Associate Partner, Healthcare Payer Transformation & AI

Cognizant; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan and contributions

Employee stock purchase plan

Learning and development programs

Paid holidays and PTO

Parental leave and fertility support

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an Associate Partner in Healthcare Consulting with deep payer-domain expertise to shape executive agendas into actionable Payer strategies. You will advise payer leaders, lead discovery and workshops, and develop executive-ready roadmaps and boardroom-grade visuals.

The role emphasizes practical, execution-ready strategy grounded in payer realities and digital modernization. You will lead large engagements, manage governance and risk, and partner with technology teams to

Qualifications

• 15+ years of healthcare consulting experience.
• 5+ years leading complex payer-focused engagements.
• Strong understanding of payer business models and regulatory landscape.
• Proven ability to lead executive-level discussions and influence senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional ability to synthesize complex information into clear, decision-oriented communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic discussions on payer transformation topics such as digital modernization, data and analytics, AI/GenAI adoption, interoperability, and regulatory change.
• Frame ambiguous payer problems into structured narratives, options, and recommendations for executive decision-making.
• Present insights and recommendations with strong executive presence and clarity.
• Lead large, multi-workstream engagements spanning strategy, process, data, and technology.
• Oversee engagement governance, scope, financials, and risk management.
• Ensure high-quality, insight-driven deliverables reflecting consulting rigor and payer realities.
• Partner with technology and implementation teams to translate strategy into executable roadmaps and outcomes.
• Be accountable for Revenue and Margin targets for assigned portfolio accounts.
• Drive growth through solution shaping, proposal leadership, and expansion of payer client relationships.
• Develop consulting offerings aligned to payer priorities, including automation and AI-enabled workflows.

Skills

Executive advisory

Payer domain expertise

Leadership

Storytelling & presentation

Client management

Education

Master's degree (MBA, MHA, MPH)

Tools

AI/GenAI platforms

Job description

Cognizant is seeking an Associate Partner in Healthcare Consulting with deep payer-domain expertise to shape executive agendas into actionable Payer strategies. You will advise payer leaders, lead discovery and workshops, and develop executive-ready roadmaps and boardroom-grade visuals.

The role emphasizes practical, execution-ready strategy grounded in payer realities and digital modernization. You will lead large engagements, manage governance and risk, and partner with technology teams to