Responsibilities:

• Work with customer to ensure responsible Suppliers are cost competitive
  
• Negotiate pricing
  
• Drive development and on-going monitoring of best-in-class contracts with Suppliers
  
• Issue purchase orders, blanket orders
  
• Drive supplier and commodity specific plans to achieve cost reduction targets
  
• Process cost requests/studies/request for proposals
  
• Support Supplier implementations to ensure the programs are launched on time with quality and align with contractual requirements
  
• Develop Employee Benefits commodity sourcing strategies
  
• Source benefit services based on approved commodity strategies.
  
• Perform benchmarking activities, such as market tests/request for proposals, to create/maintain a best-in-class Supplier base
  
• Review long-term strategies and Supplier performance with internal customers
  
• Develop and maintain Suppliers that are capable of meeting quality, cost, timing and technology expectations
  
• Monitor and lead the Supplier Quality Operating System (QOS) process to review metrics & the overall "health" of the Suppliers

Skills Required:

• Strong purchasing skill set, including rate and contract negotiations experience
  
• Ability to manage high workload and multiple tasks
  
• Ability to build/maintain constructive business relationships
  
• Self-starter with strong interpersonal, team player skills
  
• Computer skills including being proficient in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
  
• Comfortable speaking in front of groups and leading meetings

Experience Required:
Rate & contract negotiation/Purchasing experience