Pharma Contracting & Strategy Principal - Evernorth Health Services

The PBS Pharma Contracting & Strategy Principal will report to the Managing Director, Pharma Contracting & Strategy and play a critical role in shaping contracting strategy and leading complex negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers. This position serves as a trusted subject matter expert across the pharmaceutical landscape, influencing internal and external stakeholders on contracting strategy, formulary optimization, emerging drug pipelines, and evolving manufacturer pricing & access dynamics. Beyond contracting experience, the individual will be responsible for serving as the connection point for key category strategies, across our internal and external client stakeholders.This individual is expected to think holistically about deal structure and contractual terms, leveraging and connecting manufacturer relationships, team knowledge, market intelligence, and broader market forces to drive predictable, competitive net pricing and flexibility for clients. In this role, you will lead efforts to create holistic strategies by consulting with PBS clients, develop strategic initiatives, and work cross‑functionally with formulary, contracting, product, drug pipeline strategy, and client‑facing teams.You will own 1-2 large manufacturer relationships, including contract negotiations, invoicing issues, dispute resolution, audit questions, and consulting on contract setup and execution.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Own and lead complex pharmaceutical manufacturer negotiations, including deal strategy, contract architecture, financial terms, performance metrics, and multi‑year structuresDesign and influence contracting strategies that support formulary optimization, pipeline readiness, competitive positioning, and long‑term affordability objectivesServe as a trusted strategic advisor and leader, able to bring together information across key pharmaceutical contracts, informing decision‑making across clinical, formulary, finance, product, and client‑facing teamsApply deep understanding of manufacturer behavior, portfolio strategy, and pipeline evolution to determine negotiation timing, positioning, and leverageLeverage market intelligence and manufacturer relationships to anticipate shifts in pricing, access, and competitive dynamics, proactively adjusting contracting strategy as neededPartner cross‑functionally to ensure contracting strategies align with enterprise objectives, client value propositions, and downstream operational executionSupport client discussions and internal leadership forums by clearly articulating contracting strategies, trade‑offs, risks, and expected outcomesSupport Contract Specialists in finalizing and managing manufacturer agreements to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant contract executionQUALIFICATIONS:Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or similar) preferred5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical negotiations, contracting, pricing, and/or formulary strategyDeep understanding of the pharmaceutical landscape, including manufacturer strategies, formulary management considerations, supply chain dynamics, and emerging drug pipelinesAbility to simplify complex concepts and bring knowledge together to drive innovative solutionsStrong financial acumen with the ability to evaluate deal economics, pricing structures, and long‑term value constructsAbility to synthesize market intelligence, manufacturer behavior, and market positioning into clear, actionable contracting strategiesDemonstrated experience structuring and negotiating complex agreements, including financial terms, performance guarantees, and multi‑year arrangementsProven ability to influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders while balancing organizational objectives and partner considerationsStrong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross‑functional teams and external stakeholdersExceptional written, verbal, and executive‑level communication skills, including the ability to articulate trade‑offs, risks, and value propositions to senior leaders and clientsDemonstrated strategic mindset with the ability to balance near‑term negotiation outcomes and long‑term enterprise objectivesAdaptable and comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity, and evolving market dynamicsSelf‑starter with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a broader team environmentRelevant experience in PBM, payer, manufacturer, or healthcare consulting environments strongly preferredWillingness to travel up to 25%If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.About Evernorth Health ServicesEvernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, creates pharmacy, care and benefit solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.Job SummaryJob number: 26010549Date posted : 2026-09-02Profession: OperationsEmployment type: Full time