AArete Careers

Director, Operations and Transformation

AArete is one-of-a-kind when it comes to consulting firm culture.

We’re a global, innovative management and technology consulting firm with offices in the U.S., India, and Europe. Our name comes from the Greek word for excellence: “Areté.”  And excellence is exactly what we strive for.  

We’re celebrating our fourth year as one of Forbes’ World’s Best Management Consulting Firms – and our success starts with our people. From robust career development planning to competitive life and wellness benefits, AArete’s “Culture of Care” takes a holistic approach to the employee experience.  

AAretians (our team members) are leaders at every level. You are encouraged to unlock your full potential by directly contributing to our mission and prioritizing personal development and fulfillment. 

The Role

The Director, Operations and Transformation is a senior individual contributor and delivery leader responsible for driving operational improvement, cost optimization, and transformation initiatives, with a strong focus on healthcare payer environments. This role leads high-visibility client engagements, delivering structured operational assessments, redesign initiatives, and implementation support.

While the work is primarily operations-focused, the Director will leverage technology-enabled solutions such as workflow tools, complex analytics, and digital process enhancements to deliver impactful operational improvement.

This role operates as a Director level Solution Specialist, engaging directly with senior client executives and serving as a subject matter expert across healthcare operations, technology, transformation strategy, and cross-functional delivery. The Director remains hands-on in assessments and implementation, bringing deep operational expertise to client delivery. You will work closely with project delivery teams to provide expert guidance, tailored recommendations, and develop actionable implementation plans to resolve our clients’ pressing operational challenges.

Work You’ll Do

• Lead healthcare operational and shared services transformation programs, including operating model redesign, transformation strategy, and support solving complex problems across all payer operational and technology functions.
• Conduct structured operational assessments across payer organizations, applying strong diagnostic skills in current-state analysis, workflow evaluation, opportunity identification, and transformation planning
• Translate complex operational challenges into clear strategic recommendations and actionable implementation roadmaps for senior-level clients
• Apply project management and transformation frameworks (PMP, Agile, Lean, Six Sigma) to oversee multiple concurrent workstreams, including technology-enabled process improvements
• Guide clients through adoption of new workflows, operational tools, operating models, and digital enhancements that improve efficiency, standardization, and scalability
• Serve as an internal healthcare operations subject matter expert, helping reduce reliance on external SMEs through structured frameworks and delivery excellence
• Navigate complex client and internal environments, demonstrating strong stakeholder management, executive communication, and an ability to create structure from ambiguity
• Support workforce optimization efforts, staffing model evaluations, and operational efficiency analyses across payer and provider settings
• Collaborate closely with clinical leaders, operational executives, technologists, and cross-functional teams to drive alignment and successful transformation outcomes
• Contribute to internal operations initiatives and thought leadership related to healthcare transformation, shared services optimization, workforce strategy, and digital enablement

• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in healthcare operations, transformation consulting, workforce optimization, shared services, or related fields
• Hands-on operational experience in healthcare payers required
• Demonstrated experience delivering transformation engagements in a consulting environment across multiple clients
• Strong experience conducting operational assessments, current-state reviews, and structured improvement initiatives
• Proven ability to synthesize operational and technology-enabled insights for executive audiences
• Strong project management capabilities: PMP, Agile, or Six Sigma preferred
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence and advise senior healthcare leaders
• Experience navigating both health plan and provider operational environments
• High learning agility and ability to ramp quickly in unfamiliar domains
• Comfortable collaborating with IT, data, and operational teams
• Willingness to travel to client locations as required

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in workforce optimization, staffing models, productivity improvement, or operational efficiency initiatives
• Certifications such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or Agile/Scrum
• Experience serving as a transformation SME or internal advisor
• Exposure to healthcare technology environments in support of operational improvement (EHRs, care-management platforms, workflow tools, analytics dashboards)
• Prior experience supporting multi-client healthcare consulting engagements across payer, provider, or health services organizations
• Based in Chicago, IL, and flexible to work from our Chicago office as needed

Compensation & Benefits

• Flexible PTO, monthly half-day refuels, volunteer time off, 10 paid holidays
• Own Your Day flexible work policy
• Competitive majority employer-paid benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K Match
• Generous paid parental leave options
• Employer-paid Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability
• Charitable contribution matching program
• New client commission opportunities and referral bonus program
• Bike share discount program

The estimated base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $200,000. In addition to this base salary, individuals may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. This range is a part of a competitive, total compensation package together with our majority employer-paid benefits and incentive pay for eligible roles. Please note that this range is a guideline, and individual total compensation may vary due to numerous factors, including but not limited to experience level, certifications, and other relevant business considerations.

AArete will accept applications until the position is filled. The job posting will be removed once the role is no longer available. 

We put humans at the center of our work 

We’re a global management and technology consulting firm specializing in strategic profitability improvement, digital transformation, and strategy & change for clients. Our cross-industry solutions are powered by a digital-first mindset, market intelligence, and data-driven approach to deliver purposeful change, actionable insights, and guaranteed results.

But what sets us apart is our people. We are guided by our deeply embedded guiding principles: Excellence, Passion, Loyalty to Clients, Stewardship, Family, Community, Sustainability, and Inclusion.  

And we’ve been recognized as a top firm to work for by companies like Forbes, Top Workplaces Chicago Tribune, and Consulting Magazine.  

We’ve earned a Great Place to Work Certification™ and been named a World’s Best Management Consulting Firm by Forbes, Vault’s Top 50 Firms to Work For, Crain's Chicago Business Fast 50, Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Firms, and Consulting Magazine's Fastest Growing Firms.  

Learn more about our award-winning culture 

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. 

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