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Sales & Contracting
Development Program

NOTICE: The 2024-2025 recruiting season for this program has ended! Please check back in August 2025 for any updates. You can visit our events page to see if we'll be on your campus in the near future. 
SCDP participants posing for a group photo
Cigna Healthcare's Sales and Contracting Development Program (SCDP) is an intensive multi-week (July-September) training program designed for early career hires. The program is focused on developing the business acumen, negotiation, and relationship-building skills required to quickly onboard participants and contribute to high quality, affordable healthcare. The SCDP has two strategic tracks, the Sales Track and Network Track, to onboard the next generation of client and provider-facing Sales and Network Professionals.

As a member of our Sales & Contracting Development Program, you'll learn how to navigate the first steps of your career, while being provided the support, training, and resources needed to transition into a full-time role as a client and provider-facing New Business, Existing Business and Network Contracting professional.

Program Tracks


Sales Track Focus: Selling skills and knowledge of our health products and solutions offered to employers (our clients). The track strategically aligns with skills specific to sales/distribution so early career hires can contribute to profitable growth at Cigna Healthcare.


Network Track Focus: Negotiation skills and an understanding of affordability, balancing quality, and cost of care for doctors, physicians, and the patients they serve. The Network Track strategically aligns with skills specific to contract negotiation and the ability to assess opportunities that contribute to expanding and maintaining our network of providers, otherwise known as physicians, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Locations:
Year over year, SCDP hires in different locations. Relocation support is provided. Hiring locations are shared with candidates during the recruitment process.
Who we hire:
We're looking for early career candidates with 0-2 years of experience and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Healthcare, Operations Management, Finance, or related field. Candidates should be self-motivated, solutions oriented and hungry to learn and develop their skills. Candidates should be adaptable, thrive on change, communicate effectively and have a high level of integrity and accountability.
Recruiting Dates:
Recruiting for the SCDP begins in August and ends with final interviews the week before Thanksgiving.
Interview Process

Candidates will go through a series of interviews. 

1st round interviews are conducted virtually with program alumni and current participants. 2nd round interviews are conducted virtually with the program team.

Final round interviews hosted by Cigna Healthcare will take place in Orlando, FL on November 20th and 21st. Offers will be extended shortly after with a start date in early July. 
SCDP associates posing for photo
SCDP associates playing corn hole
SCDP Associates off to a volunteer event


​​​​​​​Program Elements:
Daily Team Meeting
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During this meeting, Track Leads and the cohort come together for team building activities, to network, or to discuss social, professional, and developmental themes.
Buddy, Mentor, and Coach

​​​​​​​Post-offer buddies are assigned for less formal support. Mentors assist managers in participants' growth, while post-program coaches assist participants in transitioning into their role & supporting a culture of high performance.
Field Time

Defined by the program as any scheduled full days and/or weeks the cohort spends in their local sales or network office.
Performance Check-ins
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Ongoing performance check-ins take place during the program. During these conversations feedback relative to the participants' overall performance both in-program and during Field Time are provided.
Leadership Speakers Series

Participants will have the opportunity to meet several Enterprise, Sales and Network leaders during scheduled lectures, panels, and presentations.
Role Simulations

Structured presentations and role play activities are strategically threaded throughout the program to ensure continued growth and development.
Capstone Project
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​​​​​​​As a final assignment and to reinforce participants' knowledge, associates simulate a real-life work experience where participants role play in their future full-time roles.
Volunteerism

Each cohort has a series of contributions and volunteer activities throughout their 1st year with Cigna Healthcare. The program partners with specific foundations to inspire our cohort and empower our community.
Alumni Engagement

The SCDP has a combined alumni network of over 100 active employees. Alumni participate in activities such as coaching and mentor opportunities, lectures, and panels.
SCDP posing for a photo at a baseball game

Not quite ready for a full-time program? Check out our U.S. Employer Sales & Contracting summer internship.

The Cigna Group offers a 10-week summer internship. During this time, Cigna Healthcare’s U.S. Employer organization takes this experience a step further! For interns hired into the U.S. Employer organization, this specific program provides understanding and real-world job experiences in operational, sales, and network contracting roles within the healthcare industry. Program-driven activities include weekly cohort meetings, panel discussions and speakers, individual and group projects, networking, team building, and more! This program also offers opportunities to learn alongside of Cigna Healthcare’s Sales & Contracting Development Program, offered to recent graduates just beginning their career as a sales or network contracting professional.  


Each year, U.S. Employer hires interns in various locations and roles into the program. This will drive if the internship is virtual, hybrid, or in person. It will also drive an intern’s day-to-day responsibilities. Hiring roles may include: Sales Interns supporting a local sales team and shadowing new and/or existing business professionals; Contracting Interns supporting a local network contracting team and working on data analysis; or Operational Interns focused on process improvements and program/project management to educate and enable our sales and network teams.


​​​​​​​Take it from them...
Serina F. headshot

Serina F.
Senior Client Manager
“The Sales Academy provided me with the skills, tools, and knowledge in order to succeed in my role as a Client Manager.  I learned how to be a trusted advisor and confident in the presence of brokers and clients through the program’s hands-on curriculum, support, and exposure to various teams and leaders in the company.  The Sales Academy invested tremendously in my growth during the early stages of my career, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity that has helped me become a leader within my industry and community.  I am proud to be a Sales Academy graduate!”
Alfonso P. headshot

Alfonso P.
Provider Contracting Lead Analyst
"The SCDP provided me a great opportunity to learn the Network Contracting role from industry professionals and the ability to use this knowledge on various projects and presentations throughout the SCDP. As a diverse job role and industry that we work in, the continuous learning throughout the SCDP prepared me for my job functions and the ability to continue growing within my role. The learning environment created by the program administrators and various subject matter experts (SMEs) allowed me to be myself and understand my potential for future success."
Caroline W. headshot

Caroline W. 
Client Manager (SCDP '22)
“The Cigna Group SCDP was the best way I could’ve started my career in the group health insurance sales industry. The Cigna Group gave me the incredible opportunity to move from New York City to Fort Lauderdale for my program and full-time positions so I could join a competitive, fast-paced market in an area to which I’ve always wanted to relocate. The program is structured in such a way that every facet of early career development relative to this role is addressed thoroughly and thoughtfully by program and hiring managers who truly care about your career growth. Not only was I provided with the appropriate knowledge, tools, and resources to succeed in a dynamic and challenging role that was foreign to everything I had known before joining The Cigna Group, I was given many opportunities to craft and develop my professional brand and skillset through on-site trainings, mentor partnerships, and individual feedback. I’m also incredibly grateful to have graduated alongside seven other program classmates who have become my close personal friends and peers in our various CM/NBM roles. To say that the SCDP produces a class of polished, well-versed, ambitious young sales professionals would only scratch the surface of the return on investment of this program. If you are looking to join THE premier group health insurance early career training, this is it!”
Sydney B. headshot

Sydney B.
Provider Contracting Lead Analyst (SCDP '22)
“Upon graduating college, I knew I wanted to be a part of a training program to kick start my career. The SCDP gave me the training, experience, mentorship and confidence I needed to begin my role at The Cigna Group. Throughout the SCDP, I learned a tremendous amount of information about the healthcare industry and The Cigna Group as a company. My experience with SCDP was amazing as I was able to become close friends with my cohort and felt extremely welcomed from everyone within the company. Now that I am in my role, I look back and am thankful that I was able to be a part of the SCDP as it set me up for success for my career at The Cigna Group."
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