SafeGuardRx Product Strategy Senior Advisor - Evernorth - Hybrid

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: SafeGuardRx Product Strategy Senior Advisor

Company: Cigna Healthcare (Evernorth Health Services)

Location: St. Louis, MO; Bloomington, MN; Morris Plains, NJ (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Strategy & Operations

Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on providing strategic and operational advisory support for the SafeGuardRx (SGRx) platform, a key component of Evernorth Health Services.

• The Senior Advisor will translate product strategy into actionable execution plans, ensuring operational readiness and consistent product delivery across complex healthcare and pharmacy benefit solutions.

• Key responsibilities include identifying execution risks, process gaps, and improvement opportunities, and recommending scalable solutions to enhance the SGRx platform and related products.

• This position requires strong cross-functional collaboration with Product Management, Sales, Account Management, Marketing, and other teams to drive product success and client satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Advisor, indicating a need for deep subject matter expertise and the ability to influence without direct authority. The focus on "execution, optimization, and ongoing maturity" points towards a strong emphasis on operational excellence and process improvement within the product lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the strategic direction and execution roadmap for SafeGuardRx and associated products, aligning with Evernorth's broader health services goals.

• Advise product leadership and cross-functional teams on identified execution risks, process inefficiencies, and opportunities for operational enhancement within the SGRx platform.

• Provide critical visibility into program performance and overall health by analyzing data, reviewing reports, and evaluating stakeholder materials to identify trends and areas for action.

• Present synthesized insights and actionable recommendations to diverse internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, product teams, and potentially clients.

• Collaborate extensively with Sales, Account Management, New Sales, Marketing, and other key departments to ensure seamless product readiness and successful execution of go-to-market strategies.

• Act as a subject-matter expert for complex initiatives, offering guidance and solutions related to pharmacy benefit design, utilization management, and healthcare regulations.

• Partner closely with the Drug Strategy team to integrate insights on drug pipeline developments and strategic implications for Advanced Utilization Management (AUM) and SafeGuardRx.

• Communicate product requirements and strategic needs effectively to cross-functional partners, including marketing, training, analytics, modeling, and reporting teams, ensuring alignment and coordinated efforts.

• Support the development, refinement, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), playbooks, and robust operational frameworks to standardize and optimize processes.

• Partner with Product Management leadership to support the evolution of product content, capabilities, and competencies based on market dynamics and strategic objectives.

• Lead the response process for SafeGuardRx client audits, ensuring comprehensive and accurate submissions that meet regulatory and client requirements.

• Lead the planning and execution of SafeGuardRx Value Announcements, including annual reconciliation processes and coordination with account management teams to demonstrate product value.

• Lead assessments of legislative impacts on pharmacy benefits and develop client strategies and communications for SafeGuardRx and AUM to ensure compliance and market competitiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on operational execution. Leading client audits, value announcements, and legislative impact assessments indicates a need for strong project management, regulatory awareness, and client-facing communication skills within an operations context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Pharmacy, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Operations Management).

Experience: 5+ years of relevant work experience in pharmacy product strategy, operations, or a closely related field within the healthcare or PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) industry.

Required Skills:

• Pharmacy Product Strategy: Deep understanding of pharmacy benefit design concepts (e.g., copays, accumulators, utilization management, formulary management) and their strategic implications.

• Analytical & Critical Thinking: Strong ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, assess risks, and formulate data-driven recommendations.

• Problem-Solving: Proven capability to identify root causes of operational issues and develop effective, scalable solutions.

• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated experience influencing outcomes and driving alignment across diverse, cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority.

• Communication Proficiency: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex information clearly to various audiences.

• Microsoft Excel Mastery: Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel for data analysis, reporting, and financial modeling.

• Independent Work Ethic: Ability to work autonomously in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with minimal direct oversight, demonstrating initiative and proactivity.

• Time Management & Prioritization: Proven ability to manage competing priorities, navigate tight deadlines, and deliver results under pressure.

• Adaptability: Flexibility to support peak business periods, regulatory changes, and evolving product demands.

Preferred Skills:

• Quality Improvement/Operational Excellence: Experience with quality improvement methodologies, process optimization initiatives, or operational excellence programs.

• Project Management: Proven experience managing complex projects from initiation to completion, ensuring timely delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.

• Healthcare/PBM Industry Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, particularly the pharmaceutical supply chain, payer dynamics, and regulatory landscape.

• Salesforce or similar CRM: Familiarity with CRM systems for understanding client interactions and sales processes.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI for creating impactful reports and dashboards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on influencing without direct authority, combined with the need for strong analytical and communication skills, suggests that candidates with experience in consulting, product management advisory, or strategic planning roles within operations would be well-suited.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Process Improvement Case Studies: Examples demonstrating your ability to analyze existing operational workflows, identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies, and implement optimized processes that led to measurable improvements (e.g., reduced cycle time, increased accuracy, cost savings). This should include documentation of the 'before' and 'after' states.

• Strategic Planning Documents: Showcase examples of strategic plans or roadmaps you've contributed to, particularly those involving product execution, operational readiness, or cross-functional alignment for new initiatives.

• Data Analysis & Reporting Samples: Include examples of analyses you've conducted, reports you've generated, or dashboards you've helped develop that provided critical insights to stakeholders and informed decision-making.

• SOPs & Playbooks: Provide samples of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or operational playbooks you have developed or significantly contributed to, illustrating your ability to standardize processes and ensure consistent execution.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate your experience in mapping, documenting, and optimizing complex workflows within a product development or operational context, highlighting how you identified and addressed process gaps.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase instances where you supported or led the implementation of new processes, systems, or automation solutions, detailing the steps taken and the outcomes achieved.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Evidence of your ability to define key performance indicators (KPIs), establish measurement frameworks, and analyze performance data to assess the effectiveness of implemented processes and strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior Advisor" title and the focus on strategic and operational support, a portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, process analysis, data-driven decision-making, and successful cross-functional collaboration will be highly valued. Candidates should be prepared to walk through specific examples of how they've driven operational improvements and influenced strategy.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,300 - $200,500 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, vision, and dental insurance plans.

• Well-being Support: Access to well-being and behavioral health programs designed to support holistic health.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company contributions.

• Financial Protection: Company-paid life insurance.

• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Work-Life Balance: A minimum of 18 days of paid time off (PTO) per year, plus paid holidays.

• Performance-Based Incentive: Eligibility to participate in an annual bonus plan.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time commitment, equivalent to 40 hours per week.

• Flexibility is expected to support peak business and regulatory periods, which may require occasional extended hours or adjusted schedules.

• Internet connection requirements for remote work: Cable broadband or fiber optic with at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload speeds.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior-level advisory role in the healthcare and pharmacy benefits sector, particularly in the specified metropolitan areas. The benefits package is robust, reflecting Cigna Healthcare's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare, Pharmacy Services, Health Insurance, Benefits Administration.

Company Size: Large enterprise (Cigna Healthcare is a major global health services company with tens of thousands of employees). This size implies structured processes, significant resources, and opportunities for broad impact.

Founded: Cigna traces its roots back to the 18th century, with Evernorth Health Services being a more recent but rapidly growing division focused on health services. This history suggests a stable, established organization with a long-term vision.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Advisor will likely be part of the Evernorth Health Services division, specifically within the Product Management or Strategy organization focused on pharmacy solutions like SafeGuardRx.

• Reporting will likely be to a Director or VP of Product Strategy or Operations, with a dotted line to Product Management leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Strategy: Emphasis on using data analytics and reporting to inform strategic decisions, identify trends, and measure product performance.

• Process Optimization: A continuous improvement mindset, focusing on refining workflows, implementing best practices, and driving operational efficiency.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: A collaborative approach to ensure all relevant departments are aligned on product goals, execution plans, and client needs.

• Client-Centricity: Focus on understanding and meeting the needs of clients (payers, employers, health plans) through effective product strategy and execution.

Company Website: https://www.cigna.com/, https://www.evernorth.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large, established organization like Cigna/Evernorth means navigating established processes while also having the opportunity to influence significant initiatives. The "Product Strategy Senior Advisor" title suggests a role that bridges strategic intent with practical operational execution in a complex, regulated industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Advisor role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position that requires significant expertise and the ability to function with a high degree of autonomy. It's a strategic contributor role, focusing on guiding and influencing rather than direct people management.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a leadership position within the Product Strategy or Operations function, likely a Director or VP level. This structure provides visibility to senior leadership and opportunities to influence strategic direction. Collaboration will be extensive across various departments, requiring strong interpersonal and influencing skills.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is centered on the successful execution, optimization, and maturity of the SafeGuardRx platform. This directly influences client satisfaction, retention, competitive positioning, and ultimately, the revenue and profitability of Evernorth's pharmacy solutions. By identifying risks and driving improvements, the advisor contributes to operational efficiency and the delivery of high-value pharmacy benefits.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in pharmacy benefit design, utilization management, and product strategy within the healthcare sector.

• Leadership: Potential to move into direct leadership roles managing product strategy or operations teams, or to become a principal subject matter expert in high-impact areas.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to transition into broader product management, business operations, or strategic planning roles within Evernorth or Cigna.

• Industry Influence: Develop a strong reputation and network within the pharmacy benefits industry through client interactions, legislative assessments, and value announcements.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a Senior Advisor, the growth path is typically along the "expert" track, focusing on deepening domain knowledge and influencing strategy, or transitioning into leadership roles. The role provides a strong foundation for a career in healthcare product strategy and operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This indicates a blend of remote work flexibility and in-office collaboration to foster team cohesion and strategic alignment.

Office Location(s): The role is designated for hybrid work in St. Louis, MO; Bloomington, MN; and Morris Plains, NJ. This suggests established Cigna Healthcare/Evernorth offices in these locations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Office space likely designed to facilitate team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional workshops.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to necessary IT infrastructure, communication tools, and potentially specialized software for data analysis and product management.

• Professional Networking: Opportunities to connect with colleagues, build relationships, and gain insights from diverse teams within the organization.

• Remote Productivity: Expectation of a dedicated home office setup conducive to focused work and virtual meetings, with reliable internet connectivity.

Work Schedule:

• Standard business hours are expected, but the hybrid nature allows for some flexibility in managing personal schedules.

• The role requires adaptability to support peak business and regulatory periods, which may necessitate adjusted work hours or increased on-site presence during critical times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model reflects a modern work approach, balancing flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration. Candidates should be comfortable managing their work independently while also being proactive in engaging with colleagues and making the most of in-office days.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of pharmacy benefit products and your advisory experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager focusing on your experience, leadership style, problem-solving approach, and how you align with the role's responsibilities.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders and peers from Product Management, Sales, or Operations teams. These will assess your collaboration skills, ability to influence, and understanding of cross-functional dynamics. Be ready to discuss specific examples of your work.

• Case Study or Presentation: Candidates may be asked to prepare and present a case study based on a provided scenario or a selection from their portfolio. This will evaluate your strategic thinking, analytical skills, and presentation abilities. Focus on demonstrating your process improvement methodologies and impact.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final discussion with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your most impactful projects that directly relate to product strategy, operational improvement, or complex problem-solving in a healthcare/pharmacy context.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline the challenge, your role and approach, the solutions implemented, the metrics used to measure success, and the quantifiable outcomes (e.g., % improvement, cost savings, risk reduction).

• Highlight Advisory Skills: Emphasize instances where you influenced stakeholders, drove consensus, or provided critical advice that led to positive business outcomes.

• Demonstrate Process Thinking: Show your ability to map processes, identify gaps, and implement structured improvements. Clearly articulate the "why" behind your recommendations.

• Quantify Results: Use numbers and data wherever possible to demonstrate the tangible impact of your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Scenario: Be prepared for a challenge that requires you to analyze a market trend, a product gap, or an operational issue within the pharmacy benefits space and propose a strategic and operational approach.

• Process Mapping & Improvement: You might be asked to outline how you would approach improving a specific process related to product launch, client onboarding, or regulatory compliance.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Practice articulating how you would gain buy-in from different departments for a proposed strategy or operational change. Focus on understanding their perspectives and addressing their concerns.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the advisory nature of the role, interviewers will be looking for strategic thinking, strong analytical capabilities, excellent communication, and a proven ability to drive results through influence and collaboration. A well-prepared portfolio that showcases these skills will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Microsoft Excel: Essential for data analysis, modeling, and reporting. Advanced functions, pivot tables, and data visualization capabilities are expected.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint or similar for developing and delivering presentations to stakeholders.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Jira, Microsoft Project, or similar for tracking initiatives and managing workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Experience with platforms like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik for data visualization, dashboard creation, and performance monitoring is highly beneficial.

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in SQL for data extraction and manipulation is often a plus in roles requiring deep data dives.

• Reporting Platforms: Experience with internal company reporting systems and standards.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms for understanding client interactions, sales pipelines, and account management processes.

• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for day-to-day communication and team collaboration.

• Document Management Systems: SharePoint or similar for document storage, sharing, and version control.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role's nature implies a need for strong analytical and reporting capabilities. Proficiency in standard office productivity suites and familiarity with BI tools and CRM systems used in enterprise environments are likely expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Transparency: Upholding ethical standards and being open in communication, especially when dealing with sensitive data and client information.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with diverse teams, fostering strong relationships, and achieving shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on data and analytics to inform strategies, measure performance, and drive continuous improvement.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for outcomes, delivering on commitments, and driving initiatives to completion.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Seeking new ways to optimize processes, enhance product offerings, and adapt to market changes.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking input from and providing guidance to cross-functional partners.

• Constructive Feedback: Willingness to provide and receive feedback to improve processes and outcomes.

• Strategic Alignment: Ensuring that operational activities are aligned with broader product and business strategies.

• Client Focus: Maintaining a customer-centric approach, ensuring that product strategies and operations meet client needs and expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Cigna Healthcare, as a large, established company, likely emphasizes a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and data-driven operations. The "Evernorth Health Services" division likely fosters an environment of innovation within the health services space.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Complex Landscape: The healthcare and pharmacy benefits industry is highly regulated and constantly evolving, requiring continuous learning and adaptation to new policies and market dynamics.

• Influencing Without Authority: Successfully driving initiatives and achieving outcomes by persuading and collaborating with stakeholders who do not report directly to you.

• Balancing Strategy and Execution: Translating high-level strategic goals into practical, executable operational plans that deliver measurable results.

• Data Synthesis & Communication: Effectively synthesizing complex data from various sources and communicating actionable insights to diverse audiences.

• Managing Competing Priorities: Juggling multiple projects, stakeholder requests, and urgent issues in a dynamic environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Pharmaceutical Expertise: Gain advanced knowledge of drug pipeline strategies, formulary management, and utilization management techniques.

• Strategic Advisory Skills: Hone skills in influencing, negotiation, and executive communication through direct application in a senior advisory role.

• Operational Excellence Practices: Learn and apply methodologies for process optimization, quality improvement, and operational efficiency within a large enterprise.

• Industry Acumen: Stay abreast of critical legislative changes, market trends, and competitive strategies impacting the pharmacy benefits landscape.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop a broader understanding of different business functions (Sales, Marketing, Analytics) and how they interrelate with product strategy and operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in this role also present significant growth opportunities. Successfully navigating these will build a strong foundation for a career in healthcare product strategy and operations leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to influence a cross-functional team to adopt a new operational process or strategy. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your influencing tactics, stakeholder engagement, and persuasive communication.)

• "How would you assess the operational readiness for a new pharmacy product feature launch? What key areas would you focus on, and what metrics would you track?" (Demonstrate your understanding of product lifecycle operations and risk assessment.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Evernorth Health Services and Cigna Healthcare's position in the market? How do you see the SafeGuardRx platform contributing to their overall strategy?" (Research the company's mission, values, recent news, and competitive landscape.)

• "How do you approach building and maintaining strong working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including those in Sales, Product, and Analytics?" (Highlight your collaboration style and ability to find common ground.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio examples as narratives. Start with the business challenge, detail your analytical approach and proposed solutions, highlight your specific contributions, and conclude with the quantifiable impact.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each example, clearly articulate the process you analyzed or improved, the tools/methods you used, and the tangible business outcomes achieved (e.g., efficiency gains, cost savings, risk mitigation, client satisfaction).

• Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: Connect your operational contributions back to the broader product strategy and business objectives. Explain why your work was important.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your methodologies, data sources, assumptions, and alternative approaches you considered. Be prepared to defend your recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only your technical skills and experience but also your strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and capacity for influencing and collaborating within a complex corporate environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://cigna.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/cignacareers/job/St-Louis-MO/SafeGuardRx-Product-Strategy-Senior-Advisor---Evernorth---Hybrid_26004134

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and responsibilities from the job description, focusing on your experience in pharmacy product strategy, operational advisory, process improvement, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 key projects that best demonstrate your strategic thinking, process optimization skills, analytical capabilities, and ability to influence outcomes. Ensure each project clearly outlines the challenge, your role, actions taken, and measurable results.

• Research Cigna/Evernorth: Understand their mission, values, business objectives, and recent developments in their health services and pharmacy solutions. Prepare to articulate how your skills and experience align with their strategic goals.

• Practice Interview Questions: Review common interview questions for senior advisory roles, focusing on behavioral questions (STAR method) and scenario-based questions related to strategy, operations, and stakeholder management. Prepare to discuss your portfolio examples in detail.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.