Relations on committees to identify effective net-cost policy opportunities; support client alignment and adoption of strategies; ensure communication with committee members

• Other duties as assigned

Required Education, Certifications, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare management or other related fields of study or equivalent combination of education and/or related work experience; HS diploma or GED is required

• 10-15 years of related work experience in pharmacy benefit management (PBM), pharmaceutical payer contracting, and/or analytical contracting

• Must be eligible to work in the United States without need for work visa or residency sponsorship

• Excellent verbal and written presentation skills

• Ability to establish rapport and build relationships at all levels within an organization

• Expert negotiation and influencing skills

• Strong business and financial acumen, with advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA, other graduate work, or equivalent training and/or experience

• Experience within the PBM industry, Medicaid, Medicare, and health plans

• Experience with contract language and risk mitigation concepts

Minimum Physical Job Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time

• Constantly required to sit, use hands to handle or feel, talk and hear

• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms

• Occasionally required to stand, walk and stoop, kneel, and crouch

• Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to the Head of Trade Relations Officer

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