Director, Implementations

Gainwell Technologies

7d•$137,000 - $195,000•Remote

About The Position

HMS, a Gainwell Technologies company, is seeking an experienced Director of Implementations to lead the delivery and transformation of technology and services implementations supporting healthcare and human services programs. This role is responsible not only for successful execution of Medicaid related client implementations, but also for modernizing implementation practices, improving delivery predictability, and scaling implementation capabilities to support business growth. The Director of Implementations will oversee a portfolio of concurrent implementations, manage implementation capacity and pipeline demand, and partner closely with Sales, Product, Technology, and Operations leaders to ensure smooth transitions from deal closure through delivery. The ideal candidate brings strong program leadership, deep Medicaid eligibility/Payment Integrity/Coordination of Benefits experience, and a proven ability to drive operational transformation in complex public-sector environments. Your role in our mission Implementation Delivery & Transformation Lead end-to-end implementation efforts from contract execution through go-live and transition to steady-state operations. Drive the transformation and standardization of implementation methodologies, tools, templates, and governance models. Identify and implement improvements to reduce implementation cycle time, risk, and cost while improving quality and client satisfaction. Establish scalable implementation frameworks that support growth across multiple states and programs. Pipeline Management & Sales Partnership Partner closely with Sales leadership to manage the implementation pipeline, demand forecasting, and delivery readiness. Participate in regular pipeline and cadence meetings with Sales to assess upcoming deals, timelines, risks, and resource needs. Provide implementation input into deal shaping, solution design, assumptions, timelines, and Statements of Work (SOWs). Ensure accurate capacity planning and smooth handoff from Sales to Implementation teams. Client & Stakeholder Management Serve as a senior implementation leader for key clients, ensuring alignment on scope, timelines, risks, and success criteria. Lead state client governance forums, status reviews, and executive steering committees during implementations. Proactively manage scope changes, risks, and issues to protect delivery commitments and client relationships. Cross-Functional Leadership Coordinate cross-functional teams including Technology, Data Management, Operations, Analytics, Product, and Shared Services. Partner with Engineering and Product teams to align solution configuration and release planning with implementation needs. Ensure effective transition from implementation to operations, including documentation, training, and knowledge transfer. Team Leadership & Capacity Management Lead, mentor, and develop implementation managers, project managers, and delivery staff. Manage staffing models, workload balancing, and performance management for the implementation organization. Build a high-performing, accountable implementation team capable of delivering complex programs at scale. Governance, Risk & Quality Management Establish implementation governance, escalation paths, and delivery assurance processes. Monitor implementation performance through KPIs, milestones, and risk indicators. Ensure implementations meet contractual, regulatory, and quality standards.

Requirements

8+ years of experience leading technology or services implementations in healthcare or public-sector environments.
Medicaid eligibility experience required, including eligibility determination systems, workflows, and program operations.
Proven experience driving implementation transformation, standardization, and process improvement.
Experience partnering with Sales on pipeline planning, deal readiness, and delivery forecasting.
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to travel up to 15% domestically.

Nice To Haves

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) eligibility experience strongly preferred.
PMP or equivalent project management certification.
Experience with integrated eligibility systems, MMIS, or human services platforms.
Familiarity with Agile, hybrid, or scaled delivery methodologies.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end implementation efforts from contract execution through go-live and transition to steady-state operations.
Drive the transformation and standardization of implementation methodologies, tools, templates, and governance models.
Identify and implement improvements to reduce implementation cycle time, risk, and cost while improving quality and client satisfaction.
Establish scalable implementation frameworks that support growth across multiple states and programs.
Partner closely with Sales leadership to manage the implementation pipeline, demand forecasting, and delivery readiness.
Participate in regular pipeline and cadence meetings with Sales to assess upcoming deals, timelines, risks, and resource needs.
Provide implementation input into deal shaping, solution design, assumptions, timelines, and Statements of Work (SOWs).
Ensure accurate capacity planning and smooth handoff from Sales to Implementation teams.
Serve as a senior implementation leader for key clients, ensuring alignment on scope, timelines, risks, and success criteria.
Lead state client governance forums, status reviews, and executive steering committees during implementations.
Proactively manage scope changes, risks, and issues to protect delivery commitments and client relationships.
Coordinate cross-functional teams including Technology, Data Management, Operations, Analytics, Product, and Shared Services.
Partner with Engineering and Product teams to align solution configuration and release planning with implementation needs.
Ensure effective transition from implementation to operations, including documentation, training, and knowledge transfer.
Lead, mentor, and develop implementation managers, project managers, and delivery staff.
Manage staffing models, workload balancing, and performance management for the implementation organization.
Build a high-performing, accountable implementation team capable of delivering complex programs at scale.
Establish implementation governance, escalation paths, and delivery assurance processes.
Monitor implementation performance through KPIs, milestones, and risk indicators.
Ensure implementations meet contractual, regulatory, and quality standards.