Contract Specialist

Ardent Health is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid-sized urban communities across the U.S. With a focus on people and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. Through its subsidiaries, Ardent delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals, 24,000+ team members and more than 280 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Contract Specialist is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of contracts related to clinical and non-clinical services acquired from external vendors. This includes services such as IT, staffing, consulting, facilities management, and other operational functions. The specialist ensures cost-effectiveness, risk mitigation, and compliance while supporting internal stakeholders and optimizing vendor relationships.

1. Analyze spend data and internal benchmarks to identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities in purchased services and clinical contracts.
2. Lead the end-to-end contracting process, from issuing Requests for Proposal (RFPs) through contract award, execution, renewals, and terminations.
3. Negotiate favorable terms, pricing, and performance clauses to align with organizational objectives and minimize financial and operational risk.
4. Collaborate with legal, finance, and compliance teams to ensure all contracts adhere to applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.
5. Act as the primary liaison for vendors, address performance issues, manage escalations, and drive vendor accountability.
6. Monitor industry trends, supplier capabilities, and procurement best practices to inform sourcing strategies and vendor selection.
7. Partner with internal departments to gather requirements, align contract goals with business needs, and ensure transparency in contract-related activities.
8. Maintain accurate records of all contracts, amendments, renewals, and relevant communications in accordance with organizational standards.
9. Generate and present regular reports on contract performance, savings, compliance metrics, and vendor scorecards to leadership and stakeholders.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or a related field
• 5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain contracting and/or purchased services

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with key stakeholders
• Demonstrated strength in analytical thinking, negotiation, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Advanced expertise in negotiating complex contracts and leading purchased services initiatives, preferred.
• Proven ability to analyze spend data and market trends to support data-driven decision-making, preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced functions (e.g., VLOOKUP, pivot tables) for procurement data analysis and reporting, preferred.