Associate Principal, Stars Consulting Center of Excellence

Press Ganey•Remote, TX, TX

2d•$145,000 - $200,000•Remote

About The Position

The Associate Principal, Stars Consulting Center of Excellence serves as both a strategic advisor and hands-on subject matter expert, leading complex Medicare Advantage performance improvement engagements for health plan clients nationwide. This role combines executive-level consulting, business development, project leadership, and deep technical expertise across Medicare Stars measures. The Associate Principal will personally lead analyses, develop client recommendations, drive measurable quality improvement outcomes, and build trusted relationships with senior health plan executives. Success in this role requires the ability to translate complex CMS regulations and Stars methodologies into actionable strategies that improve performance across CAHPS, HEDIS, HOS, medication adherence, and operational measures while identifying opportunities to expand Press Ganey's impact within client organizations.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in government-sponsored healthcare, including Medicare Advantage and/or Medicaid.
Direct accountability for Medicare Star Ratings, quality improvement, population health, or regulatory performance initiatives.
Demonstrated success advising executive leaders on healthcare quality, Stars, and operational performance strategies.
Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with measurable business outcomes.
Bachelor's degree required.
Deep expertise in HEDIS, including NCQA measure specifications, claims data, supplemental data, ECDS reporting, audit processes, and performance improvement strategies.
Strong understanding of Medicare Star Ratings methodology, including measure weighting, cut point movement, improvement measures, Categorical Adjustment Index (CAI), reward factors, and Quality Bonus Payment implications.
Experience analyzing performance data and identifying opportunities to improve measure outcomes.
Proficiency with Excel, SQL, and/or other analytics tools used to perform measure-level performance analyses.
Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
Exceptional executive communication, facilitation, presentation, and consulting skills.
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decision-making.
Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving capabilities.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, client-facing consulting environment.
Deep understanding of Medicare Advantage market dynamics, quality measurement, and evolving regulatory requirements.

Nice To Haves

Healthcare consulting experience within a national consulting firm, health plan, or healthcare services organization.
Experience working with certified HEDIS engines and Stars analytics platforms.
Demonstrated success in business development, proposal creation, and consulting practice growth.
Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Business Administration, or related field.

Responsibilities

Lead and personally deliver Medicare Stars consulting engagements across CAHPS, HEDIS, HOS, medication adherence, and operational performance measures.
Serve as the firm's technical expert on HEDIS methodology, measure specifications, hybrid and administrative reporting, supplemental data strategies, and medical record review optimization.
Translate CMS regulations, annual rate announcements, technical specifications, and Star Ratings methodology updates into clear, executable client strategies.
Conduct detailed measure-level analyses and develop actionable recommendations that drive quality and Stars performance improvements.
Develop executive-level presentations, strategic roadmaps, performance dashboards, client reports, and improvement playbooks.
Manage multiple high-priority client engagements simultaneously while ensuring exceptional service delivery and measurable outcomes.
Partner with health plan executives and operational leaders to identify opportunities, solve complex challenges, and achieve strategic goals.
Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite stakeholders, influencing decision-making and facilitating organizational alignment.
Build and expand relationships across client organizations to increase engagement and drive long-term partnership growth.
Identify opportunities to integrate Press Ganey solutions, including Hyperlift analytics, CAHPS, and HOS offerings, to maximize client value.
Lead scope development, proposal creation, pricing strategies, and solution design for new engagements.
Contribute directly to revenue growth through identification and development of new consulting opportunities.
Represent Press Ganey at industry conferences, client forums, and executive events.
Contribute to industry thought leadership through presentations, publications, and market-facing content.
Mentor, coach, and cross-train consultants across Stars performance domains to strengthen organizational expertise and delivery capacity.
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
Support methodology development and best-practice sharing across the consulting organization.