About the Role
About the job
You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential.
This individual contributor role implements and maintains a strategic partnership management program across their supplier base. Develops deep external vendor relationships and internal stakeholder relationships to improve performance and resolve any issues. Creates defined scorecards and feedback mechanisms to assess overall supplier performance. Implements changes to relationship, as appropriate.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:
Develops and executes strategic plans that enable senior Technology leadership and internal business partner teams to optimize the relationships and performance of vendors [Whole Leadership]
Monitors and manages provider performance, establishes governance cadence, ensures successful delivery of products and services and tracks continuous improvement efforts [Supplier Management]
Participates and co-ordinates as a core member of the technology team in discussions during RFPs, Renewals and implementation. [Business Acumen]
Ensures vendor performance against expectations and standards. Develops scorecards for selected suppliers to continuously evaluate qualitative and quantitative metrics. Creates and monitors feedback mechanisms that evaluate supplier performance [Technical Capabilities]
Builds operational relationships that are mutually beneficial and create a vested interest in working together with vendor service providers toward mutually agreed-upon outcomes – utilizing effective and efficient lines of two-way communication, characterized by transparency and trust [Relationships]
Maintains a keen understanding of IT vendor contracts and what each clause means operationally, including how the contractual terms and conditions relate to operational activities, including but not limited to understanding variable cost payments, low capital intensity arrangements, penalties / remedies for poor/non-performance, incentives, outcomes-based pricing, etc [Contract Management]
Supports evaluation of the marketplace to identify innovative vendors, services, capabilities, and methodologies. Continuously evolves the vendor governance framework and methodology. Works flexibly to manage various stakeholders, including CNA hybrid operating model which employs outsourced third-party labor. [Business Acumen]
Establishes and maintains relationships with internal and external business partners. [Relationships]
May perform additional duties as assigned.
Requirements
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- Knowledge of Technology vendor landscape and best practices [Business Acumen]
- Experience as a thought leader in researching and presenting innovative ways to solve complex issues. Ability to monitor new developments and industry best practices [Business Acumen]
- Deep analytical, integrative and problem-solving skills with proven ability to manipulate and analyze high-volume, high-dimensionality data from varied sources. [Technical Capabilities]
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills to work effectively among all levels of internal/external stakeholders. [Relationships]
- Strong ability to execute multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment. [Whole Leadership]
- Ability to handle a multiple contracts and sourcing event preparation (i.e., defining business requirements) under tight deadlines [Technical Capabilities]
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment. [Whole Leadership]
- Skillful at learning new system applications/functions. [Technical Capabilities]
- Readily adapts to change. [Whole Leadership]
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Technology, Legal or related discipline is required
- Contract Management Certification is Required
- Typically, five to seven (5-7) years of work experience, preferably in managing complex global technology contracts and relationships or experience managing customer accounts and relationships
- Experience in supply chain/procurement, managing technology agreements (Hardware, Software, SaaS, Cloud, Hosting and Professional Services): sourcing, negotiations, supplier performance management, contract management
- Applicable certifications preferred.
About the Company
CNA is one of the largest U.S. commercial property and casualty insurance companies. Backed by more than 125 years of experience, CNA provides a broad range of standard and specialized insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe.