Director, Medicaid Quality Initiatives

Medicaid Policy & Programs


Description

Who We Are

Aurrera Health Group is a mission-driven national health policy, strategy, and operations consulting firm with deep expertise designing and administering public programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and other safety net programs. Much of our firm’s work is in California, but our clients span state and federal Medicaid agencies, county/local health services departments, health care foundations, consumer advocacy organizations, hospitals, health systems, and trade associations.

Aurrera Health Group is a woman-owned firm guided by our commitment to our missionadvancing access to affordable, comprehensive, equitable, high-quality health coverage and care – and our values. We select our clients, projects, and staff in keeping with that mission. We pride ourselves on our relationship-driven approach to customer service, our ability to adapt to changing landscapes, and our innovative spirit. We value and reward the quality of work we do for clients and support a range of efforts to ensure that employees can enjoy a healthy work-life balance. We are committed to the growth and professional development of all our staff.

A key organizational priority is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensuring that is reflected both in our internal culture and through our client work. Our values guide us in all that we do.

Position Description

As a Director of Medicaid Quality Initiatives, Medicaid Policy & Programs, you will play a key leadership role in the organization. You will be responsible for managing a team of consulting staff and leading client-facing projects, with support from Senior Leadership Team members. 

In this role, your responsibilities will be to:

  • Demonstrate a commitment to the Aurrera Health mission: improving access to health coverage and the quality of the health care system.
  • Lead dynamic client projects, which may include policy development, project management and planning, stakeholder education and outreach, and comprehensive policy and program implementation.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on issues related to health care quality primarily in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance program, providing strategic advice, translating complex policy information, and providing recommendations to clients.
  • Manage approximately 2-5 consulting team members, working closely with senior leaders to create a welcoming environment as well as ensure adequate staffing levels, balanced workloads and work/life balance, professional development opportunities, and effective communication across the team. 
  • Oversee the development of high-quality and accurate deliverables by reviewing and providing feedback on staff work, including written products and slide decks.
  • Manage multiple projects and priorities, overseeing day-to-day client and project management, delegating, and assigning work to meet project and client deadlines.
  • Serve as a point of contact for clients, ensuring the team is anticipating and meeting client needs.
  • Create a welcoming, positive, supportive workplace.
  • Work collaboratively with Aurrera Health senior leaders to identify and act on business development opportunities.
  • Represent Aurrera Health at business and professional development events including conferences, networking meetings, and other opportunities.
  • Engage with new and existing clients to identify needs and opportunities to support practical changes that will advance equity, quality, and access to care.
  • Engage in firm-wide activities such as staff meetings, management team, policy team meetings, and annual company retreats.
  • Use Microsoft 365 Office Apps to develop and share work products and communicate with your colleagues, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

 

Required Qualifications

Must have:

  • 10 years of relevant experience in health care policy, with the majority of that time dedicated to state and/or federal Medicaid or safety-net specific work; experience with health care quality measurement, evaluation, and/or health policy research. Experience with quality assurance, health plan compliance, oversight, or auditing does not count towards the required 10 years of relevant health policy experience.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including facilitating small and large meetings, and the ability to translate complex findings to non-technical audiences.
  • Ability to develop high quality work, including attention to detail and critical thinking skills.
  • Deep knowledge of health care quality measurement programs and concepts.
  • Strong research and analytic skills.
  • Strong familiarity with key sources of state and national health and health care data.
  • Ability to use data to support informed decision-making.
  • Experience leading teams and projects, preferably complex projects with a variety of stakeholders.
  • Organizational and project management skills, including ability to prioritize, manage time effectively, problem solve, and manage multiple projects and competing demands.
  • Strong customer service skills, including anticipating and addressing client needs, understanding complex policy environments, and developing strong and positive client relationships.
  • Ability to work independently/proactively but also in collaboration with others.
  • Staff management experience, and effective staff management skills, including providing clear, timely, and actionable feedback; encouraging professional development and skill building; and delegating and assigning work appropriately.

Preferred Qualifications

  • A master’s degree or PhD in public policy, public health, social work, or a related discipline, including a Juris Doctorate.
  • Experience with data collection, reporting, analysis, and dissemination.
  • Medicaid managed care expertise, specifically related to Medicaid and CHIP managed care quality (e.g., quality rating system, state quality strategy).
  • Experience providing direct technical assistance to states or other entities.
  • Experience working on projects focused on health equity and/or the social drivers of health.
  • Experience supporting organization leadership.
  • Experience supporting business development activities.

Location

Aurrera Health Group is a fully remote organization and candidates from all areas of the country are encouraged to apply. Occasional travel to company events, meetings, and client sites may be required, but the primary workstation for this position will be remote.

 

As a national firm, the Aurrera Health Group team works across four time zones. Aurrera Health will work with candidates to establish a schedule of core work hours that meets the employee and the firm’s needs.

Compensation and Benefits

Aurrera Health Group offers competitive salaries based on industry standards and experience, skills, and responsibility. We maintain equitable pay bands for employees based on these factors. The starting pay range for this position is $135,000 to $155,000 per year, with an opportunity for an end-of-year bonus.

 

Additionally, Aurrera Health Group offers a comprehensive benefit package, including:

  • Generous leave program, including company holidays, vacation, sick, parental, and volunteer leave.
  • Employer-matching 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Health, vision, dental insurance with generous employer premium contributions, and Flexible Spending Account plans.
  • Short and long-term disability insurance plans.
  • Home office and cell phone stipends, charitable donation matching, and other benefits.

To Apply

Please submit the following:

  • A personalized cover letter describing your commitment to the Aurrera Health Group mission to improve access to health coverage and the quality of the health care system, as well as how your experience qualifies you for this role.
    • Note: This is a policy-focused position and is neither a clinical or direct services role nor a role related to quality assurance, health plan compliance, oversight, or auditing. Applicants for this position must have 10 years of experience in health care policy. Please describe your policy experience in your cover letter, as well as your understanding of this role and how you would approach the responsibilities detailed.
  • A detailed resume.

 

A typical hiring process will involve two to three interviews, and you may be required to submit writing samples and/or participate in a skills assessment. The hiring process also will include a request for three references, but references will not be contacted unless the candidate is notified.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Aurrera Health Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that celebrates and values diversity, promotes equity, and prioritizes inclusivity. We are committed to building and fostering a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skill sets.