Director, Network Operations

Your Role

The Network Operations team sets the strategic direction for operational processes, network compliance, contract operations, and provider relations for Blue Shield and Blue Shield Promise Health Plan. This work ensures provider contract alignment, supports financial stewardship, strengthens enterprise governance, and advances strategic priorities across multiple lines of business. Reporting to the Vice President, Network Operations, the Director, Network Operations plays a leadership role, guiding data-driven contracting approaches to improve provider network effectiveness while aligning and executing operational initiatives and governance to serve Blue Shield of California and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan's (collectively “Blue Shield”) best interests. This position works closely with the Vice President of Network Operations to establish priorities while designing a comprehensive execution plan that effectively integrates each of the areas within the department. The Senior Principal will collaborate with multiple areas within the organization to design and implement roadmaps leading to efficient cost of healthcare strategies.

Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow – personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high-performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.

We are actively recruiting candidates within 50 miles of our BSC offices in Woodland Hills, Long Beach, and San Diego ONLY.

Your Work

In this role, you will:

• Lead cross-functional initiatives and teams involving finance, actuarial, clinical, and operations teams to ensure policies and procedures are aligned with optimal contract terms
• Develop and design the implementation of the overall Network Operations departmental goals and execution plans aligned with organizational strategy
• Partner closely with the Network Strategy team to design Network Strategic & Operational roadmaps to support enterprise affordability & growth goals
• Identify provider contract exposure points, inclusive of language and rate structures, and then design and implement operational and contractual mitigation strategies
• Apply advanced modeling and analytical frameworks to assess contract performance and efficient management of total cost of healthcare
• Provide leadership to drive data-driven strategies to optimize provider network performance and align with organizational goals
• Proactively assess and address risks impacting network resiliency, provider accessibility, and member experience, reinforcing long-term stability and operational efficiency
• Lead the documentation and maintenance of policies, procedures, and governance structures to support high-quality, timely and compliant deliverables
• Partner with internal stakeholders to strategize and prioritize system and procedural enhancements
• Communicate updates, risks, and strategic recommendations to leadership and governance committees
• Actively participate in collaborative, trusting peer relationships helping to drive the organization to reduce silos with key business partners.
• Integrate and optimize business processes across Provider Partnerships and Network Management in support of the Blue Shield strategic and operational needs
• Role model collaborative, trusting peer relationships; drive through organization to reduce silos with key business partners.

Your Knowledge and Experience

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred (MBA, MPH, MHA)
• Requires a minimum of 10 years’ experience in health plan operations, including data analytics and project management
• Requires 6 years of management experience
• Lean Six Sigma process improvement certification (Black Belt preferred) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification strongly preferred or equivalent training and experience
• Proven ability to structure execution across complex programs and initiatives with cross-functional teams
• Requires knowledge in provider contracting, regulatory compliance, and end-to-end health plan operations
• Requires excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Requires excellent written and verbal communication skills with a proven track record in effective relationship building and influencing stakeholders at all levels of the organization

Hybrid

This role requires employees to be in-office based on our hybrid workplace model, balancing purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. For most teams, this means coming into the office two days each week.

Employees living more than 50 miles from an office location will work with their manager to determine in-office time based on business need.

ABOUT THE TEAM
About Blue Shield of California

As of January 2025, Blue Shield of California became a subsidiary of Ascendiun. Ascendiun is a nonprofit corporate entity that is the parent to a family of organizations including Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan; Altais, a clinical services company; and Stellarus, a company designed to scale healthcare solutions. Together, these organizations are referred to as the Ascendiun Family of Companies.

At Blue Shield of California, our mission is to create a healthcare system worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable. We are transforming health care in a way that genuinely serves our nonprofit mission by lowering costs, improving quality, and enhancing the member and physician experience.

To achieve our mission, we foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute fully to address the needs of the various communities we serve. We are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive workplace that upholds our values and advances our goals.

Blue Shield is a U.S. News Best Company to work for, a Deloitte U.S. Best Managed Company and a Top 100 Inspiring Workplace. We were recognized by Fair360 as a Top Regional Company, and one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States by Points of Light. Here at Blue Shield, we strive to make a positive change across our industry and communities – join us!

Our Values:

• Honest. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical and integrity standards. We build trust by doing what we say we're going to do and by acknowledging and correcting where we fall short.
• Human. We strive to listen and communicate effectively, showing empathy by understanding others' perspectives.
• Courageous. We stand up for what we believe in and are committed to the hard work necessary to achieve our ambitious goals.

Physical Requirements:

Office Environment - roles involving part to full time schedule in Office Environment. Based in our physical offices and work from home office/deskwork - Activity level: Sedentary, frequency most of work day.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, State and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classification protected by Federal, State and local laws.