Specialist, Value-Based Initiatives

Heartland Whole Health Institute is a non-profit that addresses physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being by working with health systems, employers, and communities to redesign health care delivery. Job Description: Job Title: Specialist, Value-Based Initiatives Reports to: Director, Care Model FLSA Classification: Exempt Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site) Date Reviewed: 3/16/2026 Who We Are Heartland Whole Health Institute (HWHI) is dedicated to transforming health care – beginning in our home of Northwest Arkansas and scaling to disrupt the national health crisis. We advocate, educate, and guide the implementation of an innovative system, rooted in whole health and the realignment of financial incentives. Our team members are collaborative, analytical, mission-driven, and working together to change the status quo. The Institute’s 85,000-square-foot facility is located on the campus of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art near Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. About The Position The Specialist, Value-Based Initiatives supports the operational design, implementation, and integration of value-based care demonstration initiatives. This role supports cross-functional planning, site readiness, launch execution, employer alignment, and scalability planning to help ensure successful deployment and long-term sustainability of the Demonstration model. The Specialist supports day-to-day program execution and cross-organizational coordination. Serving as a key operational liaison with employer and implementation partners, the Specialist translates strategic and clinical decisions into executable employer-site workflows, aligning screening operations, vendor coordination, incentive structures, financial parameters, and performance expectations. The Specialist helps ensure successful pilot launch, early stabilization, and performance integrity across employer sites. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple operational priorities while supporting effective collaboration across internal and external partners. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Program Implementation - Support cross-functional planning and operational readiness efforts to prepare employer sites for pilot launch and new site launches. - Align pilot scope, roles, responsibilities, operational workflows, and success metrics across employer and internal stakeholders. - Support the definition and alignment of screening models and incentive structures. - Support the development and finalization of operational components including screening workflows, incentive disbursement, communications strategy, vendor coordination, and implementation logistics, in collaboration with the broader team. - Operationalize established care pathways within employer-site workflows. - Translate budget parameters and incentive funding decisions into implementation plans. - Track legal, compliance, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements necessary for pilot launch. - Support training and onboarding of employer site leadership and support staff. - Establish clear implementation and launch timelines in coordination with the Project Manager, along with accountability structures and readiness benchmarks. - Coordinate screening logistics, vendor onboarding sequencing, and escalation pathways. - Support expanded program responsibilities as consulting support phases out. - Support on-time launch and activation of pilot initiatives. - Coordinate execution of marketing, screening, enrollment, and care pathway activation at pilot site. - Support successful integration of clinical partners, vendors, and employer workflows at the site level. - Monitor daily and early-phase operational performance, proactively mitigate risks, and escalate potential issues as appropriate. - Support early implementation stabilization to help ensure program fidelity, performance integrity, and execution consistency. Program Monitoring and Reporting - Support alignment between care model components, partner incentives, payment structure, and pilot budget, in collaboration with the Director of Finance. - Monitor financial guardrails and communicate constraints to partners and internal teams. - Support clarity of KPIs, funder expectations, and scalability thresholds. - Maintain alignment between operational execution, implementation progress, and the long-term Demonstration strategy. - Support definition and monitoring of early implementation and performance metrics. - Conduct structured reviews of pilot outcomes and operational signals, in collaboration with the Research team, and align expectations with funders and partners. - Identify scalability requirements and operational adaptations necessary for expansion to additional employer sites. - Contribute to the development of a replicability and scalability playbook for expansion to additional employer sites. Stakeholder and Community Coordination - Serve as a central integrator across clinical, operational, financial, and external stakeholders. - Serve as the primary day-to-day operational liaison with key employer and provider partners during planning, launch, and early implementation. - Facilitate alignment between employer partners and internal teams to support consistent communication and execution. - Support executive reporting, milestone tracking, and strategic updates related to pilot implementation as needed. - Support integration of prioritized Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) domains and community-based organizations (CBOs) within employer pilot workflows and the overall Demonstration project, in collaboration with the Ecosystem team. - Align CBO participation with care pathways, funding structures, and measurable outcomes for pilot implementation. - Support the development of eligibility criteria and allocation processes for SDOH wraparound funds. - Help ensure community integration remains operationally feasible and financially sustainable within the pilot structure. - Support projects and initiatives of Heartland Whole Health Institute as assigned. - Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support evolving organizational needs. Qualifications and Requirements - Bachelor’s degree in public health, health policy, healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred. - 4–6 years of experience in program coordination, healthcare initiatives, project implementation, or related operational roles. - Demonstrated ability to support implementation of complex programs or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and operational workflows. - Experience working in complex organizations such as healthcare systems, healthcare innovation organizations, startups, nonprofits, or multi-entity structures strongly preferred. - Demonstrated experience coordinating projects or program initiatives with strong organizational and time management skills, including tracking priorities, managing resources, and meeting timelines effectively. - Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and the ability to synthesize information, identify trends, and support program improvements. - Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion in planning, prioritizing, and executing program implementation activities, including managing deliverables and escalating issues to program leadership as appropriate. - Exceptional communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation). - Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. - Adaptable and flexible when interacting with individuals across diverse roles, levels, and functional areas. - High level of professional integrity and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion. - Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. - Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and innovative environment where change is constant. Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical demands: In the work environment described, position requires sitting at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, and physical stamina to lift and transport a minimum of 10 pounds. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job. Work environment: Work is performed full-time (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) in a professional, climate-controlled office environment with standard office equipment, including computers, printers, and telephones. This role requires working in an open setting near colleagues. The noise level is typically low to moderate. The role also requires interaction with both the public and internal team members in a professional and courteous manner. Some local travel will be required, and a flexible schedule may be necessary to accommodate business needs, including occasional evening and weekend work hours. Heartland Whole Health Institute is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and a background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.