Associate Operations Specialist

Behavioral Health Utilization Management Operations Specialist, AssociateThe Behavioral Health Utilization Management team provides Utilization Management and Care Coordination for Promise Blue Shield members seeking BHT services. The Operations Specialist, Associate will report to the Sr. Manager of Behavioral Health Utilization Management. In this role you will assist with audit preparedness, act as a Behavioral Health subject matter expert (SME) for Utilization Management and Care Coordination/Management systems development and testing, and contribute to the development of tools, processes, and frameworks that advance best practices and deliver successful utilization management of behavioral health services.Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow – personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high-performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.ResponsibilitiesIn this role, you will:Act as subject matter expert and review operational workflows, identifying problems and acting as a SME to inform improvements, modifications, and enhancementsTrack and communicate workflow and system changes to appropriate resourcesReview systems and applications and recommend system edits/changes as neededNotify appropriate department managers about issues and problems in operational workflow requiring immediate attentionParticipate as a subject matter expert to inform the development of written guidelines and documents problems as neededAssist with audit readiness including file preparation and risk assessmentConduct system testing for Utilization Management and Care ManagementSupport department oversight and daily operations through report and system review; providing validation and escalating issues to leadership as neededQualificationsIn this role, you will need:A bachelor's degree; or high school (GED) and 4 years relevant experience0 years of prior relevant experience required if bachelor's degree4 years of prior relevant experience if high school or GEDHealth plan (managed care, government payer, academic) or healthcare experience (working for a provider)Foundational understanding of managed care utilization management, preferredExperience with writing workflows and processing documentation, preferredAbility to work independentlyStrong critical thinking skills with attention to detailStrong verbal and written communication skillsHybridThis role requires employees to be in-office based on our hybrid workplace model, balancing purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. For most teams, this means coming into the office two days each week.Employees living more than 50 miles from an office location will work with their manager to determine in-office time based on business need.About UsBlue Shield of California became a subsidiary of Ascendiun in January 2025. Ascendiun is a nonprofit corporate entity that is the parent to a family of organizations including Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan; Altais, a clinical services company; and Stellarus, a company designed to scale healthcare solutions. Together, these organizations are referred to as the Ascendiun Family of Companies.At Blue Shield of California, our mission is to create a healthcare system worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable. We are transforming health care in a way that genuinely serves our nonprofit mission by lowering costs, improving quality, and enhancing the member and physician experience.To achieve our mission, we foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute fully to address the needs of the various communities we serve. We are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive workplace that upholds our values and advances our goals.Blue Shield is a U.S. News Best Company to work for, a Deloitte U.S. Best Managed Company and a Top 100 Inspiring Workplace. We were recognized by Fair360 as a Top Regional Company, and one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States by Points of Light. Here at Blue Shield, we strive to make a positive change across our industry and communities – join us!Our Values:Honest. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical and integrity standards. We build trust by doing what we say we're going to do and by acknowledging and correcting where we fall short.Human. We strive to listen and communicate effectively, showing empathy by understanding others' perspectives.Courageous. We stand up for what we believe in and are committed to the hard work necessary to achieve our ambitious goals.Our Workplace ModelWe believe in fostering a workplace environment that balances purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility - providing clear expectations while respecting the diverse needs of our workforce. Our workplace model is designed around intentional in-person interaction, collaboration, connection, creativity and flexibility:For most teams, this means coming into the office two days per week.Employees living more than 50 miles from an office location, out of state employees, and employees in certain member-facing roles should work with their manager to determine in-office time based on business need.For employees with medical conditions that may impact their ability to work in-office, we are committed to engaging in an interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations to ensure their work environment is conducive to their success and well-being.The Company reserves the right to require more presence in the office based on business needs, and requirements are subject to change with periodic reviews.Physical Requirements:Office Environment - roles involving part to full time schedule in Office Environment. Based in our physical offices and work from home office/deskwork - Activity level: Sedentary, frequency most of work day.Please click here for further physical requirement detail.Equal Employment Opportunity:External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, State and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classification protected by Federal, State and local laws.