Principal Category Management Analyst

Job Description

Blue Cross NC is seeking a Principal Category Management Analyst to lead supplier strategies, sourcing initiatives, and contract negotiations. The successful candidate will manage commercial activities, supplier contracts, and performance metrics, with responsibility for driving substantial cost savings through effective execution of supplier strategy and oversight of complex enterprise agreements.

What You’ll Do

• Implement Blue Cross NC enterprise sourcing strategy and drive millions in annual savings to meet established targets

• Understand Blue Cross NC enterprise business needs and act as authoritative voice of Blue Cross NC to the suppliers regarding business needs, requirements, expectations, and direction

• Lead and coordinate roadmap discussions and engagement with executives to establish the sourcing strategy for critical business capabilities

• Understand, analyze, and forecast complex market and industry dynamics and share subject matter expertise and industry knowledge within the strategic portfolio of products and services.

• Conduct complex enterprise sourcing events with strategic suppliers, including development of project work plan, category profile, category strategy, minimum requirements and evaluation criteria, solicitation

• Find solutions, build proposals, and execute sourcing events to meet business requirements, striking a balance between supply continuity, cost, and delivery

• Develop and implement assorted bid documents and requests (i.e. RFP, RFI, RFQ); Manage status reporting and performance metrics of sourcing activities for strategic vendors.

• Partner with stakeholders to source products and services using proven tools, processes, and analytics to drive and achieve business results.

• Evaluate analyses of sourcing results from a total cost of ownership perspective and provide optimization recommendations

• Participate in cross-functional teams responsible for complex vendor negotiations, including those that require specialized subject matter expertise, nonstandard risk mitigation solutions, and coordination of multiple arrangements.

• Lead supplier relationship management and performance for the largest and most complex suppliers in the Enterprise from both an operational and risk management perspective

• Proactively establish and foster successful, positive working relationships with vendor personnel.  Drive vendor engagement through formal and informal transactions.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree (where required)

• 8+ years of experience in related field

• In lieu of degree, 10+ years of experience in related field

Bonus Points

• Demonstrated success in developing and executing sourcing strategies across complex, multi-category healthcare payer environments.

• Ability to build multi‑year category strategies aligned to medical cost, operational performance, and enterprise initiatives.

• Knowledge of healthcare delivery models and service categories (UM vendors, analytics providers, payment integrity, clinical services, TPA, behavioral health solutions, digital health, etc.).

• Strong command of complex services agreements, SOWs, KPIs, SLAs, and performance‑based contracting.

• Ability to quantify savings, avoided cost, and business value drivers.

• Proven ability to partner with clinical leaders, operations, finance, IT, and legal.

• Exceptional communication, leadership, and change management skills, with a focus on driving strategic transformation.

What You’ll Get

• The opportunity to work at the cutting edge of health care delivery with a team that’s deeply invested in the community.

• Work-life balance, flexibility, and the autonomy to do great work.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage along with numerous health and wellness programs.

• Parental leave and support plus adoption and surrogacy assistance.

• Career development programs and tuition reimbursement for continued education.

• 401k match including an annual company contribution 

Salary Range

At Blue Cross NC, we take great pride in a fair and equitable compensation package that reflects market-price and our starting salaries are typically planned near the middle of the range listed. Compensation decisions are driven by factors including experience and training, specialized skill sets,  licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs. Our base salary is part of a robust Total Rewards package that includes an Annual