Director, Strategic Payor Partnerships

Our Company:

At Cerebral, we're on a mission to democratize access to high-quality mental health care for all. We believe that everyone everywhere deserves to get the care they need, and are striving to make care convenient and accessible, while tackling the stigmas that surround mental illness.

Since launching in January of 2020, Cerebral has scaled to provide mental health services to more than 700,000 people in all fifty US states. With support from investors like SoftBank, Silver Lake, Access Industries, Bill Ackman, WestCap, and others, and impactful leaders like you, we’ll continue to democratize mental health care and double down on clinical quality and deliver exceptional client outcomes for years to come. With a heavy focus on clinical quality and safety in all that we do, we’ve accomplished excellent outcomes for hundreds of thousands of clients:

• 82% of clients report an improvement in their anxiety symptoms after using Cerebral.  
• 75% of clients who report improvement in their depression see improvement within 60 days.  
• 50% of clients who initially report suicidal ideation no longer harbor suicidal thoughts after treatment with Cerebral.

This is just the beginning for Cerebral, and we won’t stop building, growing, and iterating until everyone, everywhere can access high-quality, evidence-based mental health care without high costs and/or long wait times. We’re looking for mission-driven leaders who share these values, and we need your help as we transform access to high-quality mental health care in the United States and beyond.

The Role:

As the Director of Strategic Payor Partnerships at Cerebral, you will be responsible for driving growth and strategic initiatives through the development and management of partnerships with insurance providers. Leveraging your industry expertise and network, you will identify and cultivate key relationships, negotiate partnerships, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver value-added solutions to optimize our insurance offering. This role requires a combination of strategic thinking, relationship-building skills, and a deep understanding of the insurance landscape to drive success in a rapidly evolving healthcare market.

Who you are:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in insurance management, strategic partnership development, business development, or related roles within the healthcare industry.
• Deep understanding of the healthcare insurance landscape, including knowledge of payer dynamics, reimbursement models, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record of building and managing successful partnerships with insurance providers.
• Understanding of the full patient insurance lifecycle, including eligibility and benefit verification, claims submission, and claims processing.
• Experience in payer contract negotiations and management, especially with major networks such as BCBS, Cigna, Aetna, Magellan, and UHC.
• Interpretation of CMS EDI Standards: Knowledge in interpreting CMS EDI standards, such as EDI 270/271.
• Experience with working with Mental Healthcare carveout programs for insurance eligibility and billing.
• Experience working with Health Insurance Technology and vendors, including experience with Real-Time eligibility, Automatic Claims processing, and workflow optimization.
• Experience with clinician credentialing and delegation agreements.
• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to structure and execute complex partnership agreements.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze market trends, financial data, and performance metrics to drive decision-making.
• Leadership experience, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities.

How your skills and passion will come to life at Cerebral:

• Develop and Execute Partnership Strategy: Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive partnership strategy to drive growth and enhance Cerebral's market position within the Insurance space. Identify opportunities for contracts with insurance providers aligned with business objectives.
• Build and Maintain Relationships: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with insurance providers, including payers, health plans, and managed care organizations. Serve as the primary point of contact for key partners, establishing new contracted coverage, and fostering collaboration and alignment on strategic initiatives.
• Negotiate Partnership Agreements: Lead negotiations with insurance providers to establish mutually beneficial partnership agreements. Collaborate with legal and finance teams to structure agreements that support Cerebral’s growth objectives, while mitigating risks.
• Drive Revenue Growth: Develop and implement initiatives to drive revenue growth through strategic insurance partnerships. Identify opportunities to expand product offerings, increase market share, and generate new revenue streams in collaboration with insurance partners.
• Strategic Planning and Analysis: Conduct market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and threats in the insurance landscape. Develop a strong understanding of competitor offerings and customer preferences. Utilize insights to inform strategic decision-making, product development initiatives, and to optimize partnership strategies.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including product development, marketing, finance / billing, and operations, to ensure alignment of partnership initiatives with overall business goals. Collaborate on product development, go-to-market strategies, and client engagement efforts.
• Monitor and Evaluate Partnership Performance: Track and evaluate the performance of insurance partnerships against established KPIs and objectives. Act as a liaison between Cerebral and insurance partners to resolve issues and drive mutual success.
• Optimize Revenue Cycle: Collaborate with finance and revenue cycle management teams to optimize insurance reimbursement processes and maximize revenue generation. Identify opportunities to optimize claims efficiency and minimize errors for revenue enhancement and cost containment.
• Ensure Compliance: Work with legal and compliance teams to stay abreast of regulatory changes and industry standards pertaining to insurance practices.
• Provide Leadership and Mentorship: Lead cross-functional team working on our insurance “relaunch,” providing project management, expectation setting, and team development to support the launch. Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture focused on continuous improvement and excellence.
• Start-Up Experience: Experience in start-ups or ability to move quickly despite insurance being a traditional industry.

What we offer: 

• Mission-driven impact:
  • Shape the future of the #1 largest and fastest growing online mental health care company in the world
  • Build a platform that is improving the lives and well-being of hundreds of thousands of people (and counting)
  • Join a community of high achievers who have a passion for promoting mental health
• Path to develop & grow:
  • Bi-annual performance reviews & opportunities for promotions - as Cerebral grows, so should you. We build your goals together and forge a career path that is right for you
• Remote-first model: Work virtually from anywhere in the US
• Competitive compensation & benefits:
  • Total compensation includes annual bonus and equity / stock options
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, HSA, Flexible Spending Accounts and 401(k)
  • Unlimited PTO - we encourage taking the time you need to relax and recharge
  • Wellness perks including monthly mental health days off (12 per year) in addition to holidays, and “No Meeting Wednesdays”
  • Up to $200 reimbursement for any equipment purchased to support your work-from-home environment (video camera, ring light, headset, etc.)
  • Access to free Cerebral therapy services (up to 7 sessions per year)
  • Medical travel expense health reimbursement arrangement 
  • Paid parental leave after 3 months
• Culture & connectivity:
  • Monthly peer-to-peer recognition allowance via Bonusly allows team members to reward one another for values-aligned contributions 
  • Employee Resource Groups that bring team members together in a safe space to connect with one another and advance a respectful and inclusive company culture
  • Virtual social events enable us to build a sense of community and connect on a more personal level
  • Optional in-person local meetups for major hub cities

The national base salary range (OR the national hourly range for nonexempt positions) offered for this position is outlined below. Cerebral is committed to equal pay for equal work; however, business reasons may dictate variations in pay that are attributed to objective factors, such as a candidate's qualifications and years of experience. Total compensation includes base salary and may include an annual performance bonus and equity/stock options.

Who we are (our company values):

• Client-first Focus - relentless focus on advancing the quality of care, clinical experience, and patient safety
• Ethics & Integrity - do what is right and demonstrate ethical principles, even when no one is watching
• Commitment - accountable for fully delivering on commitments to our clients and each other
• Impact & Quality - make a positive impact and deliver high quality outcomes, based on data and evidence
• Empathy - act compassionately, listen to seek understanding, and cultivate psychological safety with clients and colleagues
• Collaboration - achieve our goals together as a united team, strengthened by mutual openness, trust, and diversity of thought
• Thoughtful Innovation - continuously evolve our ability to deliver on our mission, prioritizing long-term, strategic bets over short-term gains

Cerebral is committed to bringing together humans from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe and welcoming work environment free of discrimination and harassment. As an equal opportunity employer, we prohibit any unlawful discrimination against a job applicant on the basis of their race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, family or parental status, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We respect the laws enforced by the EEOC and are dedicated to going above and beyond in fostering diversity across our workplace.

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Cerebral, Inc. is a management services organization that provides health information technology, information management system, and non-clinical administrative support services for various medical practices, including Cerebral Medical Group, PA and its affiliated practices (CMG), who are solely responsible for providing and overseeing all clinical matters. Cerebral, Inc. does not provide healthcare services, employ any healthcare provider, own any medical practice (including CMG), or control or attempt to control any provider or the provision of any healthcare service. “Cerebral” is the brand name commonly used by Cerebral, Inc. and CMG.