Contracts Specialist

CONTRACT SPECIALIST

POSITION DESCRIPTION 
POSITION TITLE:  Contracts Specialist 
DEPARTMENT:  Legal 
REPORTS TO:  VP Regulatory Counsel

CLASSIFICATION:  Exempt 

POSITION PURPOSE: 
The Contracts Specialist reports directly to the Division Vice President Regulatory Counsel.  You will be responsible for the coordination of the contracting approval process. You will prepare, review, analyze, and respond to requests for managed care, provider, and other related healthcare agreements.

ABOUT YOU:
• Minimum 2 years of experience drafting and negotiating contracts in a healthcare setting
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Paralegal certificate preferred but not required
• Excellent critical thinking and communication skills required
• Able to work cohesively with a team, prioritize projects and work under deadlines

General Duties & Responsibilities 
• Adheres to Organization’s Policy and Procedures
• Participates in carrying out department objectives, programs, and procedures
• Acts as a role model within and outside the Agency
• Performs duties as workload necessitates
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude
• Communicates regularly with supervisor about Department issues and keeps management advised of potential problems in all areas
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position
• Ensures compliance with rules and regulations
• Participates in administrative staff meetings, committees, and special projects, and seeks
• additional responsibilities
• Recommends new approaches to effect on-going continual improvements to policies, procedures, and documentation
• Maintains compliance with federal and state regulations concerning employment
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned

Essential Functions of Position
• Prepares, reviews, and negotiates agreements with contracting agencies/payors. Provides input to field management to enable assessment of operational and financial feasibility.
• Develops and writes original contracts, letters, and other documents.
• Consults frequently with operations in the contract preparation process. Interacts with Risk Management, Clinical Services, Legal, Licensure, and other departments, as appropriate, on contract related language and requests
• Prepares projects by obtaining support information and data from various sources (branch personnel, regulatory department, contracting agency, etc.).
• Ensures accurate and timely entry of information into the contract management system and department tracker and adheres to department processes and procedures regarding contract requests
• Interacts with internal customers with a high level of customer service responsiveness.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

Specialized Knowledge/Skills: 
• Experience with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts
• Excellent critical thinking and communication skills
• Able to work cohesively with a team, prioritize projects and work under deadlines

Education/Experience: 
• Minimum 2 years of experience drafting and negotiating contracts in a healthcare setting
• Familiarity with payor contracts and credentialing process
• Knowledge of current and legally binding contractual language and terminology
• Ability to identify, analyze, and suggest solutions for problems
• Knowledge of negotiation best practices
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Paralegal certificate preferred but not required

Training/Equipment: 
• Must have strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint