Associate Director Strategic Sourcing

​​Provides leadership and oversight of assigned sourcing category strategy (Musculoskeletal and the Neuro/Spine divisions), leveraging best practices, identifying cost containment opportunities, and standardizing products. Ensures purchasing strategies support Advocate Health’s strategic plan, mitigate risk, maximize efficiency, and achieve cost, quality, and service delivery goals. Aligns functional team strategy to enterprise strategy. ​

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• ​​Strategy Development: Leverages strategic sourcing best practices for enterprise across assigned categories. Oversees sourcing strategies such as analyzing market fundamentals, industry data, price benchmarks, cost drivers and trends, key cost variances, and economic forecasting in assigned categories. Categorizes and analyzes spend categories and assesses market and sourcing options to prioritizing areas for maximizing value and cost synergies.​ 
• ​​Sourcing Process Management: Establish and manage the end-to-end sourcing process, including supplier identification, qualification, selection, negotiation, and contracting. Ensure compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and regulations. ​Leads in creating strategies to bring non-contracted products and services under contract, assuring best contract coverage for assigned categories. ​Consults with Legal on contractual issues concerning proper legal terms and conditions. Ensuring all other relevant departments’ evaluations of contracts are triggered (IT, Data Security, etc.) which can vary by contract type 
• ​​Cost Optimization: Identify cost-saving opportunities through comprehensive analysis of utilization, pricing, and contracting. Collaboratively leads stakeholders to enable favorable negotiations on pricing, terms, and conditions with suppliers. Identifies and implements cost containment strategies, such as standardization of products and equipment, utilization controls, and value-based purchasing. Oversees the attainment of maximum savings in total delivered cost of supplies, services, and equipment in assigned categories​. ​​ 
• ​​Supplier Relationship Management: Foster strong relationships with suppliers and own supply chain-supplier relationships in assigned categories. Monitor supplier performance, conduct supplier evaluations, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address supplier-related issues and ensure timely resolution.​ 
• ​​​Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with clinical value analysis, finance, supply chain management, and other relevant stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities. Collaborate with these teams to align value analysis strategies with organizational objectives, clinical workflows, and patient care requirements. Develop effective communication channels and engagement strategies to foster collaboration and support decision-making processes. 
• ​​ ​​Clinical Integration: Collaborate with strategic stakeholders to ensure the seamless integration of value analysis. Engage in discussions with stakeholders to understand their perspectives, address concerns, and facilitate consensus-building. Develop educational programs and materials to promote awareness and adoption of value-based approaches throughout enterprise. Make recommendations to appropriate functional teams regarding new product and assist with supplier coordination. ​​ 
• ​​Data Analysis and Reporting: Establish metrics and performance indicators to measure the impact of strategic sourcing initiatives on cost savings, quality improvement, and patient outcomes. Work with Analytics partners to analyze data to identify trends, monitor progress, and generate actionable insights. Prepare regular reports and presentations for senior leadership, highlighting key findings, achievements, and recommendations. 
• ​​​​Team Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing strategic sourcing team. Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to team members. Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment. Set performance goals, conduct performance reviews, and ensure the team's capabilities align with the enterprise’s strategic sourcing objectives. ​​ 
• ​​Continuous Improvement: Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging data analytics, technology tools, and industry collaborations to enhance the strategic sourcing process and drive ongoing improvement in patient care delivery.​ 
• ​​Risk Management: Assess and mitigate risks associated with the sourcing process, including supply chain disruptions, quality issues, regulatory compliance, and geopolitical factors related to assigned categories. Develop contingency plans to minimize potential impact on the organization. 
• ​​​​Directs and provides guidance for the preparation, solicitation analysis and presentation of Requests for Proposal (RFP), Request for Information (RFI), and Invitations for Bid (IFB) in accordance with directives and program requirements.  
• ​​​Develops and recommends operating and capital budgets and controls expenditures within approved budget objectives.​ 
• ​​​​Fosters and owns supply chain relationships with relevant service line leaders, physicians, clinicians, and vendors to develop and implement strategies which maximize the standardization of products, equipment, and services. Collaborates with various teams to ensure that sourcing, contracting, capital, equipment planning, and purchased services are provided consistently with high levels of quality, cost effectiveness, and customer service.​ 
• ​​Ensures contracting process engages end-users to define service and product attributes through facilitated pre-contracting initiatives.​ 
• Develops, manages, and maintains rolling three-year plans for supplies, implants, purchased services, and capital categories as assigned 

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

License/Registration/Certification Required: None Required

Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business or related field.

Experience Required: Typically requires 7 years of experience in procurement, materials management, logistics, and finance. Includes 3 years of management experience in planning, directing, and leading a centralized purchasing function, value analysis, the standardization of products, and the implementation of best practice and cost containment initiatives.​​​ 

Ideal Experience:

• Healthcare contracting in Implant spaces.
• Experience supporting Value Analysis Councils
• Experience within a large integrated delivery network with physicians driving value

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• ​​Knowledge in system-wide purchasing strategies, processes, and programs which support a service focused, cost effective, and centralized model.​ 
• ​​Demonstrated successful contract negotiation skills and ability to establish and administer complex contracts for products and services.​ 
• ​​Sound knowledge of inventory management and related accounting processes.​ 
• ​​Interchange and internet-based procurement transaction processes knowledge with exposure to broader issues such as Continuous Replenishment Processes or Vendor Managed Inventories.​ 
• ​​Skills developing strategic and tactical plans to meet business objectives in a large healthcare system.​ 
• ​​Knowledge of contract law and related legal and financial policies.​ 
• ​​Excellent communication skills necessary to communicate effectively with senior administrators, department leaders, 
  physicians, vendors, and clinical staff to support Advocate Health’s acquisition goals.​ 
• ​​Knowledge of healthcare accreditation standards (i.e. DNV, JCAHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and National Fire Protection Organization requirements.​ 
• ​​Excellent analytical, quantitative, and qualitative skills. Ability to identify and solve problems creatively, to work within deadlines with a high attention to detail and to work independently in a fast paced, dynamic environment.​ 
• ​​Experience in working with and implementing large-scale automated systems.​ 

#Remote

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• ​​​This position requires limited regional and national travel, therefore, will be exposed to weather and road conditions. ​​ 
• ​​Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.​ 
• ​​Exposed to a normal office environment.​ 

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.