Associate Director – Payer & Provider Strategy – Healthcare

BRG•Chicago, IL

9d•$150,000 - $250,000

About The Position

We do Consulting Differently The Integrated Health Solutions (IHS) practice at Berkeley Research Group (BRG) provides end-to-end advisory support to healthcare providers, payers, investors, and other stakeholders navigating complex strategic, operational, financial, and clinical challenges. Led by seasoned healthcare executives, operators, and clinicians, IHS partners with organizations to drive sustainable performance improvement and long-term growth through strategic growth design, operating model transformation, AI and digital enablement, clinical quality and patient care optimization, and revenue strategy—helping clients build resilient, future-ready healthcare enterprises in an increasingly complex environment. Our four core service offerings include: Business Transformation Advisory Margin & Operational Improvement Clinical & Quality Transformation AI & Digital Solutions Business Transformation Advisory partners with healthcare organizations to define enterprise-wide strategy and align financial, clinical, and operational priorities to long-term objectives. This work spans enterprise and service line strategy, population health and value-based care models, long-range financial forecasting, and regulatory and alternative payment methodologies—helping leaders make informed decisions that drive sustainable growth, resilience, and system-wide performance improvement. The Associate Director will play a critical leadership role in shaping and delivering strategic engagements for healthcare clients, including health systems, payers, and emerging healthcare platforms. This role blends client leadership, problem solving, and business development, with a strong focus on translating strategy into actionable, measurable outcomes. Willing to travel consistently (50%), depending on project requirements and client expectations, is required for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, MHA, MPH, or equivalent advanced degree preferred
6–10+ years of experience in healthcare consulting, strategy, or health system operations
Experience leading strategic engagements (e.g., growth strategy, service line planning, transformation)
Demonstrated experience working with executive stakeholders
Strong strategic thinking and structured problem-solving capabilities
Experience with financial modeling, market sizing, and ROI analysis
Deep understanding of healthcare industry dynamics (providers, payers, regulatory environment)
Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple workstreams
Strong executive communication and presentation skills
Ability to influence decision-making at senior levels
High level of ownership, accountability, and professionalism
Candidate must be able to submit verification of his/her legal right to work in the U.S., without company sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with data analytics, digital health, and/or AI-enabled solutions preferred

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day execution of complex strategic engagements (e.g., enterprise strategy, service line planning, M&A strategy, growth initiatives)
Serve as a primary client contact, building trusted relationships with executive stakeholders (C-suite, service line leaders, board members)
Translate ambiguous client challenges into structured problem statements, hypotheses, and actionable workplans
Ensure delivery of high-quality, data-driven insights with clear executive-level storytelling
Oversee development of financial models, market analyses, and strategic recommendations
Lead market assessments, competitive benchmarking, and growth opportunity identification
Drive service line strategy development (e.g., orthopedics, cardiovascular, oncology)
Support development of partnerships and affiliations
Integrate operational, financial, and clinical considerations into strategic recommendations
Incorporate AI, data, and digital capabilities into strategic solutions
Manage and mentor junior team members (Senior Associates, Associates)
Provide guidance on analytical approach, deliverable quality, and client communication
Support team staffing, utilization, and performance feedback processes
Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment
Support proposal development, RFP responses, and pitch materials
Identify expansion opportunities within existing client relationships
Contribute to thought leadership (whitepapers, insights, market perspectives)
Participate in building repeatable methodologies, tools, and IP