Specialist - Payors

McKinsey & Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company is seeking a results-driven professional to lead client engagements with national and regional health plans within the HALO domain of SHaPE. You will guide strategy, improve affordability and quality, and drive implementation with clients across North America.

The role requires strong problem-solving, leadership across stakeholders, and a client-service mindset. Travel to client sites will be expected as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in healthcare payer domains.
• Understanding of the healthcare ecosystem and payor landscape.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and professional presence.
• Client service mindset with ability to influence multiple stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Knowledge of automation or AI is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead client engagements with national and regional health plans.
• Develop strategies to improve affordability and quality of care.
• Create knowledge and capabilities for the payor practice.
• Manage front-line implementation projects and deliver outputs.
• Apply project management and client communication skills in client sessions.

Skills

Problem solving

Client service mindset

Leadership across stakeholders

Team player

Adaptability

Entrepreneurship

AI/automation awareness

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Do you want to do work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible? Are you a creative problem-solver who is energized by challenges? You've come to the right place.

YOUR IMPACT You will work with McKinsey's Healthcare Access, Quality and Outcomes improvement (HALO) domain as part of our Social Sector, Healthcare & Public Sector Entities (SHaPE) practice in one of our offices in North America. HALO aims to build solutions, expertise, and capabilities to deliver comprehensive performance impact to payors and service clients across affordability, access, quality, and efficiency. You will collaborate with HALO colleagues, other SHaPE healthcare areas, and the broader global practice of McKinsey consultants. Your main responsibilities include leading client engagements with national and regional health plans, delivering high‑quality outputs that guide critical business decisions, developing strategies to improve affordability and quality, creating new knowledge and capabilities for the payor practice, and managing front‑line implementation projects. You will also use project management and client communication skills to participate in problem‑solving sessions with clients and McKinsey leadership.

YOUR GROWTH

Driving lasting impact and building long‑term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You thrive in a high‑performance, high‑reward culture, doing hard things and showing resilience. In return for your drive, you will receive mentorship, resources, and opportunities to accelerate your development. Every day you will receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.

• Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, helps you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development.
• A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You will make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions while upholding our commitment to ethics and integrity.
• Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 nationalities, our diversity fuels creativity and helps us find the best solutions.
• World‑class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to support your well‑being.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree, advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of relevant experience, including at least one of the following: Payment Integrity including Fraud, Waste & Abuse; Medical & Pharmacy Cost Optimization; Network optimization; Administration & Operational Efficiency; Care Management; Risk Adjustment
• Understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, particularly payors; knowledge of medical or administrative cost optimization is a plus
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to process complex information
• High level of entrepreneurship, professionalism and presence to succeed on the ground with clients
• Client service mindset
• Able to provide leadership over, and influence individuals across, multiple stakeholders from different levels and backgrounds by tailoring your approach
• Ability to be a strong team player in a dynamic and changing environment
• Knowledge of automation or other AI is a plus
• Ability to travel to and work in varying environments that may be challenging and/or not accessible.

We have an unwavering commitment to integrity. It drives everything we do, guiding us to always act in the best interests of our clients, our people, and the communities we serve.

Equal Opportunity / Diversity

FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites.

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