VP of Alternative Payment Models

We’re not just behavioral health people—we’re crisis people.

Connections has built a model that combines medical and recovery-oriented treatment that gets people connected to community-based resources and back to their lives faster. Our aim is for solutions, not just stop-gaps. Real support, not restriction. We have proven that our model improves access, creates hope and makes the behavioral health crisis system work better, and we’re finding better ways to do it every day.

Our story

Originally founded by two emergency room psychiatrists, Dr. Chris Carson and Dr. Robert Williamson, Connections Health Solutions brings 30 years of experience serving individuals in crisis and operates two of the nation’s largest and most studied crisis response centers and is currently expanding to more states. Since opening our doors, we have provided care and treatment for hundreds of thousands of individuals in crisis.

Why Join Connections Health Solutions?

At Connections Health Solutions, we are revolutionizing behavioral health crisis care by providing immediate treatment to individuals in need. Connections operates stand-alone crisis response centers with the goal to de-institutionalize and destigmatize behavioral health care. Connections centers offer individuals in need immediate access to high-quality care in the least restrictive setting. Through compassionate and timely treatment, Connections dramatically reduces overutilization of jails, emergency departments, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals for behavioral health crisis response. Privately backed by Town Hall Ventures and Heritage Group, we are uniquely positioned to rapidly expand our model and impact across the country.

As the Vice President of Alternative Payment Models, you will be at the forefront of our growth, helping to shape how high-quality emergency behavioral health care is accessed and reimbursed for millions of Americans. You’ll have the opportunity to lead value-based contracting strategies that ensure sustainable growth while directly contributing to improved patient outcomes. If you're passionate about changing how behavioral health care is delivered nationwide, advancing value-based care, and leading with purpose, this is your chance to make a meaningful difference within an organization committed to innovation, excellence, and transformative care solutions.

The Vice President of Alternative Payment Models will lead the development, negotiation, and execution of strategic value-based contracts with health plans, government payors, and risk-bearing entities across all Connections Health Solutions markets. This role is pivotal in driving innovative payment models and ensuring sustainable financial practices while maintaining Connections' commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible care. Reporting to the Chief Growth & Development Officer, the VP will collaborate closely with the CEO, CFO, and clinical operations teams to build effective partnerships and guide strategic contract governance processes.

What You'll Do:
• Strategic Leadership in Contracting:
• Lead payor contracting initiatives, developing sustainable unit cost and value-based agreements with government payors, health plans, and risk-bearing entities.
• Create and implement a contract governance payor process, establishing structured processes for managing payor relationships and ensuring compliance, oversight, and consistency across all contracts.
• Drive the creation of innovative payment models that align with Connections' mission and operational goals, fostering a long-term, value-based care strategy.
• Serve as the organization's key liaison with health plans and payors, building high-trust, collaborative relationships to secure favorable contract terms.
• Value Proposition Communication:
• Clearly articulate Connections’ unique value proposition to external payor entities, aligning contract negotiations with the organization's capability to deliver exceptional care.
• Develop and negotiate contracts that reflect an understanding of market dynamics, especially within Medicaid-specific frameworks.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Partner with the executive team to shape the organization’s payor strategy and align clinical, operational, and financial objectives.
• Work closely with business development to ensure seamless execution of go-to-market opportunities, from identification to contract signing.
• Collaborate with clinical and operations teams to ensure that contract terms support the fidelity of Connections’ care delivery model and on-the-ground execution.
• Contract Management, Governance & Performance:
• Develop a robust contract governance process, ensuring a consistent and accountable framework for payor contracting across all markets.
• Oversee the entire lifecycle of contract negotiations, from initiation to execution, including renegotiation efforts.
• Collaborate with the revenue cycle management team to track the performance and sustainability of contracts.
• Develop key performance indicators to assess contract success, ensuring ongoing optimization of alternative payment models.

This is a remote position with 50% travel to engage with external payor entities and internal teams.

What You'll Bring:
• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years in managed care and or high functioning provider organization, with extensive experience in value-based contracting and the corresponding medical economics
• Expertise in developing and managing contract governance processes to ensure consistency, oversight, and long-term success of payor partnerships
• Experience developing, negotiating, and executing value-based payor contracts
• Deep knowledge of Medicaid, government payor systems, and the complexities of contracting with risk-bearing entities
• Demonstrated success in negotiating high-impact contracts that support both organizational growth and clinical quality
• Experience leading teams, and high visibility initiatives reporting to executive leadership team
• Strong project and people management skills
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a commitment to driving change and innovation in healthcare delivery

It would be great if you had:
• MBA or MHA from a leading program/institution
• Several years of managerial experience reporting to a senior level executive
• Extensive experience contracting with or on behalf of health plans for behavioral health related services

What We Offer:
• Employees (and their families) are offered comprehensive health insurance, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity
• CHS pays for Basic Life, AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Life insurance option for employees and their families
• Health Savings Accounts (with $1,000 to $2,000 employer contribution depending on plan)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care)
• 401k company match after 6 months (50% of deferrals up to 6% of compensation)
• Self-managed PTO and 12 recognized company holidays
• Employee Assistance Program to help with confidential emotional support, work life solutions, financial solutions, legal assistance, or online support
• Online Subscription to Headspace, a digital mindfulness and meditation platform
• After +0 days, you are auto enrolled in the 401k Plan