The Health Connector’s Plan Management & Carrier Relations team is seeking a Manager of Carrier Relations to nurture and maintain carrier partnerships at the Health Connector. This role will strategically develop and grow dynamic relationships with Health Connector partners while working closely with internal resources to advise on programs and initiatives that address external and internal customer needs.

This role will provide strategic, proactive collaboration with Health Connector carrier partners and internal cross functional areas to ensure open communication, flexibility and mutual success of the day to day operations. Priorities include implementation and integration of new/expanded insurance programs, supporting and monitoring processes related to carrier operational integration, carrier performance and achievement of goals through effective partner and relationship management. The role serves as a key liaison between the carrier partners and Health Connector functional areas, including but limited to plan management, policy, finance, enrollment, billing and IT teams, as well as our technology vendors and governmental agency partners. In this capacity, the Manager of Carrier Relations will play a key role in the Health Connector’s offering of high-value health and dental products to more than 350,000 individuals and small business employees throughout Massachusetts.

The position reports to the Senior Director of Plan Management and Carrier Relations, with opportunities to engage with a variety of functional teams and leadership at both the Health Connector and various external stakeholders. (e.g., insurance carriers, technology and business vendors, various state and federal agencies)

General Responsibilities

  • Own and demonstrably enhance key relationships with carrier partners
  • Engage with carrier partners and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to:
    • Identify, develop, and execute operational efficiencies and process improvements to enhance the quality of business operations between the Health Connector and carrier partners.
    • Shepherd the implementation of new carrier partnerships, ensuring seamless integration of systems, processes, and data sharing.
    • Execute annual open enrollment and new project implementation initiatives that are compliant with state and federal rules as well as consistent with the Health Connector’s policy priorities.
    • Resolve health and dental plan issues, coordinating vendor and internal Connector resources, ensure the timely and accurate analysis of issues, identify steps for issue resolution, and ensure the appropriate communications to carriers and internal partners.
    • Address operational issues, carrier requests for data/reporting, financial reconciliation, member escalations, business reviews with partners
    • Analyze, provide insight and make recommendations on policy and operational processes to operate efficiently and effectively.
  • Lead internal cross departmental initiatives to ensure carrier partnerships are managed and monitored including the execution of internal and shared stakeholder goals, priorities
  • Set example for and coach junior staff, including external carrier staff that play a pivotal role in strategic and operational business for the Health Connector.
  • Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess vendor partnership performance and identify areas for improvement.

Experience & Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of relevant experience in health or dental insurance, exchange plan management, and/or project management; ideally working at or with health insurance carriers, healthcare providers, healthcare delivery systems, and/or healthcare focused government entities
  • Experience successfully managing relationships with vendors, accounts, and/or territories
  • Knowledge and interest in healthcare, healthcare technology, public sector and health insurance markets; ideally, working knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and health insurance marketplace technology and operations
  • Flexibility to adapt to changing environments and projects, and ability to learn quickly in a complex, technical environment
  • Project Management certification, credentials, education and/or experience preferred but not required
  • Problem-solving mindset: solid quantitative and qualitative analytic skills, including advanced knowledge of MS Excel, tableau
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, proficient in summarizing complex issues to internal and external stakeholders who have varying levels of knowledge on the topic at hand.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, focused on delivery of a variety of projects with tight timelines
  • Strong MS Office Suite skills, including but not limited to Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Salary

$100,000-105,000/year

If interested

Send a cover letter and résumé to Connector-jobs@mass.gov.

Please note

  • Due to the requirement of 268A, please complete the Applicant Disclosure Form and return with your application.
  • All Health Connector employees are required to provide satisfactory proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
  • The Health Connector is operating on a hybrid work arrangement with 2 days in the office in downtown Boston and 3 days working from home.
  • Employee may be requested to work an extended day and weekends to meet deadlines.

About the Health Connector

The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (Health Connector) is an independent public authority serving as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant marketplace for the Commonwealth. The organization is charged with providing subsidized and unsubsidized health insurance to individuals and small employers. The Health Connector also oversees policy development related to health care reform under both state and federal laws, as well as conducting public education and outreach about health care reform and coverage opportunities.

The Health Connector is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity as a vital characteristic of its work force. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual identity, gender identity, national origin, or disability.