Associate Principal, Stars Consulting Center of Excellence

Company Description

Press Ganey is the leading experience measurement, data analytics, and insights provider for complex industries-a status we earned over decades of deep partnership with clients to help them understand and meet the needs of their key stakeholders. Our earliest roots are in U.S. healthcare -perhaps the most complex of all industries. Today we serve clients around the globe in every industry to help them improve the Human Experiences at the heart of their business. We serve our clients through an unparalleled offering that combines technology, data, and expertise to enable them to pinpoint and prioritize opportunities, accelerate improvement efforts and build lifetime loyalty among their customers and employees.

Like all great companies, our success is a function of our people and our culture. Our employees have world-class talent, a collaborative work ethic, and a passion for the work that have earned us trusted advisor status among the world’s most recognized brands. As a member of the team, you will help us create value for our clients, you will make us better through your contribution to the work and your voice in the process. Ours is a path of learning and continuous improvement; team efforts chart the course for corporate success.

Our Mission:

We empower organizations to deliver the best experiences. With industry expertise and technology, we turn data into insights that drive innovation and action.

Our Values:

To put Human Experience at the heart of organizations so every person can be seen and understood.

• Energize the customer relationship: Our clients are our partners. We make their goals our own, working side by side to turn challenges into solutions.

• Success starts with me: Personal ownership fuels collective success. We each play our part and empower our teammates to do the same.

• Commit to learning: Every win is a springboard. Every hurdle is a lesson. We use each experience as an opportunity to grow.

• Dare to innovate: We challenge the status quo with creativity and innovation as our true north.

• Better together: We check our egos at the door. We work together, so we win together.

Press Ganey is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities or disabled veterans in the hiring process. If you need assistance or an accommodation to apply for a position online or for your interviews or assessments, please contact us at [email protected] Please provide your contact information and the details of your request so we can best assist you.

Location: Remote, U.S.-Based

Travel: Up to 75%

About the Team

Press Ganey's Stars and Regulatory Performance Improvement practice helps health plans improve quality outcomes, optimize Medicare Star Ratings performance, and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Our solutions include:

• Stars Center of Excellence: End-to-end support across HEDIS, CAHPS, HOS, Part D, and SNP performance, tailored to each organization's strategic priorities and Stars maturity.
• Regulatory Readiness: Expert guidance, readiness assessments, and simulation exercises for CAHPS, HOS, QHP, and state-specific quality programs, with actionable improvement plans tied to Stars and quality outcomes.
• Performance Stabilization: Governance frameworks, operational alignment, leadership coaching, and quality improvement strategies that help organizations maintain high performance during growth initiatives, M&A activity, and SNP expansion.

Position Overview

The Associate Principal, Stars Consulting Center of Excellence serves as both a strategic advisor and hands-on subject matter expert, leading complex Medicare Advantage performance improvement engagements for health plan clients nationwide.

This role combines executive-level consulting, business development, project leadership, and deep technical expertise across Medicare Stars measures. The Associate Principal will personally lead analyses, develop client recommendations, drive measurable quality improvement outcomes, and build trusted relationships with senior health plan executives.

Success in this role requires the ability to translate complex CMS regulations and Stars methodologies into actionable strategies that improve performance across CAHPS, HEDIS, HOS, medication adherence, and operational measures while identifying opportunities to expand Press Ganey's impact within client organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Consulting Leadership & Delivery

• Lead and personally deliver Medicare Stars consulting engagements across CAHPS, HEDIS, HOS, medication adherence, and operational performance measures.
• Serve as the firm's technical expert on HEDIS methodology, measure specifications, hybrid and administrative reporting, supplemental data strategies, and medical record review optimization.
• Translate CMS regulations, annual rate announcements, technical specifications, and Star Ratings methodology updates into clear, executable client strategies.
• Conduct detailed measure-level analyses and develop actionable recommendations that drive quality and Stars performance improvements.
• Develop executive-level presentations, strategic roadmaps, performance dashboards, client reports, and improvement playbooks.
• Manage multiple high-priority client engagements simultaneously while ensuring exceptional service delivery and measurable outcomes.

Client Relationship Management

• Partner with health plan executives and operational leaders to identify opportunities, solve complex challenges, and achieve strategic goals.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite stakeholders, influencing decision-making and facilitating organizational alignment.
• Build and expand relationships across client organizations to increase engagement and drive long-term partnership growth.
• Identify opportunities to integrate Press Ganey solutions, including Hyperlift analytics, CAHPS, and HOS offerings, to maximize client value.

Business Development & Thought Leadership

• Lead scope development, proposal creation, pricing strategies, and solution design for new engagements.
• Contribute directly to revenue growth through identification and development of new consulting opportunities.
• Represent Press Ganey at industry conferences, client forums, and executive events.
• Contribute to industry thought leadership through presentations, publications, and market-facing content.

Team Development

• Mentor, coach, and cross-train consultants across Stars performance domains to strengthen organizational expertise and delivery capacity.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Support methodology development and best-practice sharing across the consulting organization.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 10+ years of experience in government-sponsored healthcare, including Medicare Advantage and/or Medicaid.
• Direct accountability for Medicare Star Ratings, quality improvement, population health, or regulatory performance initiatives.
• Demonstrated success advising executive leaders on healthcare quality, Stars, and operational performance strategies.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with measurable business outcomes.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Technical Expertise

• Deep expertise in HEDIS, including NCQA measure specifications, claims data, supplemental data, ECDS reporting, audit processes, and performance improvement strategies.
• Strong understanding of Medicare Star Ratings methodology, including measure weighting, cut point movement, improvement measures, Categorical Adjustment Index (CAI), reward factors, and Quality Bonus Payment implications.
• Experience analyzing performance data and identifying opportunities to improve measure outcomes.
• Proficiency with Excel, SQL, and/or other analytics tools used to perform measure-level performance analyses.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.

Leadership Competencies

• Exceptional executive communication, facilitation, presentation, and consulting skills.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decision-making.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, client-facing consulting environment.
• Deep understanding of Medicare Advantage market dynamics, quality measurement, and evolving regulatory requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Healthcare consulting experience within a national consulting firm, health plan, or healthcare services organization.
• Experience working with certified HEDIS engines and Stars analytics platforms.
• Demonstrated success in business development, proposal creation, and consulting practice growth.
• Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Business Administration, or related field.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Press Ganey we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Additional Information for US based jobs:

Press Ganey Associates LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AffirmativeAction employer and well committed to a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination Notice - Press Ganey 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.

The expected base salary for this position ranges from $145,000 - $200,000. It is not typical for offers to be made at or near the top of the range. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered. In addition to base salary and a competitive benefits package, successful candidates are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus or commission tied to achieved results.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Our privacy policy can be found here: https://www.pressganey.com/legal-privacy/