Manager Academic Operations Jobs in Portland, OR

Department Overview

OHSU Payor Strategy & Managed Care Contracting is responsible for developing and executing strategies that ensure fair, sustainable reimbursement and strong payer partnerships across OHSU Health. The department leads negotiations with commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid health plans; structures contracts that support OHSU's academic medical center mission; and aligns financial, clinical, and operational priorities across the health system.

Working in close partnership with Finance, Revenue Cycle, Clinical Operations, Population Health, and the OHSU Clinically Integrated Network (CIN), the team translates market insights, cost trends, and regulatory dynamics into actionable contracting strategies. This includes evaluating payer performance, advancing value-based care arrangements, and ensuring contract language protects OHSU from administrative burden and unfavorable policy changes. Through disciplined governance, data-driven analytics, and coordinated execution, the department supports access to high-quality care for patients while strengthening OHSU's long-term financial sustainability and market position.

Function/Duties of Position

This position provides mission-critical project leadership for enterprise payor strategy initiatives, with a primary focus on supporting complex payor negotiations, contract performance management, and potential payor terminations that have direct and material impact on OHSU's financial sustainability, patient access, and public mission.  Embedded within the Office of Payor Strategy, including the Office of OHSU Health Plan Services, this role serves as a central integrator across contracting, finance, operations, and clinical stakeholders to ensure disciplined execution of OHSU's highest-risk and highest-impact payor initiatives.

Project Management

• Provide end-to-end project leadership for enterprise, business-critical initiatives within the Clinical Enterprise and Office of Payor Strategy, including programs that support complex payor negotiations, contract performance, and potential payor terminations; partner closely with executive sponsors, senior leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to translate strategic direction into disciplined execution.
• Establish and manage project governance structures, operating cadence, and delivery infrastructure to support high-risk, high-visibility initiatives; tailor project management and change management methodologies to the specific operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational considerations of each initiative.
• Define project structures, recommend team composition, and clarify roles, decision rights, and accountability across highly matrixed, multidisciplinary teams; design and manage communication, escalation, and reporting processes to ensure transparency, alignment, and timely executive decision-making.
• Proactively identify, engage, and coordinate subject-matter experts across contracting, finance, legal, compliance, clinical operations, revenue cycle, communications, and external partners to support informed planning, risk mitigation, and successful execution.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans that manage scope, timelines, resources, interdependencies, financial considerations, and quality standards; ensure delivery is aligned with organizational priorities, executive direction, and established project management best practices.
• Monitor project performance against milestones and objectives; identify risks, issues, and dependencies early; develop mitigation and contingency plans; and provide structured, executive-level status reporting, analysis, and recommendations.
• Actively assess and reconcile overlaps, conflicts, and dependencies across concurrent initiatives, operational priorities, and enterprise strategies to reduce risk, prevent duplication, and ensure coordinated execution across the organization.
• Operate effectively in fast-moving, high-pressure environments with significant financial and operational impact; manage competing priorities, tight deadlines, and evolving conditions while maintaining rigor, accountability, and quality of delivery.

Communications and Stakeholder Change Management

• Build and sustain high-performing, highly engaged project teams by fostering collaboration, trust, and accountability across the full project lifecycle; proactively address team dynamics, barriers, and risks to maintain momentum and execution discipline.
• Design and execute tailored stakeholder engagement and change management strategies to drive alignment, ownership, and adoption across diverse clinical, operational, financial, and executive audiences; cultivate active sponsorship, reinforce shared accountability, and support leaders through periods of change.
• Serve as a central communication lead for assigned initiatives, translating complex, high-impact project activity into clear, actionable, and executive-ready communications; develop and deliver structured updates, briefings, and decision-support materials for operational leaders, senior leadership, and executive governance bodies.

Project Analytics and Evaluation

• Design and manage project evaluation frameworks, performance metrics, and monitoring processes to assess progress, outcomes, and impact; leverage quantitative and qualitative data to inform key project decisions, course corrections, and executive recommendations.
• Lead and/or coordinate complex analytical efforts, including financial, operational, and qualitative analyses; synthesize findings into clear insights, risk assessments, and actionable conclusions, and communicate results effectively to multidisciplinary teams and senior leaders.
• Partner with executive and operational leadership to support business analysis, scenario modeling, and business planning related to strategic initiatives and new investments required for successful execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and seven years of progressively responsible program/project management experience; OR
• Master's degree and six years of progressively responsible experience; OR
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and demonstrated experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Experience leading or co-leading an organization-wide or mission-wide, large-scale project.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Vizio or other project management tools.
• Strong analytic, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Highly motivated self-started who is an excellent team player.
• Knowledge of healthcare industry a plus.
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to effectively manage large amounts of detailed information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business/Healthcare Administration and six years of progressively responsible experience; OR
• Equivalent combination of education, training and demonstrated experience.

• Minimum of 4-5 years of project management experience with demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of projects.

• Project management experience in a hospital/healthcare or health plan setting.

• Project Management (PMP) certification.

Additional Details

Work normal business hours in an office environment with availability nights and weekends.  Occasional local and national travel.  

Benefits 

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Paid time off - 208 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• Extended illness bank - 64 hours per year, prorated for part-time.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and major businesses.

Why apply to OHSU?We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.eduEmployment Type: FULL_TIME