Executive Director

Paramount Health Options; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Paramount Health Options is seeking an experienced and strategic Executive Director to lead a physician–hospital organization serving member physicians, hospitals, payers, employers, and related healthcare stakeholders.

Reporting to the governing Management Committee/Board, this executive provides leadership for business operations, payer contracting, provider network development and administration, financial performance, regulatory compliance, credentialing, member services, customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Public Health, or a related field.
• Master's degree required, preferably MHA, MBA, or MPH.

Responsibilities

• Lead payer contracting strategy, negotiations, renewals, implementation, and contract performance oversight.
• Oversee provider network development, credentialing, enrollment, and provider relations.
• Manage organizational financial performance, budgeting, reporting, and investment oversight.
• Support Board and committee governance through reporting and strategic recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, payer, accreditation, HIPAA, and delegated credentialing requirements.
• Lead staff development and drive service excellence and stakeholder satisfaction.

Skills

Payer contracting

Provider network strategy

Budgeting

Data analysis

Forecasting

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration/Business/Finance

Master's degree in Healthcare Administration/Business/Public Health

Job description

About Paramount Health Options

Paramount Health Options (PHO) is a provider-owned physician-hospital organization dedicated to advancing the interests of its physician and hospital stakeholders through strategic payer contracting, enrollment, network administration, and value-added business services.

Established in 1994 as a collaboration between Mercy Medical Center and more than 600 physicians serving Linn County, Iowa, PHO has developed a longstanding reputation for delivering innovative payer engagement and operational support services that enhance the competitiveness and financial performance of participating providers all while growing the owners’ equity valuation.

PHO provides a comprehensive portfolio of services, including payer contracting and negotiation, delegated credentialing, provider enrollment, facility privileging, group purchasing initiatives, educational programming, and customized administrative solutions designed to address the evolving needs of healthcare providers and organizations.

As a provider-owned enterprise, PHO is committed to fostering collaborative relationships among physicians, hospitals, ancillary providers and facilities, insurance companies and government payers while pursuing strategic opportunities which strengthen health care systems, improve operational efficiency and support sustainable growth.

Today, PHO represents over 2,700 physicians, healthcare facilities, and ancillary providers across Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota serving as a trusted contracting and administrative partner to healthcare organizations.

Position Summary

Paramount Health Options is seeking an experienced and strategic Executive Director to lead a physician–hospital organization serving member physicians, hospitals, payers, employers, and related healthcare stakeholders. Reporting to the governing Management Committee/Board, this executive provides leadership for business operations, payer contracting, provider network development and administration, financial performance, regulatory compliance, credentialing, member services, customer experience, employee satisfaction, and long-range organizational strategy. The Executive Director leads the 15 team members and serves as the senior executive leader for PHO’s affiliated organizations, including Paramount Credentialing Verification Organization, Inc., Paramount Real Estate Organization, LC, and Paramount Collaborative Network, LC.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead payer contracting strategy, negotiations, renewals, implementation, and ongoing contract performance oversight.
• Oversee provider network development, credentialing, delegated credentialing, enrollment, roster accuracy, and provider relations.
• Manage organizational financial performance, budgeting, reporting, investment oversight, and resource stewardship.
• Support Board and committee governance through clear reporting, strategic recommendations, and execution of approved priorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, payer, accreditation, NCQA, HIPAA, and delegated credentialing requirements with an emphasis on continuous quality improvement.
• Lead staff, strengthen operational processes, foster service excellence, and advance member satisfaction and organizational performance.

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Public Health, or a related field.
• Master's degree required, preferably one of the following:
  • Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Public Health (MPH)

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive executive leadership experience within healthcare organizations, including physician-hospital organizations (PHOs), health systems, clinically integrated networks (CINs), independent practice associations (IPAs), management services organizations (MSOs), accountable care organizations (ACOs), or managed care organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading payer contracting and managed care strategies, including the negotiation, implementation, renewal, and performance oversight of commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid agreements.
• Significant experience overseeing provider network strategy, credentialing, enrollment, compliance, and physician engagement initiatives.
• Proven financial management expertise, including budget development, performance management, data analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Experience working directly with governing boards and executive committees, providing strategic recommendations, risk assessment, and operational leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and building collaborative relationships with physicians, hospitals, payers, and external stakeholders.