What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supply Chain - Strategic Sourcing Specialist - 40hrs position at Connecticut Children's?
Job Description
The Strategic Sourcing Specialist serves as a category manager responsible for leading sourcing strategies across assigned high-spend and high-impact portfolios. This role drives financial and operational value through strategic sourcing, contract optimization, supplier performance management, and data-driven decision-making. The position partners closely with clinical, operational, finance, and executive stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies that support organizational priorities, including cost containment, standardization, quality outcomes, and supply chain resilience. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist leverages advanced analytics, market intelligence, and supplier engagement to deliver sustainable value and long-term performance improvement.
Responsibilities
Category Management & Strategic Sourcing-50%
Qualifications
Education and/or Experience Required:
Knowledge:
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut that is 100% dedicated to children. Established on a legacy that spans more than 100 years, Connecticut Children’s offers personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and in two other states. Our transformational growth establishes us as a destination for specialized medicine and enables us to reach more children in locations that are closer to home. Our breakthrough research, superior education and training, innovative community partnerships, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion provide a welcoming and inspiring environment for our patients, families and team members.
At Connecticut Children’s, treating children isn’t just our job – it’s our passion. As a leading children’s health system experiencing steady growth, we’re excited to expand our team with exceptional team members who share our vision of transforming children’s health and well-being as one team.
The Strategic Sourcing Specialist serves as a category manager responsible for leading sourcing strategies across assigned high-spend and high-impact portfolios. This role drives financial and operational value through strategic sourcing, contract optimization, supplier performance management, and data-driven decision-making. The position partners closely with clinical, operational, finance, and executive stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies that support organizational priorities, including cost containment, standardization, quality outcomes, and supply chain resilience. The Strategic Sourcing Specialist leverages advanced analytics, market intelligence, and supplier engagement to deliver sustainable value and long-term performance improvement.
Responsibilities
Category Management & Strategic Sourcing-50%
- Manage assigned sourcing categories and supplier portfolios, prioritizing high-spend, high-risk, and mission-critical areas.
- Develop and execute category strategies aligned with organizational financial, clinical, and operational goals.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, and negotiations.
- Identify and implement opportunities for supplier consolidation, product standardization, and utilization optimization.
- Conduct market intelligence and benchmarking using GPO data, industry trends, and peer organizations.
- Partner with clinical, operational, and finance leaders to align sourcing decisions with patient care and business priorities.
- Deliver against annual savings targets and value improvement initiatives established by Supply Chain leadership.
- Support enterprise initiatives such as supply chain transformation, value analysis, and standardization efforts through category strategy development and execution.
- Participate in multidisciplinary committees and value analysis teams to evaluate new products, services, and sourcing strategies.
- Lead the full contract lifecycle, including negotiation, execution, implementation, monitoring, renewal, and optimization.
- Structure agreements to ensure pricing integrity, rebate maximization, risk mitigation, and favorable terms.
- Collaborate with legal, compliance, and finance to ensure contracts meet regulatory, policy, and financial requirements.
- Monitor contract compliance and utilization to ensure alignment with approved sourcing strategies.
- Maintain accurate and complete contract documentation within contract management systems.
- Perform advanced spend, pricing, and utilization analyses using ERP systems and analytics tools.
- Identify cost savings opportunities, pricing discrepancies, and inefficiencies across categories.
- Develop financial models, including total cost of ownership (TCO), cost-benefit analyses, and pricing comparisons.
- Translate data insights into actionable recommendations and executive-level summaries.
- Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships to drive performance, innovation, and value.
- Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations, service levels, and pricing agreements.
- Lead supplier business reviews and implement corrective action plans as needed.
- Identify opportunities for supplier-led innovation that enhance quality, efficiency, or cost outcomes.
- Partner with suppliers to identify innovation opportunities and support organizational priorities, including sustainability, supplier diversity, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
Education and/or Experience Required:
- Education: High school diploma, GED or equivalent.
- Experience:
- Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, contracting, supply chain management, or healthcare procurement, with demonstrated success managing high-spend categories and negotiating supplier agreements.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
- Experience: Experience in healthcare, hospital systems, or complex service organizations.
- N/A
- CMRP (Certified Materials & Resource Professional).
- CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management).
- Six Sigma or Lean certification.
Knowledge:
- Strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier market dynamics.
- Contract lifecycle management, pricing structures, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Healthcare supply chain operations, including GPO contracting frameworks and regulatory considerations.
- Financial and spend analytics methodologies that drive cost optimization and value improvement.
- Advanced data analysis and financial modeling to support sourcing strategies and decision-making.
- Contract negotiation and supplier management, with a focus on achieving favorable business outcomes.
- Project management and execution of complex, cross-functional sourcing initiatives.
- Communication and presentation of data-driven insights to stakeholders and leadership.
- Managing multiple, concurrent sourcing initiatives across high-spend and high-impact categories.
- Interpreting complex contract terms and identifying financial, legal, and operational risks.
- Identifying and executing cost containment and value improvement opportunities through analytics and market. intelligence.
- Influencing and aligning cross-functional stakeholders to support sourcing strategies and organizational priorities.
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut that is 100% dedicated to children. Established on a legacy that spans more than 100 years, Connecticut Children’s offers personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and in two other states. Our transformational growth establishes us as a destination for specialized medicine and enables us to reach more children in locations that are closer to home. Our breakthrough research, superior education and training, innovative community partnerships, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion provide a welcoming and inspiring environment for our patients, families and team members.
At Connecticut Children’s, treating children isn’t just our job – it’s our passion. As a leading children’s health system experiencing steady growth, we’re excited to expand our team with exceptional team members who share our vision of transforming children’s health and well-being as one team.