RFP Strategy & Operations - Pharmacy / EAP Consultant - Remote

ROLE SUMMARY

The RFP Strategy & Operations Specialty (Pharmacy, EAP) Consultant supports the sales process by preparing, responding, and providing consultation to RFP questionnaires and other response documents, including client specifications, bid forms, requirements, finalist questionnaires, follow-up questions, etc. The qualified individual uses his / her knowledge of Cigna's business and products, together with access to a library of pre-established content, internal resources and developed relationships with subject matter experts to craft strategically positioned responses and materials that support our win strategy.

The Specialty Consultant owns the end-to-end questionnaire response for integrated Pharmacy products and may also provide Q&A support for other specialty lines as needed to support the business (EAP). The optimal candidate drives for better and faster ways to answer as much of the questionnaire as possible using existing resources and personal knowledge of Cigna's business and solutions. This individual may interact with internal and external SMEs as needed.

The Specialty Consultant is part of Cigna's U.S. Commercial RFP Strategy and Operations team. This position supports all buyer segments (National, Middle Market, Select / U500, G&E, Allegiance / Payer) and may also be expected to provide cross-support to other business types as needed (Standalone).

ROLE COMPONENTS

With effective project and resource management, this individual collaborates closely with sales, presale, underwriting, content teams, and other matrix partners to support the bid process for both prospective and existing Cigna clients. The Specialty Consultant owns the questionnaire response end to end, responding in a way that portrays Cigna's enterprise strategy as well as client-specific strategy. This individual manages matrix partner relationships, sets timetables and deadlines, and communicates strategy to ensure the final questionnaire meets broker / client and sales specifications. As a critical player in the RFP process, he / she also ensures the final product is of high quality, depicts Cigna's value proposition, and resonates with the audience.

The Specialty Consultant :

• Owns the end-to-end completion of questionnaires associated with integrated Pharmacy RFP, RFR, and RFI requests.
• Thinks critically about complex questions and new / unfamiliar topics, conducting thorough research and synthesizing cohesive responses from multiple sources as needed.
• Has a thorough and complete understanding of all buyer segment alignments and nuances, including the sales force structure and selling styles.
• Drive improvement to the RFP process and content by building stronger relationships with our matrix partners (Subject Matter Experts, Underwriting)
• Leverage all available resources to obtain information needed to support RFP’s (Proposal Library, Knowledgexchange, Subject Matter Experts, Internet, etc.)
• Creates unique responses that clearly highlight sales strategy, address the client’s key buying criteria and display Cigna’s competitive advantage in the marketplace.
• Manages outsourcing of all response documents, engaging Content COE and other matrix partners as needed to help with development of customized and forward thinking responses. Addresses any outsourcing redirects in a timely fashion.
• Effectively facilitates calls with key partners to discuss client-specific issues, collaborate on approach to answering specific questions, and to focus team resources effectively.
• Contributes to and communicates the strategic direction of the RFP questionnaire preparation and coordination by performing the necessary research of the client, industry, competition, etc.
• Effectively manages timeline and negotiates delivery dates with sales teams, topic experts, and matrix partners, and provides alternative solutions to meet their needs.
• Provides clear, timely, and consistent written and verbal communication to sales and other matrix partners.
• Coordinates closely with medical and other specialty teams for integrated bids. Ensures consistent messaging across all responses to achieve one Cigna voice, managing communication of critical milestones (e.g., outsourcing, final drafts, etc.) with the sales team.
• Supports follow-ups, finalist questionnaires, ad-hoc requests, and other client response documents as needed in support of the RFP process.
• Understands and correctly applies all administrative processes and SOPs, within expected timelines; Contributes to ongoing improvements. Regularly and constructively recommends enhancements to the quality of our work and the efficiency of our operation. Participates on project teams to implement change as needed.
• Drives for newer, better, and faster ways of completing each questionnaire, seeking opportunities to add consultative value to each RFP.

QUALIFICATIONS

Your skills, experience, talent, and creativity enable us to develop the meaningful, innovative solutions our customers value and expect. That’s why we are committed to recruiting, motivating and nurturing the best and the brightest. So, what does it take to be an ideal candidate for this role?