Strategic Provider Partnerships Director

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois, +2 more states.

📋 Description

• Identify, research, and prioritize high-value provider organizations and health systems within designated markets.

• Develop and implement outreach strategies to establish trust with C-suite and executive leaders of potential partner organizations.

• Act as a brand ambassador for Essence Healthcare and represent the organization in new markets.

• Clearly communicate Essence Healthcare’s value proposition and clinical models.

• Build relationships within regional healthcare ecosystems to position Essence Healthcare as the preferred Medicare Advantage partner.

• Perform market analyses that cover competitive dynamics, provider readiness, strategic alignment, and financial viability.

• Convert market data, provider insights, and product capabilities into strategic plans for partnerships.

• Work collaboratively with Network, Product, Finance, Actuarial, Legal, Marketing, Contracting, and Operations teams regarding value-based care, risk-sharing, and joint-venture opportunities.

• Create and present business cases and strategic value propositions to external provider C-suite leadership teams.

• Lead strategic discussions between Essence Healthcare and potential partner organizations.

• Manage relationships from initial engagement to opportunity development, internal coordination, and transition.

• Keep an organized strategic partnership pipeline and provide milestone reports to the SVP, Growth, and executive stakeholders.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams around partnership priorities and selective market-entry decisions.

• Facilitate executive sponsorship, address key issues, and advance high-value partnerships.

• Collect market intelligence and competitor trends to refine partnership strategy and product positioning.

• Ensure strategic oversight and continuity of relationships through diligence, contracting, and final execution.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required.

• A Master’s in Public Health (MPH), Business Administration (MBA), or Healthcare Administration (MHA) is preferred.

• 12+ years of progressive experience in healthcare business development, network development, strategic sales, or managed care contracting.

• 5+ years of experience in high-level strategic business development, complex enterprise sales, or negotiating value-based care partnerships.

• Strong existing professional network of provider and health system contacts within Essence Healthcare’s key markets (IL, KY, AR, or MO).

• Comprehensive understanding of Medicare Advantage and health system economics, including managed care dynamics, value-based care structures, CMS risk adjustment, provider reimbursement methodologies, health system financial drivers, and strategic partnership economics.

• Proven ability to engage, present to, and influence senior healthcare executives (CEOs, CFOs, CMOs).

• Demonstrated capability to independently navigate and finalize complex joint-venture agreements, Letters of Intent (LOIs), and strategic partner alignments.

• Ability to synthesize market research, provider performance metrics, competitive intelligence, payer network composition, and other pertinent data.

• Willingness to travel up to 50%.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, Vision and Dental Plans.

• Tax-Advantage Savings Accounts (FSA & HSA).

• Life Insurance and Disability Insurance.

• Paid Time Off (PTO, Sick Time, Paid Leave, Volunteer & Wellness Days).

• Employee Assistance Program.

• 401k with company match.

• Employee Resource Groups.

• Employee Discount Program.

• Learning and Development Opportunities.

• Performance-based incentive and/or equity may be available depending on the position.

• Approved COVID-19 vaccination coverage/requirement for applicable member-facing roles.