Manager of Provider Relations

Delta Dental of Massachusetts is dedicated to fostering an extraordinary partnership experience for our valued network of providers. We strive to build a reliable and trustworthy relationship grounded in shared goals that promote mutual growth. Our mission is to strengthen our connections with providers by understanding their unique challenges and needs. Open communication and honest conversations are vital for understanding the needs and concerns of our providers. Additionally, we are passionate about transforming the dental industry through collaboration. We provide valuable data and insights to help providers enhance patient care access, streamline their operations, and identify trends in care delivery. Together, we can turn challenges into opportunities, inspiring a brighter future in dental care.

We are seeking a Manager of Provider Engagement and Relations to elevate our partnership vision to new heights. This dynamic leader will oversee a talented team of Provider Relations Consultants, driving the execution of our network strategy and long-term provider partnership objectives. In this pivotal role, the Manager will forge strong connections with key strategic provider partners, collaborating seamlessly with both internal and external leaders to propel the organization’s strategic priorities forward. 

Provider Network Support:

• Lead the Provider Relations team by executing a dynamic provider network strategy that strengthens relationships and delivers exceptional value to constituents. 
• Build and nurture relationships with dental providers, ensuring they feel supported, and their concerns are addressed swiftly. 
• Build strong connections with strategic partners, united in the mission to improve community oral health. 
• Collaborate with teams to gather feedback from providers and stakeholders, identifying opportunities for enhancement. 
• Inspire the team to tackle complex challenges affecting providers and the organization, driving impactful change and communications through various initiatives.

Team Collaboration & Leadership:

• Lead a team of Provider Relations representatives, providing guidance, support, and professional development to ensure the team meets organizational goals. 
• Consistently promote a culture of change and growth by promoting alliance in individual, departmental, divisional, and company goals. 
• Develop territory assignment to align with corporate goals, market structure, and staff skills. 
• Work with leadership to establish and maintain strategic direction within team that is consistent with department, division and corporate goals and initiatives.
• Responsible for performance management of direct reports including but not limited to appraisals, goals setting, training and development, and corrective action if necessary. 

Provider Management & Engagement

• Create and implement innovative strategies for network retention and recruitment. 
• Lead impactful data-sharing initiatives to improve outcomes for members and providers.
• Clearly convey the unique value of Delta Dental to attract and engage providers.
• Execute effective provider outreach strategies in regional territories.
• Equip provider managers to build strong relationships with key stakeholders for seamless interactions. 
• Inspire the team to educate and collaborate through webinars, newsletters, site visits, and forums to strengthen connections.

Leveraging Analytics and Market knowledge

• Collaborate with leadership to define and enhance the vision of a high-performing network, integrating these principles into daily operations with area managers. 
• Gain insights into the provider landscape and entity mapping to effectively create and manage provider reporting, dashboards, cost analyses, and trends. 
• Contribute to the development of provider profiles and dashboards with leadership and the analytics team, driving discussions on practice pattern improvements and targeted interventions for specific providers in the network.

Interdepartmental & Company Support

• Function as a key liaison for competitor and market insights impacting local providers, sharing crucial information with internal stakeholders to enhance workflows, tools, technologies, and engagement strategies. 
• Resolve high-profile escalations in collaboration with senior leadership, medical directors, and compliance teams, ensuring effective solutions. 
• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen networks in alignment with product development, purchaser needs, and DDMA’s goals.
• Collaborate with Communications and Planning leads to create tools for identifying and executing network performance activities. 
• Represent DDMA at provider network events to strengthen relationships and visibility.

Skills & Competencies:

• Proven ability to lead and manager teams with direct reports. 
• Ability to motivate, guide, and develop teams while maintaining a productive work environment. 
• Strong verbal, written communication, and presentation skills
• Experience with implementing programs and initiatives to large audiences.
• Ability to work independently, mitigate risk, and inform strategy as appropriate.
• Ability to make good judgment conclusions based on data available with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Show initiative to learn more and take on more challenges.
• Ability to manage and resolve conflicts within the team, colleagues, or providers.
• Understand national/regional/local provider health care issues and trends. 
• Must have proven ability to establish and maintain durable and professional relationships with providers and other constituents.
• Must be able to understand, present, and interpret health care financial/utilization reports.
• Must be flexible to balance and prioritize workloads, persistent in accomplishing goals and be self-motivated.
• Must be process and improvement oriented; accept new ideas as opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Education:
  bachelor’s degree or Masters in Health Care Management or related field preferred. 

 Experience:

• At least 10 years of team management experience is preferred in provider relations, network management, or healthcare operations, preferably in a dental insurance or managed care setting.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform this position.

** In accordance with Delta Dental of Massachusetts’ Compliance Plan, all employees must conduct Delta Dental of Massachusetts business and activities in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and ethical standards and report potential compliance or ethical issues to Delta Dental of Massachusetts’ designated Compliance Officer. **

Delta Dental of Massachusetts’ Affirmative Action Program affirms our commitment to make reasonable accommodations for known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business and activities. Please see Human Resources for additional information regarding this program.