Director, Payer Services

Responsible for the overall direction and management of Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy supportive payer product strategies and contracts. This position has primary leadership responsibility for the design, development, implementation and execution of systems, programs, and processes driving and supporting payer audit compliance, payer resolution, market insights, payer implementation, utilization management, performance guarantees, contracting, and pricing. The Director of Payer Services requires significant contact with marquee clients, internal senior leadership and sales executives, in addition to the management of employees on the team. This individual also requires the ability to problem solve innovative operational and product solutions and to construct and delegate/manage new project needs based on major enterprise initiatives undertaken

• Develops and negotiate contracts that position the company to be successful, including improving financial performance, driving volume and creating contracts that incentivize improvement in the quality of the services the company offers
• Ensures execution of contracting goals and objectives related to contract language and pricing, planning and execution, and revenue cycle support
• Develops positive relationships with payers to facilitate a collaborative exchange of information and promote responsiveness to requests.
• Leads the collaboration with internal stakeholders to build the top line revenue strategy, including finance, technology services, business development, operations, credentialing, etc. in order to meet the objectives negotiated in each payer contract
• Develops and execute communication plans to internal stakeholders related to payer relationships, negotiations, and contractual obligations
• Oversees the department to manage the contracting process including contract amendments, credentialing, payer complaints, database of account contacts and key account information
• Ensures compliance with contracts, performance guarantees, legal requirements and company policies and procedures; stay abreast of all market relevant data including current healthcare trends, insurance products, competition, legislation, and pricing
• Leads the collaboration internally and externally for strategic payer products
• Leads the teams that oversees and coordinates all external payer audits of contract adherence (including desk audits, onsite audits
• Oversees the pricing strategy for Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy.
• Leads the collaboration and oversees the Implementation Team and performance guarantee process
• Leads the patient, provider and client customer satisfaction across specialty and home delivery.
• Supports RFPs and client finalist presentations.
• Supervisory Responsibilities
• Develops the strategy and the execution of market insights for the specialty division, including the management of internal teams and the relationship with all external contracted vendors.
• Owns the specialty biosimilar strategy offering for payer and PBM clients, including developing unique products and services.
• Responsible for the strategies related to optimizing channel performance and profitability amongst our central, community, and retail specialty pharmacy assets.
• Responsible for the development, oversight and implementation of departmental budget
• Responsible for leading a team through teaching, coaching and inspiring by fostering a sense of energy, ownership and a responsibility for the flawless execution of operational excellence engage in the selection and hiring process as needed.
• Strong knowledge of pharmacy applications across both central and community-based specialty.
• Other responsibilities as judgment or necessity dictate

About Walgreens

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare, Business Administration, Finance, or related area of study; or equivalent combination of education and/or relevant work experience
• 10 years' work experience in the healthcare field or insurance industry including direct managed care experience (either hospital or payer based), payer contracting, and contract negotiation experience
• 5 years of direct and cross functional leadership/ people management experience
• Demonstrated understanding pay for performance contracting methodologies
• Strong healthcare experience; integrated healthcare (payer, provider and patient) preferred Demonstrated organizational skill with keen attention to detail and documentation
• Experience in representing the company in industry and trade groups, key physician providers, government representatives and regulatory agencies, brokers, and the general public
• Experience with strategy development and management in a matrix environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong analytical mind with the ability to think strategically in a complex operating environment; ability to problem solve quickly while working independently; strong negotiating and facilitation skills
• Experience leading cross functional teams to meet business objectives with outstanding results
• At least 2 years of experience contributing to financial decisions in the workplace.
• At least 3 years of direct leadership, indirect leadership and/or cross-functional team leadership.
• Willing to travel up to/at least 40% of the time for business purposes (within state and out of state).

• Master's degree in business administration

• BS in Pharmacy or Pharmacist Degree from an accredited educational institution