Senior Director of Network Management

COMPANY INFORMATION

Delta Dental of Minnesota is the largest regional provider of dental benefits, passionately serving over 7,000 Minnesota and North Dakota-based purchasing groups and 4.5 million members nationwide. We provide a work environment that engages each individual while encouraging growth and professional development. We are proud to be named a Top Workplace employer for several consecutive years and value our team members for building this reputation.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Senior Director of Network Management provides direction for the Company's dental provider network to ensure effective operations and coverage of services. This role develops and implements processes and systems to evaluate dental providers and identify areas for network expansion, identifies and recruits dental providers and facilities to fill network gaps, while maintaining a high-quality, cost-effective network that meets the access needs for our members.

The Senior Director will manage, review, negotiate, and renew contracts in compliance with organizational policies and regulatory requirements, provide regulatory oversight to ensure network staff and providers comply with applicable laws, regulations, and network standards, and partner with Sales, Finance, Actuarial, Compliance, Claims, and Clinical leadership to align network strategy with Company goals.

This position will be with Stratacor, an affiliate of Delta Dental of Minnesota.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment authorization at this time.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Strategy and Leadership

• Develops and executes the dental provider network strategy in alignment with strategic plan, growth plans, and member access needs.
• Collaborates with Human Resources to develop career pathing and programs that attract and build market-leading talent.
• Partners with executive leadership, Sales, Finance, Actuarial, and Product teams to support new markets, products, and client proposals.

Network Development and Contracting

• Directs provider recruitment and retention efforts to ensure adequate access by geography, specialty, and product line.
• Leads negotiation of provider contracts, fee schedules, and reimbursement arrangements, including with dental groups, Dental Support Organizations (DSOs), and large multi-site practices.
• Oversees contract language, amendments, and renewals to ensure compliance and consistency across the network.

Network Performance and Financial Management

• Monitors network adequacy, access, and quality metrics and implements corrective action plans as needed.
• Analyzes network cost, utilization, and provider performance data to identify savings opportunities and inform fee schedule strategy.

Innovation

• Provides voice-of-the-market feedback to influence differentiating innovation in provider support, service, and solutions.

Provider Relations and Service

• Manage provider relations activities, including communication, education, issue resolution, and provider satisfaction initiatives.
• Ensures timely resolution of escalated provider issues and disputes.

Compliance and Operations

• Collaborates with Credentialing, Claims, Compliance, and Legal to support accurate provider data, directory integrity, and claims payment.
• Oversees audit readiness and responds to regulatory and client inquiries related to the network.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the team member. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strategic Mindset: Ability to develop and execute long-term network strategy in a competitive, changing market.
• Analytical: Ability to lead interpret complex data and translate it into clear business recommendations.
• Persuasion: Strong ability to leverage software and data analytics, including utilization, cost trends, and network performance measurement, to drive insights and solutions.
• Managing Complexity: Ability to resolve complex or escalated provider disputes diplomatically and effectively.
• Building Networks & Negotiation: Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills with dental providers, groups, DSOs, and professional associations.
• Business Insight: Demonstrate a strong knowledge of federal and state regulations governing dental networks and industry standards, including network adequacy, prompt pay, and provider contracting standards.
• Leadership: Ability to lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
• Attract, Develop & Retain Talent: Possess skills for effective interviewing and hiring talent, training and development, and making pay decisions that are compliant with regulatory and Company practices.
• Effective Communication: Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills for communicating with senior leadership, clients, and external partners.
• Drives Results & Collaboration: Ability to lead and build partnerships across the organization (e.g., departments such as Sales, Finance, Actuarial, Claims, and Compliance); influence through an achievement "together we can" mindset and follow-through to drive results.
• Financial Acumen: Ability to interpret and apply a basic understanding of financial indicators that impact business results (e.g., budgeting).
• Confidentiality: Demonstrate the ability to protect and maintain the privacy of sensitive, private, or proprietary information/data from unauthorized access, disclosure or loss.
• Policy Development and Management - Ability to research, design, implement, evaluate and monitor the rules, guidelines and strategic frameworks for the department.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required:

1. Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Health Administration, Information Technology, or a related field; and/or equivalent work experience
2. Five (5) years of managerial experience
3. Five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare network management, including management and/or oversight of provider contracting, network development, or provider relations
4. Ten (10) years of experience in the healthcare industry in operational, network management, and/or client-facing roles

Preferred:

1. Master's degree in Business Administration, Health Administration, Information Technology, or a related field
2. Experience working in the dental insurance industry
3. Experience with dental contract negotiations and compliance, dental contract management and administration, and/or regulatory compliance

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Travel Requirements: Up to 20% in Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Dakota (when safe to do so)
2. Weight Lifting Requirements: up to 25 lbs.
3. Sedentary Work: Prolonged periods of sitting at a workstation, working on a computer

RELATIONSHIPS

1. Reports To: Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
2. Directly Manages: Provider Relations Team (e.g., Provider Relations Advocates, Provider Relations Analysts, Senior Manager of Provider Relations)
3. Internal Relationships: All departments within the Company
4. External Relationships: Providers, Vendor Partners, Clients & Delta Dental Plans

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

Benefits for this position include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; disability coverage, flexible spending plans, a 401(k) plan, Paid Time Off (PTO), and Holidays. Visit https://www.deltadentalmn.org/employee-benefit-packages for more information.

The starting salary range for this position is $131,000.00 to $163,000.00 annually. Salary offers will typically be made in the listed range. The Company takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including merit process and internal pay alignment when determining the salary for potential new team members. In compliance with state and federal regulations, a potential new team member’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) STATEMENT

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)