Contract Specialist

Overview

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.

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

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.