CMS Innovation Lead

The CMS Innovation Lead serves as a strategic partner focused on identifying emerging challenges across CMS programs and driving innovative solutions that improve healthcare delivery, program oversight, and operational efficiency. This action oriented role combines market awareness, policy insight, and technology innovation to uncover opportunities where new approaches can support CMS priorities and mission outcomes.

Working closely with agency stakeholders, the CMS Innovation Lead will help translate complex healthcare and policy challenges into actionable solution concepts that can evolve into programs, pilots, or procurement opportunities. The position requires deep familiarity with CMS priorities, healthcare delivery models, and health technology ecosystems.

This role works collaboratively across growth, strategy, data and technical teams to shape innovative solutions aligned with CMS initiatives while helping guide strategic growth across the federal health market.

• Engage and build trusted relationships with CMS leaders, program offices, and technical stakeholders to understand emerging policy, operational, and programmatic challenges across CMS centers and initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts, clinicians, and technologists to explore solution concepts addressing CMS operational challenges.
• Partner with leadership, capture and support groups to develop and execute strategic and tactical plans that identify and shape new opportunities.
• Work with growth team to establish and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Collaborate with business development, capture and proposal team as assigned, to support opportunity pursuit efforts. 
• Maintain regular contact with senior and executive-level decision makers to ensure alignment and strengthen partnership. 

Qualifications

• B.S. in Health Policy, Management, law or related or equivalent experience 
• 5+ years working with CMS in leadership or related/relevant roles 
• Knowledge of healthcare delivery systems and model frameworks
• Proven track record building and managing relationships with CMS officials, or policy leaders
• Familiarity with CMS’s priorities and how its business and technology needs can become opportunities and procurements

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This is an office position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a climate-controlled environment. Candidates must be able to sit, read, work on a computer, and watch a computer screen for extended periods of time. Occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, kneel or crouch.

Commence is an equal employment opportunity employer. All personnel processes are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military and veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

Commence.AI is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants, including individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process due to a disability, please contact Human Resources at (757) 306-4920 or hr@commence.ai. Please note that unless you are requesting an accommodation, all applications must be submitted through our online application system.