Contract Manager- Sourcing and Value Analysis in Webster, Texas at University of Texas Medical Branch

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Health Care Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a relevant field and five (5) years of relevant progressive experience in healthcare contracting, strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain. An equivalent combination of education and experience relevant to the role may be considered for this position.

Required:

Must obtain C.P.S.M. (Certified Professional in Supply Management), C.P.P.B. (Certified Professional Public Buyer), C.P.P.O. (Certified Public Procurement Officer), C.T.C.M. (Certified Texas Contract Manager), or an equivalent nationally recognized certification of professional credentials as deemed acceptable to UTMB within eighteen (18) months of appointment in title.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration, Supply Chain Management, or relevant field.
• Two (2) or more years in a formal leadership position overseeing contracting, sourcing, or procurement teams.
• Supply chain and/or contracting experience in an academic healthcare setting or government agency.
• Experience leading teams that support large-scale standardization, new technology adoption, or system implementations (e.g., Jaggaer, CLM platforms, ERP upgrades) in an academic medical center.
• Experience with public procurement, preferably with State of Texas entities, UT System, or other government agencies.
• Proficiency in using supply chain contract management software (Jaggaer preferred) and PeopleSoft ERP.
• Experience working with business intelligence tools (Power BI, Tableau) and advanced Excel to interpret program-level metrics and guide decision-making.
• Utilization of AI tools, including but not limited to Microsoft Copilot, to enhance data analysis, reporting, and process automation.

Job Summary:

The Manager of Contracting Services provides strategic and operational leadership to a multi-level contracting team, including Contract Associates, Contract Specialists, Contract Administrators, and a Special Programs Coordinator, ensuring role clarity, workload balance, and progressive development across the contracting career ladder. This position oversees the development, negotiation, execution, and lifecycle management of contracts and competitive sourcing initiatives for supplies, equipment, and services across the organization. The Manager of Contracting Services ensures all team members execute contracts and sourcing activities to deliver optimal value, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and support the organization's clinical and operational goals. The position provides strategic leadership, effective team management, and facilitates collaboration with Category Management (clinical and non-clinical), Clinical Value Analysis, Procurement, Supply Chain Operations, Project Management, Informatics/Business Intelligence, and institutional stakeholders (clinical leaders, research administration, IT, facilities/design & construction, finance, legal, compliance) to achieve financial and operational excellence.

Job Duties:

Contract Lifecycle Leadership and Team Management

• Provide oversight and strategic direction for all aspects of the contract lifecycle, including drafting, negotiation, execution, compliance monitoring, renewals, amendments, and terminations, assuring that Contract team members execute their responsibilities in alignment with institutional policies, State of Texas rules, UT System requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Define and communicate role expectations, competencies, and delegation guidelines for Contract Associates (low-to-moderate risk contracts), Contract Specialists (moderate to complex contracts), Contract Administrators (high-risk/strategic contracts), and Special Programs Coordinator, ensuring work is routed to the appropriate level based on complexity, risk, and strategic importance.
• Design and oversee a structured development and mentoring plan that enables staff to progress in roles and work complexity, including exposure to sourcing events, complex negotiations, category/VA collaboration, and cross-functional leadership.
• Lead, mentor, and develop contracting staff by adopting evidence-based recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and professional development strategies; provide regular coaching, feedback, and data-driven progress updates to promote accountability and continuous improvement.
• Foster a collaborative, customer-centric team culture and ensure consistent adherence to standardized workflows, compliance standards, and industry best practices throughout all contract management activities.
• Retain direct leadership and decision-making for high-risk, high-value, or politically sensitive contracts, while ensuring appropriate oversight, review, and coaching for staff-managed agreements.
• Clearly communicate departmental objectives and individual performance expectations; conduct regular performance evaluations, competency assessments, and career development planning for contracting team members.

Cross-Functional Integration and Strategic Collaboration

• Partner with Clinical and Non-Clinical Category Managers to align contracting activities, RFx pipelines, and renewal schedules with category strategies, savings targets, and standardization plans; ensure Contract Specialists and Administrators are assigned appropriately to category portfolios based on spend, complexity, and strategic priorities.
• Ensure Contract Administrators and Specialists support Category Managers' category strategies by configuring RFx events, evaluation criteria, and award structures that reflect total cost of care, clinical outcomes, and supplier performance expectations.
• Collaborate with the Manager, Clinical Value Analysis, and VA Specialists so that sourcing events, contract terms, and supplier performance expectations reflect value analysis decisions, clinical evidence, and standardization outcomes; integrate VA timelines and trial results into contracting workflows.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Supply Chain Operations to ensure contract awards translate into operationally executable arrangements, including item master updates, pricing load, backorder/substitution protocols, inventory management, and smooth conversions; align with site operations and logistics teams to support frontline implementation.
• Work with Project Management resources to structure large sourcing programs and contract transitions as formal projects with defined timelines, risks, milestones, stakeholder communication plans, and accountability; ensure complex initiatives (system-wide standardizations, new technology adoptions) are managed with appropriate rigor.
• Partner with Informatics and Business Intelligence teams to design and maintain contract data structures, spend analytics, and KPI dashboards that support Category Management, Clinical Value Analysis, and institutional decision-making; ensure timely and accurate data input for performance tracking, audit readiness, and process improvement.
• Work closely with clinical leaders, department heads, research administration, IT, facilities/design & construction, finance, legal, compliance, and other institutional stakeholders to ensure contracts and sourcing activities meet business, regulatory, and strategic objectives.
• Participate in value analysis committees, category review meetings, and stakeholder forums to align contracting and sourcing activities with clinical and operational initiatives, and to communicate contract status, risks, and opportunities.

Competitive Sourcing and Supplier Management

• Oversee the end-to-end management of all competitive bidding activities, including RFP, RFQ, RFI, and ITB processes, ensuring transparency, ethical standards, and that the organization secures the most advantageous value for products and services in collaboration with Category Managers and VA.
• Oversee and provide strategic direction for the development of comprehensive sourcing documentation and contracting efforts, utilizing performance data, market research, supplier capability assessments, and best-in-class practices to optimize outcomes for key internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Category Management and Value Analysis teams to conduct proactive market research and supplier capability assessments, drive innovation in sourcing, and identify new opportunities that align with organizational goals and clinical priorities.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with vendors and suppliers to optimize pricing, service levels, and performance; identify and resolve contract and sourcing-related issues in partnership with internal stakeholders; participate in or oversee quarterly business reviews with key suppliers to monitor performance, negotiate improvements, and strengthen partnerships.
• Lead the design and monitoring of supplier performance KPIs and SLAs in collaboration with Category Management, Clinical Value Analysis, and Supply Chain Operations, and integrate these metrics into quarterly business reviews, contract renegotiations, and continuous improvement strategies.

Compliance, Risk Management, and Governance

• Ensure all contracts consistently meet or exceed legal and compliance standards set by the State of Texas, UT System, and UTMB by maintaining robust controls, audit trails, and regularly updating contractual language to reflect evolving regulatory requirements.
• Own the institution-wide contract lifecycle governance framework for supplies, equipment, and services, ensuring that contract creation, renewals, and expirations are coordinated with Category Managers and Clinical Value Analysis to avoid lapses, misalignment, and operational disruption.
• Ensure comprehensive contract analysis is completed, allowing for identification of contract caps, KPI measures, rebate opportunities, and performance thresholds; oversee and ensure effective rebate collection and maximization by directing teams to track eligible spend, maintain accurate records, collaborate with vendors for timely rebate recovery, and implement processes that optimize institutional rebate opportunities and compliance.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with contract terms, vendor performance, and compliance to protect organizational interests; escalate complex or high-risk issues to the Director of Contracting and Purchasing and institutional leadership as appropriate.
• Support internal and external audits by ensuring accurate documentation, audit-ready records, and participating in audit response efforts; ensure all contracting activities comply with UTMB internal controls, procurement policies, and reporting structures

VetHUB, Special Projects, and Compliance Coordination

• Provide oversight and directional guidance to the Special Projects Coordinator, ensuring that statutory reporting, VetHUB participation goals, and P-card compliance activities are aligned with contracting strategies, supplier diversity objectives, and institutional risk management.
• Partner with the Special Programs Coordinator to ensure LBB, VetHUB, and P-card data is integrated into contract lifecycle management, supplier evaluations, and Category/VA reporting dashboards; use insights from these compliance areas to inform sourcing strategies, supplier segmentation, and stakeholder education.
• Coordinate with the Special Projects Coordinator on institutional initiatives related to procurement, finance, and compliance as assigned by the Office of Supply Chain Management.

Performance Monitoring, Analytics, and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) related to contracting processes, continuously improving workflow efficiency and partnering with stakeholders to develop actionable, data-driven dashboards for real-time reporting and decision support.
• Prepare and present reports on contract and sourcing performance, compliance, savings realization, and supplier performance to leadership, including Category Managers, Clinical Value Analysis, and executive stakeholders
• Review and enhance procurement, sourcing, and contracting processes and language for efficiency and compliance; develop and maintain standard contract and sourcing templates, vendor credentialing criteria, and workflow documentation.
• Continuously evaluate and refine contracting processes by incorporating stakeholder feedback, lessons learned, and industry developments; identify and implement process improvements to enhance procurement efficiency, reduce waste, and increase customer satisfaction.
• Enabled through systems like Jaggaer, PeopleSoft, and Microsoft Copilot, oversee and maintain a centralized, secure contract database by ensuring timely and accurate input of all critical data points for KPI and metric tracking, implementing robust access controls, and supporting audit readiness, analytics, and process improvement through standardized data capture and regular data quality reviews.
• Evaluate and implement advanced contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools and technologies to optimize efficiency, compliance, and innovation in all stages of the contracting process, while ensuring alignment with organizational and regulatory requirements
• Participate in UT Alliance and GPO projects and initiatives, representing UTMB's contracting interests and sharing/receiving best practices.
• Participate in departmental and enterprise process improvement projects, strategic planning initiatives, and cross-functional supply chain teams.
• Coordinate with HR on employee certification verification and professional development tracking.
• Coordinate with departments on ensuring policy and procedure and training documents are up to date.
• Support system implementation initiatives (e.g., Jaggaer enhancements, analytics platform upgrades) that impact contracting workflows and data.
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of healthcare supply chain management, procurement, strategic sourcing, and contracting practices, preferably in a healthcare and/or government setting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a contracting function that is tightly integrated with Category Management, Clinical Value Analysis, Procurement, Supply Chain Operations, Project Management, Informatics/Business Intelligence, Finance, and clinical stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate complex legal, financial, and regulatory concepts into clear guidance for staff, Category Managers, VA, and institutional stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills related to customer service, employee development, and executive reporting; ability to convey contract strategies, performance metrics, and contract-related considerations to diverse audiences.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal and regulatory requirements to contracts and sourcing activities with a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, supplier due diligence, and risk management in sourcing.
• Proficiency in contract management systems (Jaggaer preferred), sourcing tools, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software (PeopleSoft preferred), viewing these systems as enablers of integrated sourcing, reporting, and decision-making.
• Demonstrate knowledge of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and their role within the contract management process, category strategies, and value optimization.
• Experience designing and interpreting contract-related KPIs, dashboards, and analytics to drive decision-making, continuous improvement, and cross-functional alignment.

Working Environment:

Local travel between UTMB campuses and clinical facilities; occasional travel to supplier sites, industry conferences, UT System/UT Alliance meetings, or professional development events as required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.