VP of Network Strategy & Market Development

UNITE HERE HEALTH•Oak Brook, IL

14h•$285,000 - $300,000•Remote

About The Position

UNITE HERE HEALTH serves over 200,000 workers and their families in the hospitality and gaming industry nationwide. Our desire to be innovative and progressive drives us to develop impactful programs and benefits designed to engage our participants in managing their own health and healthcare. Our vision is exciting and challenging. Please read on to learn more about this great opportunity! The Vice President of Network Strategy & Market Development is a senior executive leader responsible for designing, executing, and optimizing Aurora’s managed care plan and provider network and market management strategy. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to the Fund’s Aurora staff and oversee network contracting, provider partnerships, vendor management, and market development to ensure the organization delivers competitive, high-quality, cost-effective care solutions across Aurora’s regions/markets. This position is a key contributor to the overall performance of the Aurora-based Plan. This role will provide overall strategic guidance to the Aurora Plan Units, leading the development of a comprehensive network strategy—including contracting with managed care plans, direct contracts with hospital systems, provider groups, and ancillary service providers to strengthen our Aurora plan performance on cost and position the organization for increased growth. This position directs the negotiation and management of health plan, provider, and other vendor agreements, cultivates strategic partnerships with health systems, key physician groups, and other strategic market partners, and ensures strong operational performance of contracted vendors/providers. The leader also oversees vendor selection and performance to support network adequacy, access, and service delivery. Working closely with executive leadership, the VP analyzes market trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes to identify opportunities for expansion and differentiation. The role is accountable for vendor and market performance metrics, total cost of care initiatives as it relates to contracting, and market-level business results related to our contracts. This position requires strong strategic vision, deep managed care expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive leadership experience in network strategy, vendor management, and market development across complex, multi-partner environments
Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field from an accredited institution, or significant related experience in lieu of education
Master’s Degree (preferred) in business administration, Healthcare Administration or Public Health or another related field
The ability to travel between 15 - 25% based on business needs
Proven ability to develop and execute enterprise-level network strategies that improve performance, reduce costs, and support long-term growth
Expertise in building and managing large-scale vendor ecosystems, including contract negotiation, SLA governance, performance optimization, and risk mitigation
Demonstrated success driving market expansion initiatives, developing new partnerships, and identifying strategic growth opportunities
Strong financial acumen with experience leading multimillion-dollar budgets, forecasting, cost modeling, and ROI-driven investment planning
Exceptional leadership skills with a track record of developing high-performing teams and influencing executives and cross-functional stakeholders
Highly skilled in data-driven decision-making, market and competitive analysis, and applying insights to guide strategic direction
Adept at leading complex transformation programs and navigating organizational change, ambiguity, and high-impact decision environments
Outstanding executive communication skills, with experience presenting to C-suite leaders, boards, regulators, and external partners
Deep understanding of industry technologies, network operations, regulatory requirements, and emerging trends that impact market and vendor strategies
Understanding of current benefits legislation (e.g., Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Department of Labor (DOL), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), etc.)
Strategic planning with the ability to translate fund priorities into measurable operational and vendor outcomes
Effective communication with boards of trustees, union leaders, employer groups, and external partners
Expertise in managing vendor ecosystems to maintain compliance and strategic alignment
Demonstrated success in supporting trustees with vendor accountability and value assessments.
Skilled at spotting market and partnership opportunities that deliver cost savings and improved member outcomes.
Strong background in implementing forward-thinking strategies without compromising continuity.
Skilled at navigating ambiguity and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.