Remote Cost Optimization Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Become a part of our caring community
The IT Vendor Management Lead serves as the primary relationship manager for strategic SaaS platform suppliers, driving vendor governance, contract and subscription management, cost optimization, and alignment of cloud-based technologies with enterprise business goals. You will manage large SaaS portfolios, navigating complex renewal cycles, and engaging executives on technology modernization and cloud-based application strategies. The portfolio consists of leading SaaS providers and may evolve over time to align with changing business needs, strategic priorities, and organizational objectives.

The IT Vendor Management Lead - SaaS Platforms serves as the primary point of accountability for high-impact SaaS suppliers that enable core business operations across the organization. You will oversee complex SaaS contracts, subscription licensing models, and enterprise platform ecosystems with high annual recurring revenue. The IT Vendor Management Lead ensures strong vendor governance, drives consumption and cost optimization, and partners with product owners and engineering teams to align SaaS capabilities with business strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary strategic owner for assigned supplier relationships, ensuring alignment to enterprise technology, financial, operational, and risk objectives.

• Lead and mature supplier governance including quarterly business reviews (QBRs), executive business reviews, steering committees, and strategic roadmaps.

• Oversee contract strategy, including renewals, enterprise licensing, SaaS agreements, consumption models, pricing optimization, and SLA development.

• Partner closely with IT, Security, Finance, Legal, Architecture, and business leaders to drive alignment between business requirements and vendor capabilities.

• Lead escalations, risk mitigation, service remediation, and performance correction plans to ensure vendor accountability.

• Manage enterprise financials for assigned suppliers including cost optimization, forecasting, ROI, and long-term investment planning.

• Maintain deep awareness of market trends, supplier risk, and competitive landscapes within portfolio.

• Influence executive stakeholders using strong communication, storytelling, and analytical reasoning.

• Contribute to vendor management maturation including frameworks, dashboards, and governance tools.

Use your skills to make an impact

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business management, business administration or engineering or another related field.

• Seven (7) or more years' experience in IT vendor management, strategic sourcing, technology procurement, or related IT leadership roles.

• Proven experience partnering with product owners and engineering teams on SaaS roadmaps and cross-functional adoption.

• Experience managing large enterprise SaaS ecosystems.

• Background negotiating enterprise SaaS agreements with multi-cloud integration considerations.

• Strong understanding of SaaS licensing models, consumption-based pricing, term renewals, and platform expansion strategies.

• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and present to VP/SVP levels.

• Proven success in strategic negotiations, contract optimization, conflict resolution, and supplier lifecycle management.

• Strong financial acumen and the ability to analyze, model, and communicate cost scenarios.

• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.

• Experience supporting large, matrixed organizations, preferably within the healthcare industry.

• Experience managing large-scale, complex technology suppliers with multi-million-dollar budgets.

• Vendor management certifications (CVM, etc.).

• Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with industry best practices.

• Experience operating in regulated environments (HIPAA, HITRUST, SOC2, SOX).

Additional Information

• Work Style: This is a remote position.

• Typical Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am - 5:00pm Eastern Time (ET).

• Travel Requirements: Limited travel may be required periodically to supplier locations, conferences and to team engagement meetings in Louisville, KY.

Work at Home Requirements: To ensure Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees' ability to work effectively, the self-provided internet service of Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees must meet the following criteria: At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is required; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is suggested. In certain roles, the minimum recommended internet speed required by Humana may not be sufficient for business needs. Humana reserves the right to require associates to upgrade their internet service if necessary. Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information.Travel: While this is a remote position, occasional travel to Humana's offices for training or meetings may be required.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Pay Range

The compensation range below reflects a good faith estimate of starting base pay for full time (40 hours per week) employment at the time of posting. The pay range may be higher or lower based on geographic location and individual pay will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, certifications, etc.

$115,200 - $158,400 per year

This job is eligible for a bonus incentive plan. This incentive opportunity is based upon company and/or individual performance.

Description of Benefits

Humana, Inc. and its affiliated subsidiaries (collectively, "Humana") offers competitive benefits that support whole-person well-being. Associate benefits are designed to encourage personal wellness and smart healthcare decisions for you and your family while also knowing your life extends outside of work. Among our benefits, Humana provides medical, dental and vision benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan, time off (including paid time off, company and personal holidays, paid parental and caregiver leave), short-term and long-term disability, life insurance and many other opportunities.
About us
About Humana: Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is a leading U.S. healthcare company. Through our Humana insurance services and our CenterWell healthcare services, we make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health - delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare and Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. Learn more about what we offer atHumana.comand atCenterWell.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Humana not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. It is also the policy of Humana to take affirmative action, in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, to employ and to advance in employment individuals with disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.