Job Details

Job Description

Morgan Consulting Resources, Inc. has been retained to conduct the search for the Vice President of Network Strategy and Market Development for UNITE HERE HEALTH. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a deeply committed organization that serves 200,000+ workers and their families in the hospitality and gaming industry nationwide.

Location: This is a remote role with a strong preference for candidates in Central or Eastern America.

About the Organization:
UNITE HERE HEALTH (UHH) is a multi-employer Taft-Hartley Trust Fund governed by a Board of Trustees composed of union and employer representatives.

Mission: UHH's mission is to provide health benefits that offer high-quality, affordable healthcare to their participants at better value with better service than is otherwise available in the market. UHH believes their success depends on innovation and engaging their participants.

Since 1974, UNITE HERE HEALTH has served UNITE HERE! union workers in the hospitality, food service and gaming industries. Theirbenefits and innovative programs are designed to meet the triple aim of better care, better health, and lower costs while empowering participants to better manage their health and healthcare. For more information about the organization, please visit:

Culture: UHH is a very hands-on, fast-paced, flat organization that prides itself in being innovative and progressive. UHH is a very hands-on, fast-paced, flat organization that prides itself in being innovative and progressive. Ensuring excellence in participant care is the highest priority.

About the Position:
The Vice President of Network Strategy & Market Development is a senior executive leader responsible for designing, executing, and optimizing Aurora's managed care plan and provider network and market management strategy. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to the Fund's Aurora staff and oversees network contracting, provider partnerships, vendor management, and market development to ensure the organization delivers competitive, high-quality, cost-effective care solutions across Aurora's regions/markets. This position is a key contributor to the overall performance of the Aurora-based Plan.

This role will provide overall strategic guidance to the Aurora Plan Units, leading the development of a comprehensive network strategy including contracting with managed care plans, direct contracts with hospital systems, provider groups, and ancillary service providers to strengthen our Aurora plan performance on cost and position the organization for increased growth. This position directs the negotiation and management of health plan, provider, and other vendor agreements, cultivates strategic partnerships with health systems, key physician groups, and other strategic market partners, and ensures strong operational performance of contracted vendors/providers. The leader also oversees vendor selection and performance to support network adequacy, access, and service delivery.

Working closely with executive leadership, the VP analyzes market trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes to identify opportunities for expansion and differentiation. The role is accountable for vendor and market performance metrics, total cost of care initiatives as it relates to contracting, and market-level business results related to our contracts. This position requires strong strategic vision, deep managed care expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to influence both internal and external stakeholders.

VP, Network Strategy & Market Development - Key Functions Reporting Up Through Would Include (currently staff of 6):

• Vendor Management (MCVA)
• Network Contracting Strategy and Execution
• Market Development

Essential Qualifications:

Years of Experience and Knowledge

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in network strategy, vendor management, and market development across complex, multi-partner environments
• Proven ability to develop and execute enterprise-level network strategies that improve performance, reduce costs, and support long-term growth
• Expertise in building and managing large-scale vendor ecosystems, including contract negotiation, SLA governance, performance optimization, and risk mitigation. This includes direct negotiation with executive level leadership of hospital systems and health plans
• A proven track record and ability to cultivate strategic partnerships with health systems, key physician groups, and other strategic market partners at the executive level
• Demonstrated success driving market expansion initiatives, developing new partnerships, and identifying strategic growth opportunities
• Strong financial acumen with experience leading multimillion-dollar budgets, forecasting, cost modeling, and ROI-driven investment planning
• Exceptional leadership skills with a track record of developing high-performing teams and influencing executives and cross-functional stakeholders
• Highly skilled in data-driven decision-making, market and competitive analysis, and applying insights to guide strategic direction
• Adept at leading complex transformation programs and navigating organizational change, ambiguity, and high-impact decision environments

Education, Licenses, and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration or related field from an accredited institution, or significant related experience in lieu of education
• Master's Degree (preferred) in business administration, Healthcare Administration or Public Health or another related field

Short Term Goals (first 90 days)

• Assess provider networks, key markets, and major contracts to identify opportunities to improve affordability, quality, access, and performance accountability
• Evaluate existing provider and vendor agreements to strengthen financial terms, cost-management levers, and contractual protections
• Conduct market analyses in priority states with significant membership to identify innovative partnership and contracting opportunities
• Develop initial market strategies for key states, including network positioning, provider priorities, and growth or optimization pathways
• Establish a baseline view of network performance, data capabilities, and reporting gaps to inform future strategy
• Identify near-term "quick wins" and risk mitigation opportunities with measurable financial or operational impact
• Build strong relationships with executive leadership and cross-functional partners while developing a deep understanding of the organization's operating model and Taft-Hartley governance

Salary expectations: The salary range for this position is$285K to $300K salary. Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to: relevant experience, qualifications, expertise, certifications, licenses, education or equivalent work experience, time in role, peer and market data, prior performance, business sector, and geographic location.

Benefits: UHH rewards great work with great benefits, including but not limited to: Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time-Off (PTO), Paid Holidays, Short- & Long-term Disability, Life, AD&D, Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare & dependent care), Commuter Transit, Tuition Assistance, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Of particular note are excellent retirement benefits through a 401(k) and a robust pension plan.

If you or someone you know has the qualifications for this role, let's set up a time to talk. Thank you!

Rosie Saenz, Principal & Executive Search Consultant
Morgan Consulting Resources, Inc.
...@morganconsulting.com

ADDITIONAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Vendor Management
The Vice President will oversee a vendor management team (MCVA) to ensure that upon the closure of critical deals with vendors, all onboarding and implementation issues are addressed, and performance is monitored closely to extract full value from vendor partnerships. Under the direction of the Vice President, the MCVA Team will support final negotiations; coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to implement contracts; and manage day-to-day contractual relationships with a wide range of managed care partners (contracted network carriers, vendors and preferred providers).

Network Contracting Strategy and Execution
The Vice President will oversee the network contracting strategy and execution team and provide expert guidance in the design, negotiation and execution of advanced contracting models and cultivation of key provider partnerships. They will ensure UHH's contracting strategy is centered around improving affordability, quality and overall network performance. The Vice President will drive innovation in UHH's contracting strategy, including the exploration of opportunities to increase quality and decrease costs through both standard and novel arrangements with third party administrators, direct contracts with providers, value-based contracts, carve outs, point solutions and other approaches that deliver value.

Market Development
The Vice President will provide oversight to the team to build a deep understanding of major UHH markets (Chicago, NYC, Boston, AC, national Food Service Plan) and provide clear guidance on where to invest, intervene or innovate. They will guide the examination of key trends, market dynamics, local legislation and policy activity, and union and employer points of view to anticipate future impacts and translate intelligence into actionable, market-specific strategies that increase quality, decrease costs and deliver positive member experience.

The Vice President will work in close collaboration with peers, including the Aurora Plan Units VP of Clinical Affairs, VP of Operations and the Chief Information Officer. They will develop and deepen relationships with key vendors, maintain high-level relationships with trustees, monitor and encourage robust and productive working relationships between the Regions and Aurora Operations. They will also collaborate with the Business & Healthcare Analytics team and the Chief Underwriter to proactively assess the value of contracted programs and services and identify opportunities for improvement.

Network Strategy & Optimization

• Oversee the development of the Aurora Plans' network strategy to ensure operational excellence, scalability, modernization, and long-term sustainability
• Guide the evaluation of current network performance, identification of gaps, and implementation of strategies to improve service quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness
• Work with teams to drive network innovation by assessing emerging technologies, industry trends, and competitive changes affecting strategic direction
• Oversee strategic planning cycles, infrastructure roadmaps, and network transformation initiatives

Vendor Management & Oversight

• Direct the end-to-end vendor management function, including vendor selection, contracting, onboarding, performance management, and strategic alignment
• Guide team to negotiate high-value contracts and partnerships to secure favorable terms, service levels, and financial benefits
• Ensure vendor governance frameworks, SLAs, and performance scorecards are in place and managed to drive accountability
• Build and maintain long-term strategic relationships with executive level leadership and key vendors, partners, and service providers

Market Development & Growth

• Build out a market development function to identify and evaluate new market opportunities, partnership models, and strategic alliances that support organizational growth and competitive positioning
• Guide the team to analyze markets to assess industry landscapes, customer needs, and emerging trends
• Oversee the development of new business initiatives, service offerings, or expansion plans that align with organizational goals
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to execute market development strategies that enhance value and drive sustainable growth

Financial & Operational Management

• Supervise financial planning, forecasting, cost modeling, and budgeting for network and vendor-related functions
• Ensure efficient utilization of resources and deliver on targets related to cost savings, ROI, and operational improvements
• Work closely with Aurora Plan Units VP of Clinical Affairs, VP of Operations and CIO to collaborate and align efforts

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide strategic leadership to teams responsible for network planning, optimization, vendor oversight, and market development, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and long-term growth strategies
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams by setting clear expectations, fostering accountability, and cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Coach and mentor team members and people leaders, providing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities that strengthen individual capabilities and organizational bench strength
• Promote a learning-oriented environment that encourages innovation, cross-functional problem-solving, and adoption of best practices and emerging technologies
• Model effective leadership behaviors, including transparency, integrity, strong communication, decisive action, and inclusive engagement across diverse teams
• Drive talent development and succession planning, identifying high-potential employees and preparing future leaders for key roles within the network strategy and vendor management functions
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships with operations, IT, finance, procurement, compliance, and executive leadership to ensure cohesive strategy execution and shared accountability
• Champion organizational change, helping teams navigate transformation, new operating models, and evolving priorities with clarity and resilience
• Plans, analyzes, and evaluates programs and services, operational needs, and fiscal constraints
• Supervises, leads, and delegates work and coaches, mentors, develops employees
• Analyzes problems, identifies, and develops alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendation/solutions
• Recommends hires and promotions, directs, and evaluates employment decisions for all assigned positions
• Assists with developing and coordinating policies and procedures
• Responsible for the oversight of continued employee training requirements, safety, and quality initiatives
• Exemplifies the Fund's BETTER Values and professional effectiveness dimensions in leading and fostering a respectful, trusting, and engaged culture of diversity and inclusion
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibilities and requirements of the job
• Performs Essential Job Functions and Duties with or without reasonable accommodation

Additional Essential Qualifications

• Outstanding communication skills, with experience presenting to executive level leadership, boards, regulators, and external partners
• Deep understanding of industry technologies, network operations, regulatory requirements, and emerging trends that impact market and vendor strategies
• Understanding of current benefits legislation (e.g., Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Department of Labor (DOL), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), etc.)

Skills and Abilities

• Strategic planning with the ability to translate fund priorities into measurable operational and vendor outcomes
• Effective communication with boards of trustees, union leaders, employer groups, and external partners
• Strong leadership, team development, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Advanced negotiation, analytical thinking, and data-driven decision-making to support cost efficiency, service quality, and fiduciary responsibility, including direct negotiation with executive level leadership of hospital systems and health plans.
• Skilled in managing large-scale programs, process improvements, and transformation initiatives within a regulated environment
• Ability to oversee complex vendor ecosystems and ensure alignment with trustee directives, member service needs, and compliance standards
• Ability to improve vendor performance, manage escalations, and support trustees in evaluating vendor accountability and value
• Ability to identify market or partnership opportunities that enhance fund services, reduce costs, or improve member outcomes
• Ability to drive innovation, manage risk, and maintain operational continuity for participants and beneficiaries
• Ability to operate effectively amid high ambiguity and influence diverse stakeholders without direct authority