Director, Vendor Engagement Strategy

You could be the one who changes everything for our 28 million members by using technology to improve health outcomes around the world.  As a diversified, national organization, Centene's technology professionals have access to competitive benefits including a fresh perspective on workplace flexibility.
 

Position Purpose:

Responsible for identifying, evaluating, and integrating external innovations that can drive strategic advantage for the enterprise.

This leader serves as the organization's external radar—scanning the global technology landscape for disruptive trends, startups, academic research, and vendor capabilities that advance our business.

They translate these insights into actionable opportunities that feed directly into enterprise architecture and strategic planning, ensuring Centene remains ahead of the curve in the AI era.

• Lead a structured, ongoing technology scouting program across startups, research institutions, think tanks, and vendor ecosystems.

• Identify and assess emerging technologies, business models, and innovation patterns with potential enterprise impact.

• Build and manage an innovation pipeline that aligns with enterprise priorities and domain and product architectural roadmaps.

• Collaborate closely with Enterprise Architecture, the CIOs/MTLs and Domain & Product Managers to ensure external insights are translated into strategic design decisions.

• Design and oversee pilot programs to test and validate new technologies in partnership with business and IT stakeholders.

• Represent Centene in external innovation forums, consortia, and strategic partnerships.

• Develop and maintain a knowledge base of emerging trends, competitive intelligence, and innovation benchmarks.

• Provide executive-level briefings and recommendations to senior leadership on innovation opportunities and risks.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Complies with all policies and standards.

Education/Experience:

Requires a Bachelor's degree and 12+ years of related experience, including prior management experience.
Or equivalent experience acquired through accomplishments of applicable knowledge, duties, scope and skill reflective of the level of this position.

Centene offers a comprehensive benefits package including: competitive pay, health insurance, 401K and stock purchase plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off plus holidays, and a flexible approach to work with remote, hybrid, field or office work schedules.  Actual pay will be adjusted based on an individual's skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law, including full-time or part-time status.  Total compensation may also include additional forms of incentives. Benefits may be subject to program eligibility.

Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the LA County Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act