Pharmaceutical Relations Specialist

For over 75 years, Medavie Blue Cross has been a leading health and wellness partner for individuals, employers and governments across Canada. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organization dedicated to giving back to the communities where we live and work, and to ensuring our employees thrive in our award-winning, collaborative culture. We are one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures and are recognized as a Caring Company, a designation for national leaders in community investment and social responsibility.

Our team of 2,100 professionals work across six provinces. We excel by living our shared values of being caring, accountable, responsible, innovative and community-minded. We’re committed to ensuring the health and wellness of our employees and their families, along with personal and professional growth, through a variety of programs and support at all levels of our organization.

Along with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie — a national health organization with over 6,400 employees. Together, our mission is to improve the wellbeing of Canadians. 

The Pharmaceutical Relations Specialist is a member of the pharmacy strategy team for group benefits supports the profitability and continued growth of the drug benefit component for the organization through the management and maintenance of pharmacy provider and pharmaceutical manufacturer relations. The stakeholder relations specialist is primarily responsible for being the point of contact for pharmaceutical manufacturers and negotiating pharmacy contracts and product listing agreements (PLAs) with pharmaceutical manufacturers. 

The Pharmaceutical Relations Specialist is also accountable to participate and support the Medavie drug review process and lead the development and execution of the strategy for negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers as directed from the drug review process, and with pharmacy providers including all the various processes: review of proposals, contract completion, review and signature, invoicing, and maintenance activities to ensure compliance to the contracts and include other teams as required including legal and actuarial. 

Key Responsibilities:
•    Participate and support the Medavie drug review process;
•    Lead the strategy, negotiations, execution, documentation, process, daily operations, implementation and maintenance of pharmacy provider and preferred provider network contracts;
•    Lead the strategy, negotiations, execution, documentation, process, daily operations, implementation and maintenance of Product Listing Agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers on behalf of Medavie and the Pharmaceutical Partnerships Committee;
•    For pharmacy providers and pharmaceutical manufacturer reimbursement managers, be the primary point of contact, develop, manage and maintain relationships. 
•    Manage the Medavie preferred provider network (PPN), develop and maintain all supporting marketing materials;
•    Develop and maintain relationships within Medavie Blue Cross business areas and other Blue Cross Plans;
•    Represent Medavie Blue Cross at healthcare industry conferences as required; 
•    Lead and participate on special business project teams as necessary;
•    Supports business development with initiatives to enhance Medavie opportunities aligned to and with Pharmacy Providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers 
•    Develop and maintains detailed process documentation for all operational aspects of the role and strives for continuous process improvement opportunities and efficiencies;
•    Stays informed of industry trends and recommend enhancements to improve efficiencies; 
•    Supports activities designed to provide ongoing education to colleagues about the role of Pharmacy Strategy group and its mandate.

Qualifications:

Education:  Post-secondary education in healthcare, business or a related field;

Work Experience: Two or more years of related experience; experience in conducting drug reviews 
Other Qualifications:  Previous experience in pharmaceutical industry and/or the insurance industry. Previous experience in negotiation would be considered an asset;
Computer Skills: 

• Agile in using the MS Office Suite of products and manipulating data;
• Comfortable with basic Excel functions and formulas and willing to expand proficiency;
• Ability to work simultaneously with legacy and new technology;

Language Skills: Bilingualism is considered an asset.

Core Competencies

• Knowledge: Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to function in the job at a high level.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze, make timely decisions, problem solve using logic and effective methods with attention to detail and accuracy; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas, issues and concepts clearly with a comfort in negotiating new ideas and bringing about change.  Ability to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication styles.  
• Customer Orientation: Ability to work positively in a collaborative atmosphere with internal and external customers and maintaining these relationships through trust and respect; is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; acts with customers in mind.
• Execution and Organizational Skills: Strong planning skills with proven ability to multi task and flex in order to adapt and thrive in a fast paced and changing environment; ability to navigate work-load and ensure critical tasks are prioritized to accomplish goals and eliminate roadblocks; Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; values time; concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; can attend to a broad range of activities.
• Team Work: Have talent for working both independently and collaboratively within a team environment while maintaining a positive and creative approach in dealing with complex situations; can quickly find common ground and solve problems for the good of all; can represent his/her own interests and yet be fair to other groups; can solve problems with peers with a minimum of noise; is seen as a team player and is cooperative; easily gains trust and support of peers; encourages collaboration; can be candid with peers.

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We would like to thank all candidates for expressing interest.  Please note only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Medavie Blue Cross is an equal opportunity employer.

In order to keep our employees, candidates, and community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of our employees are working from home within Canada. All interviewing, onboarding and most work takes place remotely at this time. For those employees who must work in our offices, we have taken every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our people by providing strict protocols/practices to meet legislated client and company needs, as well as modifications to the worksites to mitigate the risks for everyone's protection.   

At Medavie, everything we do is to improve the wellbeing of Canadians.  We have implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy as part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of our employees, partners, plan members and the communities where we live and work.  

Proof of full vaccination is required for all employees at Medavie Blue Cross.