Jobs › Health Care Service Corporation

Strategic Sourcing Sr Advisor - IT Professional Services

Health Care Service Corporation · Chicago, IL · $102,000–$184,300 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Health Care Service Corporation

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you consolidated suppliers in a services category. How did you handle the business pushback?

What they are checking: Experience delivering supplier consolidation, which the posting names, without losing stakeholder trust.

Tell me about a supplier relationship you turned around after poor performance.

What they are checking: Supplier relationship management skills that go beyond negotiating the initial contract.

How do you earn a seat as a trusted advisor with technology leaders who see procurement as a hurdle?

What they are checking: Executive stakeholder skills and whether they add enough value that leaders bring them in early.

What would you do

How do you negotiate rate cards with a large IT consulting firm when the business already wants that firm?

What they are checking: Ability to keep leverage when stakeholders have already chosen a supplier before procurement is involved.

A technology executive wants to skip a competitive process because a project is urgent. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can find a fast, defensible path rather than either blocking the business or abandoning controls.

About the work

This category covers IT consulting, managed services and outsourcing, not hardware or software. How would you build a category strategy for it?

What they are checking: Whether they can analyze spend, supplier mix and demand for services, which behave very differently from product categories.

How do you tell cost reduction from cost avoidance when reporting savings, and why does it matter?

What they are checking: Honest savings accounting that finance will accept, rather than inflated numbers that hurt credibility.

What would you put into a managed services agreement to protect us if the supplier's performance drops?

What they are checking: Knowledge of service levels, credits, exit and transition terms that make outsourcing deals enforceable.

How would you compare a time and materials proposal with a fixed fee proposal for the same project?

What they are checking: Financial analysis of risk transfer, scope creep and total cost, not just the headline price.

How do you manage risk when an IT outsourcing provider will handle systems that touch member health data?

What they are checking: Awareness of security, privacy and HIPAA obligations that shape services contracts at a health insurer.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Health Care Service Corporation from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Health Care Service Corporation.

At HCSC, our employees are the cornerstone of our business and the foundation to our success. We empower employees with curated development plans that foster growth and promote rewarding, fulfilling careers. Join HCSC and be part of a purpose-driven company that will invest in your professional development. Job Summary As a key member of the Procurement organization, the Strategic Sourcing Senior Advisor is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for Professional Services with a primary focus on IT Consulting, IT Managed Services, IT Outsourcing, and related technology-enabled services. This role serves as a trusted advisor to business and technology leaders, driving sourcing decisions that balance cost, quality, supplier performance, innovation, and risk. This position does not support the procurement of IT hardware or software. The Senior Advisor will lead complex sourcing initiatives, commercial negotiations, category management activities, and supplier relationship strategies for critical enterprise spend categories. The role requires strong business acumen, financial analysis capabilities, executive stakeholder management, and the ability to identify opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and value creation. Success in this role will be measured by the ability to influence business outcomes, deliver measurable savings, optimize supplier performance, and support enterprise strategic objectives. As an Advisor you will gain a vast knowledge of the inner workings and operations for one of the largest healthcare plans in North America. Successful candidates should have a strong desire to learn about the healthcare industry. Required Job Qualifications: • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience • 8+ years progressive experience in procurement, supplier management, category management • Proficient at MS Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint • Strategic and innovative thinker able to influence and advise the business areas • Strong executive presence with outstanding interpersonal, verbal, written communication, and presentation skills • Critical thinking, analytical skills and business acumen • Conflict resolution skills • Consistent thought leadership Preferred Job Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering or a related field • MBA or Masters Degree • Experience sourcing and negotiating IT Professional Services, including IT Consulting, IT Managed Services, IT Outsourcing and Staff Augmentation engagements • Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements, including Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), resource pricing models and supplier rate cards • Experience developing business cases and performing financial analysis to support sourcing strategies, supplier selection and investment decisions • Experience conducting supplier benchmarking, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership analyses to identify savings and value creation opportunities • Knowledge of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and technology-enables service delivery models • Knowledge of e-Procurement systems and tools; experience utilizing Procure-to-Pay and Contracting modules or similar procurement systems • Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations This is a Flex (Hybrid) role: 3 days in office; 2 days work from home Sponsorship is not available #LI-PD1 #LI-Hybrid Are you being referred to one of our roles? If so, ask your connection at HCSC about our Employee Referral process! Pay Transparency Statement: At Health Care Service Corporation, you will be part of an organization committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees to support their life outside of work. From health and wellness benefits, 401(k) savings plan, pension plan, paid time off, paid parental leave, disability insurance, supplemental life insurance, employee assistance program, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, plus other incentives, we offer a robust total rewards package for employees. Learn more about our benefit offerings by visiting https://careers.hcsc.com/totalrewards . The compensation offered will vary depending on your job-related skills, education, knowledge, and experience. This role aligns with an annual incentive bonus plan subject to the terms and the conditions of the plan. HCSC Employment Statement: We are an Equal Opportunity Employment employer dedicated to providing a welcoming environment where the unique differences of our employees are respected and valued. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Base Pay Range $102,000.00 - $184,300.00 Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Apply at Health Care Service Corporation