Senior Complex Contract Manager

Medica is a nonprofit health plan with more than a million members that serves communities in Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, and beyond. We deliver personalized health care experiences and partner closely with providers to ensure members are genuinely cared for.

We're a team that owns our work with accountability, makes data-driven decisions, embraces continuous learning, and celebrates collaboration - because success is a team sport. It's our mission to be there in the moments that matter most for our members and employees. Join us in creating a community of connected care, where coordinated, quality service is the norm and every member feels valued.

The Senior Complex Contract Manager is accountable for partnering with internal teams across Medica to negotiate complex and/or cross-functional contracts with Medica vendors. This role provides contracting and negotiation support across a variety of business areas, categories, products, and services based on organizational needs and priorities. As a Senior Complex Contract Manager, you will contribute to broader team and organizational initiatives, which may include educating business stakeholders on contracting practices and negotiation strategies, supporting contract and document management improvements, and participating in cross-functional projects designed to enhance processes, tools, and overall contracting effectiveness.

The Senior Complex Contract Manager is responsible for leading negotiations and partnering with Category Leads, Legal, other SMEs, and business stakeholders to ensure contract terms meet business needs, price and performance requirements, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Senior Complex Contract Manager leads negotiation strategies that include pricing, Medica-preferred terms and conditions, risk mitigation, and best-in-class service level agreements and guarantees. The role requires the ability to quickly understand different business needs, contracting models, and vendor relationships and adapt negotiation strategies accordingly.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Negotiation

• Exercise independent judgment when analyzing information to inform and implement the best negotiation strategy for the situation.
• Develop and negotiate complex contracts for products and services that include pricing, Medica-preferred terms and conditions, risk mitigation, and best-in-class service level performance agreements and guarantees.
• Adapt negotiation strategies across a variety of business areas, products, services, and vendor relationships.
• Navigate high-pressure situations and competing priorities to resolve conflicts effectively.
• Maintain appropriate attention to detail while managing multiple complex negotiations at the same time.
• Collaborate and creatively problem-solve when needed to ensure contract terms appropriately address legal, regulatory, and business requirements.
• Analyze contract terms, commercial structures, and vendor proposals to identify opportunities for improvement, risk mitigation, and value creation.

Business Relationship Management

• Utilize effective communication and collaboration skills to establish strong relationships with business partners and align on the strategic and tactical direction for vendor negotiations.
• Quickly develop an understanding of stakeholder objectives, business requirements, and key risks when supporting new or unfamiliar business areas.
• Collaborate with multiple stakeholders and vendors to negotiate favorable contract terms while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Effectively communicate business-critical information, including complex contract terms and negotiation considerations, in a clear and concise manner to both internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Serve as a flexible contracting resource across the organization, supporting business areas and negotiation priorities based on organizational needs.

Contract Management

• Ensure business requests are appropriately managed through Medica's contract management tool and established workflows, including required due diligence, reviews and approvals, and accurate capture of contract documents and relevant data.
• Support consistent application of Medica contracting standards, preferred terms, and contracting processes across business areas.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Business, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Legal Studies/Pre-Law, or a related discipline preferred.
• 7+ years of professional experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, contract management, vendor management, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Healthcare experience and familiarity with emerging trends in contracting and healthcare preferred.
• Proven experience negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements for products and services across multiple business areas or categories.
• Strong understanding of common commercial contract structures, including master service agreements, statements of work (SOWs), service level agreements (SLAs), pricing schedules, rate cards, subscription or licensing arrangements, professional services agreements, and other vendor agreements.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new business areas, services, contracting models, and vendor relationships and apply sound contracting and negotiation judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate complex, high-value, and multi-faceted contracts involving legal, financial, operational, regulatory, and risk considerations.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risk, identify alternatives, and drive value while balancing business needs.
• Highly self-motivated and organized, with the ability to operate independently and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent and complex negotiations, shift priorities as business needs change, meet deadlines, and operate effectively under pressure.
• Strong enterprise mindset, with the ability to align contracting strategies with organizational objectives, stakeholder needs, risk considerations, and long-term value creation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively partner with stakeholders across different functions and levels of the organization.

This position is an Office role, which requires an employee to work onsite, on average, 3 days per week. We are open to candidates located near one of the following office locations: Madison, WI or Minnetonka, MN

The full salary grade for this position is $88,800 - $152,300. While the full salary grade is provided, the typical hiring salary range for this role is expected to be between $88,800 - $133,245. Annual salary range placement will depend on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, education, work experience, applicable certifications and/or licensure, the position's scope and responsibility, internal pay equity and external market salary data. In addition to compensation, Medica offers a generous total rewards package that includes competitive medical, dental, vision, PTO, Holidays, paid volunteer time off, 401K contributions, caregiver services and many other benefits to support our employees.

The compensation and benefits information is provided as of the date of this posting. Medica's compensation and benefits are subject to change at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Eligibility to work in the US: Medica does not offer work visa sponsorship for this role. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Employment is contingent on verification of identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer, where all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment indiscriminate of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.