Associate Principal, Stars Consulting Center of Excellence

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.