Provider Relations/Contract Specialist

Polk County•Balsam Lake, WI

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Provider Relations/Contract Specialist provides oversight, guidance, and training to contracted providers within the Community Services Division (CSD). This position is responsible for the development and management of contracts under the direction of the Business Services Director. Key responsibilities include executing, maintaining, and monitoring provider contracts, negotiating contract rates, preparing and tracking contracts and addendums, and managing contract data and expenditures. The role also involves meeting with prospective providers, organizing provider relations meetings, communicating updates and changes, coordinating training, providing coaching for conflicts and breaches, and implementing provider-related projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of relevant work experience required.
Associate’s degree required and four (4) years of relevant work experience required.
Combination of training and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, abilities and skills.
A valid driver’s license is required.
Ability to understand contracting processes and regulations related to the provision of mental health and substance abuse services.
Ability to maintain a professional demeanor when working with staff and contracted providers.
Ability to instruct and train in methods and procedures.
Ability to understand programming, implement change and working with contracted providers.
Ability to comprehend, retain and apply County, State, and Federal policies and legislation, i.e. local ordinances, procedure manuals, codes, etc.
Ability to analyze issues, regulations, and practical processes from a programmatic and fiscal perspective to create efficient and effective programs.
Possess experience and knowledge regarding the expectations and processes of third-party payers.
Knowledge of budget and rate setting processes.
Knowledge of business and governmental contract language and excellent negotiation skills.
Ability to build and maintain working relationships with providers, and governmental entities.
Ability to communicate effectively with other members of the staff, supervisor, and the public.
Ability to communicate in both written and verbal forms.
Ability to develop, interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
Ability to respond to complaints per department/division protocol.
Ability to define problems and manage them in a professional manner.
Ability to effectively solve problems, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
Ability to categorize data and information to determine the relationship of the data with reference to established criteria/standards.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with contracted vendors is preferred.
Recent work experience in a human service, government or non-profit setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Execute, maintain and monitor provider contracts for the CSD programs as outlined by policy and procedures.
Works with CSD Business Services team, departmental and division administration to negotiate provider contracts and contract rates.
Prepare contracts/addendums for signature, route and track contracts and addendums through appropriate approval processes.
Collect, manage and monitor contract data and expenditures of signed contracts/addendums.
Meet with prospective providers to discuss CSD programming and expectations of providers.
Organize and facilitate county provider relations meetings.
Communicate updates, contract changes and performance standards to providers.
Coordinate and facilitate provider-based training related to contracting, onboarding and provider expectations.
Provide coaching and guidance as necessary for provider related conflicts, breeches in contract and potential corrective action plans, with oversight by departmental and division administration.
Coordinate, plan and implement various provider related projects, as assigned.
Attend program, state and other meetings as appropriate.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Other job-related duties may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.