Director, Healthcare Operations and Transformation

AArete

11d•$165,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

AArete is a global, innovative management and technology consulting firm seeking a Director, Operations and Transformation. This senior individual contributor and delivery leader is responsible for driving operational improvement, cost optimization, and transformation initiatives, with a strong focus on healthcare payer environments. The role leads high-visibility client engagements, delivering structured operational assessments, redesign initiatives, and implementation support. While the work is primarily operations-focused, the Director will leverage technology-enabled solutions such as workflow tools, complex analytics, and digital process enhancements to deliver impactful operational improvement. This role operates as a Director level Solution Specialist, engaging directly with senior client executives and serving as a subject matter expert across healthcare operations, technology, transformation strategy, and cross-functional delivery. The Director remains hands-on in assessments and implementation, bringing deep operational expertise to client delivery. You will work closely with project delivery teams to provide expert guidance, tailored recommendations, and develop actionable implementation plans to resolve our clients’ pressing operational challenges.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in healthcare operations, transformation consulting, workforce optimization, shared services, or related fields
Hands-on operational experience in healthcare payers required
Demonstrated experience delivering transformation engagements in a consulting environment across multiple clients
Strong experience conducting operational assessments, current-state reviews, and structured improvement initiatives
Proven ability to synthesize operational and technology-enabled insights for executive audiences
Strong project management capabilities: PMP, Agile, or Six Sigma preferred
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence and advise senior healthcare leaders
Experience navigating both health plan and provider operational environments
High learning agility and ability to ramp quickly in unfamiliar domains
Comfortable collaborating with IT, data, and operational teams
Willingness to travel to client locations as required
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship

Nice To Haves

Experience in workforce optimization, staffing models, productivity improvement, or operational efficiency initiatives
Certifications such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or Agile/Scrum
Experience serving as a transformation SME or internal advisor
Exposure to healthcare technology environments in support of operational improvement (EHRs, care-management platforms, workflow tools, analytics dashboards)
Prior experience supporting multi-client healthcare consulting engagements across payer, provider, or health services organizations
Based in Chicago, IL, and flexible to work from our Chicago office as needed

Responsibilities

Lead healthcare operational and shared services transformation programs, including operating model redesign, transformation strategy, and support solving complex problems across all payer operational and technology functions.
Conduct structured operational assessments across payer organizations, applying strong diagnostic skills in current-state analysis, workflow evaluation, opportunity identification, and transformation planning
Translate complex operational challenges into clear strategic recommendations and actionable implementation roadmaps for senior-level clients
Apply project management and transformation frameworks (PMP, Agile, Lean, Six Sigma) to oversee multiple concurrent workstreams, including technology-enabled process improvements
Guide clients through adoption of new workflows, operational tools, operating models, and digital enhancements that improve efficiency, standardization, and scalability
Serve as an internal healthcare operations subject matter expert, helping reduce reliance on external SMEs through structured frameworks and delivery excellence
Navigate complex client and internal environments, demonstrating strong stakeholder management, executive communication, and an ability to create structure from ambiguity
Support workforce optimization efforts, staffing model evaluations, and operational efficiency analyses across payer and provider settings
Collaborate closely with clinical leaders, operational executives, technologists, and cross-functional teams to drive alignment and successful transformation outcomes
Contribute to internal operations initiatives and thought leadership related to healthcare transformation, shared services optimization, workforce strategy, and digital enablement
Other duties as assigned