Senior Director, Payer Relations and Strategy (Oncology)

Mckesson Corporation; Irving (TX); Hybrid; USD 187,000 - 312,000; Full time

Job summary

McKesson is seeking a senior leader to drive managed care strategy across The US Oncology Network and payer partners. The role negotiates contracts, guides relationship strategies, and aligns pricing with organizational goals.

The position requires 13+ years in managed care or oncology operations and 6+ years of diversified leadership. It emphasizes performance management, cross‑functional collaboration, and strategic planning in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• 13+ years of professional experience related to managed care, value‑based care, healthcare administration, payer relations, or oncology or multispecialty practice operations.
• 6+ years diversified leadership, planning, communication, organization and people motivation skills.
• Experience in contract negotiations or value‑based care and working with payers.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and development of contracting teams across multiple geographies.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to determine strategic imperatives for growth and shared vision.
• Negotiate and manage payer contracts aligned with organizational objectives and revenue goals.
• Develop and execute fee-for-service and value-based contracting strategies.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration with Finance, Revenue Cycle, and Operations to optimize pricing and outcomes.

Skills

Contract negotiations

Leadership

Payer relations

Strategic planning

Healthcare administration

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Conga Contracting Lifecycle Management

Job description

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well‑being of you and those we serve – we care. What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people.

Responsible for developing and maintaining long-term productive relationships with practices in The US Oncology Network and third-party payers, such as commercial and governmental payers, employers, and other payer organizations. Leads a team of managed care professionals and directs the execution of managed care initiatives and strategies that will maximize opportunities between third-party payers and provider partners including hospitals, PCP networks, and employer groups. Negotiates contracts with payers that meet the financial, operational, and strategic goals and objectives for assigned practices within The US Oncology Network and coaches team to similarly perform these duties. Partners with key stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop an understanding of new therapies, technologies, and procedures, and to ensure that costs are appropriately reflected and reimbursed in managed care agreements. Collaborates with executive leaders on the development of long and short-term practice‑level strategic plans that position practices optimally within the third-party payer environment and local hospital/provider market. Facilitates personalized payer transformation strategy sessions with individual practices and develops a roadmap to accomplish strategic imperatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and development of contracting team members, including McKesson and USON practice employees across multiple geographies
• Partners with executive leadership to determine strategic imperatives used to drive growth, goal planning, and framing shared vision
• Responsible for goal setting and performance management of direct reports
• Responsible for professional development and guidance of all team members and disciplines including managed care and value based care
• Ensures accountability for managers and direct reports
• Support leadership bench strength and support development for cross‑functional partners

Develop and strengthen payer relationships : Prospect new preferred provider agreements, novel payment arrangements, and enhanced fee‑for‑service agreements aligned with strategic imperatives and disseminate to team members to finalize contract terms. Responsible for the successful negotiation and management of designated payer agreements including developing, evaluating and implementing, and establishing profitable payer relationships to achieve the organization’s objectives, grow and protect revenue, and support value‑based care transformation across assigned practices. Develop and maintain payer relationships and advocate for community‑based oncology services with local market payers; identifying opportunities and programs to secure enhanced relationships, reimbursement, referrals, and market presence and support expansion of patient services.

Budget

Determines budget and advise senior management both within The US Oncology Network and practice leadership on all matters concerning net revenues in the areas of commercial Managed Care, Medicaid, and Medicare. Monitors and reports performance based on budgeted plan

Strategy

Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and execute both fee for service and value based contracting strategies. Build self as a trusted, expert advisor with stakeholders. Provide support to executive leadership and teams on issues of managed care strategy, reimbursement, cost, payer mix, and other contract‑specific issues. Respond to requests for assistance in resolving a wide range of contract performance and operational issues associated with the implementation of contracts. Ensure timely and effective implementation of contracts through communication with key team members. Collaborate with multiple internal groups which contribute to this business (US Oncology operations, Onmark operations, Finance, GPO, Innovent, Clinical Services, Pharmacy Solutions, Revenue Cycle, VBC Transformation, and Medically Integrated Pharmacy, Business Development) to monitor industry trends and identify opportunities and potential headwinds. Partner with Impacts Analytics to develop and evaluate contracts to optimize pricing and strategically align payer, practice, and physician incentives. Design sound agreements that drive compelling performance and optimization of quality measurements based on claims studies, actuarial evaluations, and episodic payments where gain/risk share, steerage, or other advantages to the practice are involved. Oversight of business development evaluations for potential integrations into The US Oncology Network. Collaborate with key stakeholders to design paths that prepare practices for novel payment models (i.e., case rate development, integrated networks, contract capitation, total cost of care initiatives, and shared savings models) and has a firm grasp on the analytics/practice impacts that support such payment models.

Leadership

Provide leadership and development of contracting direct and indirect team members, including McKesson and USON practice employees across multiple geographies. Partners with executive leadership to determine strategic imperatives used for goal planning. Responsible for goal setting and performance management of direct reports. Responsible for professional development and guidance of all team members and disciplines including managed care and value based care. Ensures accountability for managers and direct reports. Support leadership bench strength and support development for cross‑functional partners. Minimum Requirement Degree or equivalent experience. Typically requires 13+ years of professional experience and 6+ years of diversified leadership, planning, communication, organization, and people motivation skills (or equivalent experience).

Education

Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s in Business or Healthcare Administration preferred.

Critical Skills

13+ years of professional experience related to managed care, value‑based care, healthcare administration, payer relations, or oncology or multispecialty practice operations. 6+ years diversified leadership, planning, communication, organization and people motivation skill (or equivalent experience). Experience working for a community‑based health provider or related consulting organization, preferably in contract negotiations or value‑based care. Strong understanding of strategic and operational considerations for healthcare providers. Experience developing relationships with high‑level, decision‑makers in the payer, third‑party administrator and specialty practice environments with a track record of innovative network development and contracting solutions. Experience in healthcare management in a managed care environment including significant experience in commercial payer strategies, pricing, reimbursement, and healthcare cost analysis. Track record of directing high‑performance, multidisciplinary teams. Additional Skills Knowledge of coordinating activities, exchanging information and clarifying needs from a Managed Care perspective with Marketing, Business Development, Finance, revenue cycle management, pharmacy operations, and the clinical team. Experience in Oncology or specialty practice environment. Experience and knowledge with strong executive presence, exceptional leadership skills, and superior organization skills. Ability to create visually appealing and compelling presentation materials. Expertise in fee‑for‑service and value‑based care contracting with the ability to advise specialty practices. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. Ability to work effectively with people at all levels in an organization. Ability to influence people, build relationships and collaborate. Strong proficiency in remote and in‑person public speaking and facilitating large groups. Experience in developing content to engage large groups remotely. Experience monitoring markets, industries, and companies to maintain and update information base by participating in industry organizations including developing new contracts, knowledge, and trends to cultivate new strategies. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency in Conga Contracting Lifecycle Management.

Additional Skills

Strong proficiency in remote and in‑person public speaking and facilitating large groups. Experience in developing content to engage large groups remotely. Experience monitoring markets, industries, and companies to maintain and update information base by participating in industry organizations including developing new contracts, knowledge, and trends to cultivate new strategies. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency in Conga Contracting Lifecycle Management.

Working Conditions

Hybrid: Office/Remote with 30% domestic travel. This position offers the possibility of a hybrid work arrangement based on recent updates to our in‑office/work‑from‑home model. If located in DFW area, the selected candidate may be expected to work on‑site at our Las Colinas office a minimum of two (2) days per week, with the remaining days worked remotely. Specific in‑office days may be designated according to team needs and business priorities.

Compensation

We are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson as part of our Total Rewards. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations. In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long‑term incentive opportunities may be offered. Our Base Pay Range for this position $187,000 - $311,600.

Equal Opportunity Employer

McKesson provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other legally protected category. For additional information on McKesson’s full Equal Employment Opportunity policies, visit our Equal Employment Opportunity page.

McKesson is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

McKesson is committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and offers opportunities to all job seekers including job seekers with disabilities.