Chief Contracting Officer

As one of the nation's premier academic health systems, UCLA Health is dedicated to delivering world-class patient care, groundbreaking research, and medical education. We are seeking a visionary leader to serve as the Chief Contracting Officer (CCO), overseeing all aspects of managed care strategy and contracting across our hospitals and physician practices.

About the Role

As the Chief Contracting Officer, you will lead the strategic planning, execution, and financial oversight of UCLA Health's managed care operations, ensuring sustainable financial performance and operational efficiency. This role is responsible for the full contract lifecycle, including negotiation, amendments, renewals, and terminations, and plays a critical role in advancing value-based care initiatives and fostering strategic partnerships.

The CCO serves as the institutional contract review and approval authority, negotiating system-wide and local contracts with commercial, government, and county payers. Additionally, this position collaborates closely with business development teams to align managed care strategies with UCLA Health's broader organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Contracting

*Develop and implement a comprehensive managed care contracting strategy to drive financial sustainability and operational excellence.

*Serve as the chief negotiator and authorized contracting official for system-wide and local managed care agreements.

*Oversee contract lifecycle management, ensuring compliance with financial, legal, and regulatory requirements.

*Partner with business development and executive leadership to align managed care initiatives with organizational growth and optimization strategies.

Financial & Operational Oversight

*Monitor and analyze contract performance metrics, identifying trends and opportunities for improvement.

*Oversee financial modeling and large-scale data analysis to assess reimbursement structures and contract impact.

*Ensure the development and maintenance of contract management systems, validating actual payments against expected reimbursement.

*Lead risk-based contracting initiatives, ensuring UCLA Health remains at the forefront of evolving reimbursement models.

Industry & Market Analysis

*Continuously assess the competitive healthcare landscape, payer/provider dynamics, and evolving reimbursement methodologies.

*Provide insights on emerging trends in managed care, value-based reimbursement, and risk-sharing arrangements.

*Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to managed care and reimbursement.

*Education: Bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics, healthcare administration, or a related field required; Master's degree (MBA, MHA, MPH) strongly preferred.

*Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in managed care contracting, including 5 years in a senior leadership role within a health system, provider network, or health plan.

*Technical Skills:

oExpertise in financial modeling, data analysis, and healthcare contract negotiations.

oAdvanced proficiency in Excel and contract management systems.

oStrong understanding of hospital and physician reimbursement methodologies, including DRG, APC, APG, CPT, RVU, and conversion factors.

oIn-depth knowledge of professional and hospital Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial managed care reimbursement structures.

*Strategic thinker with the ability to balance financial, regulatory, and operational considerations.

*Exceptional negotiation and influencing skills, with a proven track record of securing favorable contract terms.

*Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of translating complex data into actionable insights.

*Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage internal and external stakeholders.

*Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, evolving healthcare environment.