Medicaid Development Specialist

Awarded a Healthiest Employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona aims to fulfill its mission to inspire health and make it easy. AZ Blue offers a variety of health insurance products and services to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and small and large businesses as well as providing information and tools to help individuals make better health decisions.

At AZ Blue, we have a hybrid workforce strategy, called Workability, that offers flexibility with how and where employees work. Our positions are classified as hybrid, onsite or remote. While the majority of our employees are hybrid, the following classifications drive our current minimum onsite requirements:

• Hybrid People Leaders: must reside in AZ, required to be onsite at least twice per week

• Hybrid Individual Contributors: must reside in AZ, unless otherwise cited within this posting, required to be onsite at least once per week

• Hybrid 2 (Operational Roles such as but not limited to: Customer Service, Claims Processors, and Correspondence positions): must reside in AZ, unless otherwise cited within this posting, required to be onsite at least once per month

• Onsite: daily onsite requirement based on the essential functions of the job

• Remote: not held to onsite requirements, however, leadership can request presence onsite for business reasons including but not limited to staff meetings, one-on-ones, training, and team building

Please note that onsite requirements may change in the future, based on business need, and job responsibilities. Most employees should expect onsite requirements and at a minimum of once per week.

This position is hybrid within the state of AZ only. This hybrid work opportunity requires residency, and work to be performed, within the State of Arizona.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Medicaid Development Specialist supports the Director, Executive Outreach & Development Administrator in advancing partnerships, public-sector and policy engagement, workforce development initiatives, Medicaid education, and executive outreach priorities. The position coordinates relationships and initiatives involving AHCCCS, government agencies, the AZ Blue Foundation, nonprofit and advocacy organization, educational institutions, and other entities that affect Medicaid members and communities across Arizona. The role monitors relevant public policy and regulatory developments, translates changes into practical information for internal and external audiences, and helps coordinate initiatives that improve access, opportunity and health outcomes for Medicaid members.

This is an external-facing, non-lobbying role focused on education, relationship management, community presence, issue monitoring and program support. The position does not direct lobbying activity or communicate with public officials for the purpose of influencing legislation.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1.       Required Work Experience

• 3 years of experience in Medicaid, healthcare, government, nonprofit, community engagement, public policy, education, workforce development or a related field.
• Experience building relationships and coordinating work across community organizations, public agencies or other external stakeholders.
• Experience preparing and delivering presentations, training or educational materials for varied audiences.
• Valid Arizona driver’s license and ability to travel regularly within Arizona, including occasional evening or weekend community events

2.       Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, healthcare administration, social work, education, communications, business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

3.       Required Licenses

• N/A

4.       Required Certifications

• N/A

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1.       Preferred Work Experience

• 3 years of experience in Medicaid, healthcare, government, nonprofit, community engagement, public policy, education, workforce development or a related field.

• Established relationships with Arizona government agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, education partners, workforce organizations or member advocacy groups.

• Experience monitoring, interpreting and communicating statutory, regulatory or agency policy changes.

• Experience supporting health-related social needs, community health, workforce, education or cross-sector partnership initiatives, understand Medicaid.

• Experience developing outcome measures and reporting results for community programs, partnerships or grants.

2.       Preferred Education

• Master’s degree in organization development, organizational behavior, human resources management, or related field.

3.       Preferred Licenses

• N/A

4.       Preferred Certifications

• N/A

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and maintain working relationships with the AZ Blue Foundation, nonprofit, advocacy groups, education partners, workforce organizations, and public-sector stakeholders.
• Attend and support meetings with state and local government agencies, including AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and coordinate follow-up, documentation and internal communication.
• Develop trusted relationships with city, county and state policymakers, public officials and agency leaders on issues affecting Medicaid members and the broader health and human services environment.
• Support community and cross-sector initiatives related to workforce development, health-related social needs, education, schools, economic stability and other factors affecting Medicaid members.
• Represent the Medicaid segment at coalitions, public-sector workgroups, roundtables, conferences and stakeholder meetings across Arizona. Coordinate participation in community outreach events with the Manager, Consumer Outreach.
• Coordinate with the AZ Blue Foundation and internal business partners to identify opportunities for aligned community investment, partnership and measurable impact.
• Monitor proposed and enacted changes in statutes, regulations, agency guidance and public programs relevant to Medicaid members; summarize key developments for appropriate internal audiences.
• Prepare clear briefing materials, stakeholder updates, meeting summaries, presentations, talking points and educational resources.
• Develop and deliver external training on Medicaid, health-related social needs, community resources, and relevant statutory or regulatory changes.
• Connect external stakeholder insights with internal leaders and subject-matter experts to inform Medicaid strategy, operations, communications and community initiatives.
• Support implementation of partnership activities by maintaining work plans, timelines, deliverables, risks, outcomes and follow-up actions.
• Develop and maintain measures for assigned strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and other initiatives. Coordinate with the Manager, Consumer Outreach when measures involve community events, enrollment or retention.
• Coordinate across departments and connect stakeholder insights with internal leaders and subject matter experts.
• Identifies stakeholder themes, community needs, emerging issues, and partnership opportunities.
• Maintain current knowledge of Arizona Medicaid, public health, human services, education, workforce and community-development issues.
• Partner with the Manager Consumer Outreach to ensure strategic partnerships and community intelligence are translated into appropriate consumer outreach opportunities without duplicating responsibilities.
• Ensure external engagement and educational activities are coordinated with Legal, Compliance, Government Affairs and other internal partners, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Required Job Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communications.
• Excellent analytical problem-solving skills
• Intermediate skill in use of office equipment, including copiers, fax machines, scanner and telephones.
• Intermediate skill in word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

Required Professional Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of instructional design, adult learning, performance management, and team development practices. 
• Intermediate knowledge of healthcare industry
• Advanced knowledge of OD principles, tools and processes
• Advanced consulting skills and tools, conflict resolution, group process facilitation, and organization communication processes.
• Excellent collaborative and influencing skills necessary to work through
• Strong project management skills with drive for results and success based on planned objectives.
• Strong ability and extensive experience in assimilating multiple new functions, services, projects and systems
• Demonstrated ability to recognize strategic opportunities and use data to make timely and sound decisions.
• Strong knowledge of how to brainstorm process improvements and assist management with project selection criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices of training and development and organizational development and the ability to apply these principles and practices to achieve corporate goals and objectives. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of instructional design, adult learning, performance management, and team development practices. 
• Excellent knowledge of leadership coaching tools, processes and skills
• Demonstrated ability to coach executives and leaders to improve performance and results
• Strong knowledge of performance improvement principles and practices
• Flexibility and willingness to adjust to shifting demands/priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to assimilate multiple new projects and tasks while executing on existing projects and tasks.

Required Leadership Experience and Competencies

• High standard of performance while pursuing aggressive goals
• Principled self-leadership and sound business ethics
• Business Acumen, health insurance industry is preferable
• Strategy development and planning

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES

• N/A

Our Commitment

AZ Blue does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected group.

Thank you for your interest in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.  For more information on our company, see azblue.com.  If interested in this position, please apply.