Director Strategic Parnerships

South Side Healthy Community Organization; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

South Side Healthy Community Organization (SSHCO) seeks a Director of Strategic Partnerships to lead development, negotiation, and management of partnerships that advance population health and financial sustainability. Reporting to the VP of Population Health, you will shape value‑based care portfolios, payer relationships, and collaborative initiatives with health systems, FQHCs, ACOs, and MCOs.

You will coordinate with Care Coordination, Quality Improvement, and Finance to align strategies,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a healthcare/business/public health/finance field.
• Master's degree preferred for advanced roles.
• Minimum 5 years in healthcare partnerships, managed care, or population health.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships to advance population health and value-based care.
• Negotiate contracts and payer arrangements with health plans and provider organizations.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with finance, data, and operations to implement agreements.
• Monitor performance metrics and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Identify new revenue opportunities and sustainable funding strategies.
• Mentor program staff supporting partnerships.

Skills

Negotiation

Relationship-building

Strategic thinking

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Finance, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

About the Organization At the South Side Healthy Community Organization (SSHCO), we believe in transforming health and scaling new models of care to build a stronger, more vibrant, and empowered community. We are a key partner in a collaborative of 13 healthcare organizations on Chicago's South Side, all united by a single mission: to improve the health and well‑being of our community.

If you are guided by our core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Communication, Accountability, and Respect, we invite you to join us. We are looking for individuals who want to be part of a movement that prioritizes community needs and ensures a healthier future for all.

SSHCO provides a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to promote a well‑balanced lifestyle for our employees, including medical/dental/vision insurances, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and tuition benefits. These benefits are designed to be affordable and competitive, helping you with your well‑being, financial security, and career advancement.

Req Number POP-26-00004

Category Population Health

Position Director Strategic Parnerships

Open Date 8/12/2026

Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt

Pay Range $125,000 - $135,000

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Work Modality Hybrid (at least 3 days in office)

Shift Days

Description

The Director of Strategic Partnerships is responsible for developing, negotiating, implementing, and managing strategic partnerships that advance South Side Healthy Community Organization's (SSHCO) mission, population health goals, and long‑term financial sustainability. Reporting to the Vice President of Population Health, this role serves as the primary lead for value‑based care partnerships, managed care relationships, and collaborative initiatives with healthcare organizations, community-based organizations, health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).

The Director of Strategic Partnerships plays a critical role in expanding SSHCO's value‑based care portfolio, identifying new revenue opportunities, strengthening payer and provider relationships, and ensuring that partnership agreements support improved health outcomes for Medicaid populations. This position requires a highly skilled negotiator who can effectively represent SSHCO's interests while building collaborative, mutually beneficial relationships with external partners and internal stakeholders.

The Director of Strategic Partnerships is expected to model and promote SSHCO's mission, vision, and values through collaborative leadership, commitment to health equity, community engagement, innovation, and excellence in service to South Side residents and healthcare partners.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership Development & Management

• Lead the development, cultivation, and management of strategic partnerships that support SSHCO's population health and value‑based care objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue new partnership opportunities with MCOs, FQHCs, ACOs, health systems, provider groups, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Develop business cases, partnership proposals, scopes of work, and service models that align organizational capabilities with partner needs.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned strategic partners and payer organizations.
• Establish and maintain trusted relationships with executive leaders, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders.

Value-Based Care & Contract Management

• Lead negotiation and implementation of value-based agreements, including pay‑for‑performance arrangements, shared savings programs, care coordination partnerships, and other alternative payment models.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership to develop partnership strategies that support sustainable reimbursement for care coordination, community health worker services, population health initiatives, and health-related social needs interventions.
• Monitor contractual obligations, performance metrics, and reporting requirements to ensure compliance and maximize partnership success.
• Work closely with finance, quality, care coordination, and data teams to evaluate partnership performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Negotiation & Business Development

• Lead contract negotiations with health plans, provider organizations, and strategic partners.
• Utilize financial, operational, and quality performance data to support negotiations and partnership relationship management.
• Negotiate reimbursement structures, performance expectations, service delivery models, and partnership responsibilities.
• Facilitate discussions among internal and external stakeholders to align priorities and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Support organizational growth through the identification and development of new revenue‑generating opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Care Coordination, Quality Improvement, Data Analytics, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure successful implementation of partnership agreements.
• Collaborate with organizational leaders to align partnership strategies with programmatic goals and operational capabilities.
• Support development of workflows, reporting structures, and performance improvement initiatives required to achieve partnership objectives.
• Translate complex contractual and partnership requirements into actionable operational plans.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Develop and maintain systems for tracking partnership performance, financial outcomes, and contractual deliverables.
• Prepare and present regular reports to leadership regarding partnership performance, growth opportunities, risks, and recommendations.
• Utilize data analytics and performance metrics to support decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
• Monitor industry trends, policy developments, and emerging value-based care opportunities to inform organizational strategy.

Supervisory Responsibilities: May supervise Program Managers, Analysts, Coordinators, or other staff supporting partnership and value-based care initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Finance, or a related field.
• Master's degree (MBA, MHA, MPH, or related discipline) preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in healthcare partnerships, managed care, value-based care, business development, healthcare contracting, or population health.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts, partnership agreements, or payer arrangements.
• Experience working with Medicaid populations, managed care organizations, healthcare providers, or community-based organizations.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of value-based care models, managed care contracting, population health strategies, and healthcare reimbursement methodologies.
• Knowledge of Medicaid programs, quality performance measures, care coordination models, and health-related social needs interventions.
• Exceptional negotiation, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong business acumen and ability to analyze financial, operational, and performance data.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and partnerships simultaneously.
• Proven ability to influence decision-making and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Relationship-centered leadership.
• Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Accountability and results orientation.
• Adaptability and continuous improvement mindset.
• Commitment to health equity and community impact.

Equal Opportunity Employer

SSHCO is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Our hiring and employment practices are based solely on job-related criteria and qualifications, and we strive to ensure that all employees and applicants are treated with respect, fairness, and without bias. We promote an environment where every team member can thrive, contribute their best, and reach their full potential.

If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or throughout your employment, please contact us at [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure equal access and opportunities for all individuals.

This position is currently accepting applications.