Associate Vice President, Health Plan & Payer Strategic Communications

About Jarrard, Inc.

Jarrard Inc. is a U.S. Top 10 strategic communications consulting firm focused exclusively on healthcare and the unique opportunities and challenges inherent in this sector. Founded in 2006, the firm has worked with more than 1,500 clients across 48 states and has led communications and political strategy on $75+ billion in announced M&A and partnership transactions. Jarrard partners with leaders across the spectrum of healthcare in high stakes moments of growth, innovation, change, and reputational/public affairs challenges. This array of specialized services is tailored to support leaders in the most impactful parts of the ecosystem that are essential in transforming U.S. healthcare for the better. In 2020, Jarrard Inc. joined Chartis, one of the nation’s leading healthcare advisory firms, and operates as a division under an independent brand.

Chartis is a comprehensive advisory firm dedicated to transforming healthcare. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic, clinical, financial, and digital transformation Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, hospitals and health systems, integrated delivery networks, children's hospitals, physician enterprises, payers, and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results.

HealthScape Advisors, a Chartis Company is a management consulting firm dedicated to helping health plans, provider organizations, specialty health organizations, and investors navigate the continuously evolving healthcare landscape. We bring healthcare executives market-leading insights and actionable strategies that create sustainable value by looking beyond today’s solutions and focusing on the capabilities and resources needed to execute our recommendations. To do this, our professionals leverage a pragmatic approach and unparalleled expertise to empower every engagement.

Across Jarrard, Chartis and HealthScape, we are fortunate to have extraordinarily talented people working in our firm – all brought together around our unifying mission “to improve healthcare”, a shared dedication to our core values, and the emphasis we place on creating an environment that enriches the experiences of our clients, our colleagues and our communities.

For more information, visit jarrardinc.com and chartis.com.

Role Overview

We are seeking an Associate Vice President (AVP) to join Jarrard to be aligned within the HealthScape Advisors newly launched strategic Payer Communications and Change Management team, working closely with its national practice leader.

The AVP will help lead key client projects and deliverables for health plans and other healthcare organizations within the payer ecosystem. This is a multi-faceted role that will support the Practice Lead in identifying and pursuing business development opportunities as the new practice area continues to grow, in addition to owning client relationships and supervising and mentoring junior team members for their development and ensuring quality work.

A strong candidate for this role will have firsthand experience working for a health plan and will bring a strong communications foundation, excellent writing skills, and demonstrated strategic client-management experience in guiding and advising senior client leaders. A deep understanding of the health plan and payer market is required, including current and future market dynamics impacting and reshaping the industry, key issues and challenges facing payer industry leaders and communicators, and working knowledge of the various market segments such as Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial and Individual.

Responsibilities

Client Service

• Confidently lead clients – either on own or in conjunction with Practice Lead, and help identify and realize full potential (meeting program objectives, delivering on time/quality work within budget)

• Establish strategic communications and engagement efforts, and lead client deliverables around work including, but not limited to reputation management, key message development, stakeholder research and engagement, crisis and advocacy, thought leadership, change management and more

• Establish relationships built on trust with senior-level clients to further the agency’s standing and reputation with the client

• Develop key client strategies and plans, while contributing to the budget development, working with practice leadership

• Identify opportunities to grow existing clients by serving as a trusted advisor and a strategic resource for clients – listen for opportunities and utilize resources within agency to capitalize on such opportunities

• Consult with and/or involve practice leadership on client issues as needed

• Assist in overseeing strategies and programs for clients managed by the people who report to you

• Be aware of team utilization and capacity opportunities by engaging with your direct reports and communicating with supervisors

Internal Client Team Management

• Identify opportunities for continuous quality improvement within the team

• Daily team advising and supervision

• Monthly/weekly staff planning/tracking including timely communications to internal leaders

Business Development

• Participate in and play a significant role in new business pitches including pitch strategy and proposal development

• Identify new opportunities with existing clients for the firm to contribute additional value for a client, and work with practice leadership to bring those opportunities to fruition

• Look for ways to leverage networks for visibility of the firm and its service offerings

• Ensure clients are aware of our full set of high-value services where appropriate, for new opportunities for growth

• Participate in and contribute ideas for firm thought leadership activities

Firm Management

• Model and teach best practices in key client management

• Actively participate in appropriate firm management meetings and/or discussions

• Accomplish billable goals and help ensure your direct reports do as well

• Contribute ideas for Jarrard Academy based on growth and development needs of your team

People Development

• Demonstrate and nurture Jarrard Vision, Mission and Values

• Mentor the colleagues who report to you, guide career development using our talent development platform as the foundation

• Ensure teams are adept at all firm high-value services

• Actively help agency recruit and retain the best people

Qualifications and Desired Skills

• Bachelor’s degree

• Preferred backgrounds include 8-10 years within a health plan or related organization with demonstrated leadership in a healthcare organization. Direct healthcare experience is a must as our clients value our dedication to the payer industry with no learning curve on the industry overall

• Effective written and oral communications, with writing samples and assignments requested

• Ability to work remotely, office options in Chicago, IL and Nashville

• Proven expertise in working within the health payer space, change management, strategic positioning, issue/crisis management.

Salary range: $127,000-$160,000, plus may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. The salary range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skills, experience, training, licensure and certifications, practice area, and other business and organizational needs. In addition, Jarrard offers several benefits including medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, disability insurance, life insurance, 401(k) match, paid time off, wellness stipend, and additional voluntary benefits.

At Jarrard and Chartis, we pride ourselves on having a diverse workforce. We value and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals and the different perspectives they provide. We offer equal opportunity employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, marital status, or protected veteran status.