Smart Care Catalyst Program Manager, Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Reports To: Secretary of Health, State of West Virginia, with direct accountability to the Office of the Governor

Location: Charleston, West Virginia

Position Overview:

Smart Care Catalyst is a critical initiative under the West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), dedicated to transforming rural healthcare delivery through technology, innovation, and sustainable financial models. The Smart Care Catalyst program focuses on modernizing infrastructure, reducing administrative burdens, and fundamentally shifting how we pay for healthcare—moving from volume to value to ensure quality and sustainability across West Virginia. The Smart Care Catalyst Program Manager is a crucial role for driving tech-enabled innovation and regulatory relief (Pillar 1) while simultaneously spearheading the transition to value-based payment models across the state's healthcare ecosystem (Pillar 2).

Core Responsibilities:

General Program Management

• Strategic Leadership: Provide overall strategic direction and leadership for the Smart Care Catalyst initiative.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivate strong relationships with hospital administrators, clinic leadership, insurance payors, state health agencies, and technology vendors.
• Data & Performance Monitoring: Utilize data and analytics to measure the impact of grants and value-based models, ensuring continuous improvement and accountability.

Pillar 1: Technology-Enabled Innovation and Efficiency

• Grant Program Management: Design and administer technology and productivity grant programs to help modernize small, rural hospitals and clinics.
• Shared-Service Development: Establish and manage shared-service collaboratives, enabling group purchasing and improving administrative efficiency for participating organizations.
• Administrative Relief: Partner with healthcare providers and regulatory bodies to identify and implement strategies that reduce administrative burden and improve overall operational stability.

Pillar 2: Value-Based Care Transformation

• Model Co-Creation & Incentivization: Lead the co-creation and implementation of standardized value-based payment models in collaboration with various payors (e.g., private insurers, Medicare, Medicaid) to align incentives around quality and sustainability.
• Provider Support and Transition: Develop and execute support programs, resources, and technical assistance to assist rural providers in successfully transitioning to and thriving within value-based payment models.
• Quality & Outcome Alignment: Ensure that payment models are designed to incentivize high-quality care, improved patient outcomes, and long-term financial sustainability for rural health systems.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as Public Health, Healthcare Administration, or Business Administration.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in healthcare administration, health policy, value-based care, or program management.
• Familiarity with health information technology (HIT), EMR/EHR systems, regulatory environments, and policies impacting rural clinics and hospitals.
• Strong understanding of healthcare finance and payment models, the mechanics of value-based purchasing, and quality incentive programs, experience with grant management, and knowledge of health IT and regulatory environments.

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Excellent communication skills to clearly articulate complex financial models, technology solutions, and strategic goals to various audiences.
• Change Management: The capacity to effectively manage and drive significant change across a conservative industry, specifically shifting traditional fee-for-service models to value-based care.
• Partnership Building: Ability to cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with external vendors, community partners, and regulatory bodies.
• Collaboration & Persuasion: Ability to build consensus among diverse and sometimes competing stakeholders and influence partners to adopt new technologies, workflows, and payment models that may require resource investment or operational changes.
• Project Management & Organization: Ability to oversee complex, multi-faceted initiatives, ensuring alignment of goals, resources, timelines, and budgets.
• Decision Making & Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills to use data and performance metrics to guide strategic decisions, identify challenges, and implement effective solutions.
• Commitment to the Governor’s mission of “Stronger Lives, Healthier Choices, and a Better West Virginia.”

Appointment and Compensation:

• This is an exempt (at-will) position under the Department of Health. Compensation will be commensurate with executive-level public service, experience, and qualifications. This position includes full state benefits and travel reimbursement for statewide engagement.
• This position is a full-time, term-limited appointment for a period of up to five (5) years and is contingent upon the award and continued availability of federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. Continued employment beyond the project period is not guaranteed.

Applicants interested in learning more about the program and the State’s proposed approach may review the application materials here: https://governor.wv.gov/rht