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The Behavioral Health Strategy Lead Behavioral Health Executive Leader (known to Humana as a Behavioral Health Strategy Lead role) is responsible for defining, implementing, and advancing the strategic vision of behavioral health initiatives across Humana’s Illinois health plan. This executive role collaborates with senior leadership to shape segment and enterprise-wide policies, guides innovation, and oversees the integration of behavioral and physical health services. The Director influences enterprise outcomes, develops new approaches to care delivery, and serves as the senior advisor on complex behavioral health matters impacting the organization’s transformation agenda.

Key Responsibilities:

• Directs the development of multi-year behavioral health strategy, working closely with senior executives and advising functional areas on high-impact initiatives, including Medicaid innovation, 1115 Waiver integration, and CCBHC expansion.
• Makes recommendations of strategic significance to executive leadership by analyzing complex trends, devising new methods, and influencing decisions with broad organizational impact.
• Advises and guides multiple internal teams, providing advanced subject matter expertise and leading the implementation of innovative models for integrated and trauma-informed care.
• Serves as the principal behavioral health representative for Humana Illinois, routinely engaging with executive sponsors, state agencies, CCBHCs, and community leaders to drive collaborative, sustainable change.
• Oversees design and execution of programs to improve access, quality, and coordination of behavioral health services, utilizing strong analytic thinking to develop and refine new procedures and interventions.
• Provides strategic leadership in the operationalization of Illinois’ 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals in care integration and health equity.
• Exercises executive oversight of Mobile Crisis Response and vendor management, developing novel solutions and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Ensures that all behavioral health operations not only meet, but exceed, regulatory, contractual, and accreditation requirements, supporting a culture of continuous improvement and compliance across the organization.
• Champions cross-functional and enterprise collaboration, influencing key outcomes in quality, provider relations, population health, and community engagement.
• Guides associates from foundational to complex project work, fostering knowledge growth and supporting high-performing, interdepartmental teams.
• Contributes to the development of organizational principles and objectives, utilizing unique expertise and inductive reasoning to achieve goals creatively and efficiently.
• Monitors, analyzes, and interprets emerging behavioral health and health equity trends, providing strategic advice to senior executives and recommending transformative opportunities across the enterprise.
• Leads performance measurement and quality improvement efforts, sponsoring data-driven decision-making around network adequacy, utilization, member outcomes, and health equity objectives.
• Facilitates strategic advisory councils, learning collaboratives, and community forums, establishing Humana as a trusted partner in behavioral health innovation.

Use your skills to make an impact

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in: Social work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, Health Administration, or a related field.
• Active Illinois licensure as LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, or equivalent.
• 7+ years of leadership experience leading teams in operations within behavioral health, healthcare transformation, integrated care, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives and influence senior executives, with comprehensive expertise across multiple functional areas.
• Deep knowledge of Illinois’ behavioral health landscape, Medicaid managed care, CCBHC models, 1115 Waiver programs, and Mobile Crisis Response.
• Proven ability in strategic planning, analytic thinking, performance management, and regulatory compliance.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with proven effectiveness at the executive level.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Must reside and perform work in the state of Illinois and report to the Market office as needed for training/meetings
• Must possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and willingness to travel statewide up to 35%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in collaboration with Illinois agencies, CCBHCs, CBOs, FQHCs, behavioral health vendors, and provider networks.
• Subject matter expertise in value-based payment, health equity, and behavioral health integration.
• Accomplished facilitator of strategic coalitions, advisory groups, and provider collaboratives.

Work at Home Requirements

To ensure Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees’ ability to work effectively, the self-provided internet service of Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees must meet the following criteria:

• At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is required; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is required.
• Satellite, cellular and microwave connection can be used only if approved by leadership.
• Employees who live and work from Home in the state of California, Illinois, Montana, or South Dakota will be provided a bi-weekly payment for their internet expense.
• Humana will provide Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees with telephone equipment appropriate to meet the business requirements for their position/job.
• Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information. ​

Interview Format

As part of our hiring process for this opportunity, we will be using an interviewing technology called HireVue to enhance our hiring and decision-making ability. HireVue allows us to quickly connect and gain valuable information from you pertaining to your relevant skills and experience at a time that is best for your schedule. If selected to move forward with an interview, expect an email link to be sent to you to complete the video screening.

Social Security Task

Alert: Humana values personal identity protection. Please be aware that applicants being considered for an interview will be asked to provide a social security number, if it is not already on file. When required, an email will be sent from Humana@myworkday.com with instructions to add the information into the application at Humana’s secure website.

Travel: While this is a remote position, occasional travel to Humana's offices for training or meetings may be required.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Pay Range

The compensation range below reflects a good faith estimate of starting base pay for full time (40 hours per week) employment at the time of posting. The pay range may be higher or lower based on geographic location and individual pay will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, certifications, etc.

$115,200 - $158,400 per year

This job is eligible for a bonus incentive plan. This incentive opportunity is based upon company and/or individual performance.

Description of Benefits

Humana, Inc. and its affiliated subsidiaries (collectively, “Humana”) offers competitive benefits that support whole-person well-being. Associate benefits are designed to encourage personal wellness and smart healthcare decisions for you and your family while also knowing your life extends outside of work. Among our benefits, Humana provides medical, dental and vision benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan, time off (including paid time off, company and personal holidays, volunteer time off, paid parental and caregiver leave), short-term and long-term disability, life insurance and many other opportunities.

About us

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to putting health first – for our teammates, our customers and our company. Through our Humana insurance services and CenterWell healthcare services, we make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health – delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Humana not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. It is also the policy of Humana to take affirmative action, in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, to employ and to advance in employment individuals with disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.