Senior Counsel, Managed Care Operations at Astrana Health, Inc.

United States

$290k - $325k

Senior Counsel, Managed Care Operations Department: Value-Based Care Programs Employment Type: Full Time Location: Remote Reporting To: Crystal Lautrup Compensation: $290,000 - $325,000 / year Description About the Role We are seeking a Senior Counsel, Managed Care Operations to join our legal team and report directly to the General Counsel. This is a hands‑on operator role, not a purely advisory position. The Senior Counsel will serve as a primary legal owner for managed care and provider contracting, acting as a first‑line legal decision‑maker for day-to-day operations in a high‑volume, high‑complexity environment. This role requires strong ownership, sound judgment, and comfort operating in ambiguity. You will be expected to move quickly, partner closely with many business segments, and help structure practical solutions in a regulated California managed care environment. Because of the pace of the role and limited ramp time, deep experience with California managed care and healthcare contracting is required. What You'll Do Contracting & Negotiation Draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of healthcare‑related agreements, including: Plan‑to‑plan and other payer agreements Provider participation and network contracts Value‑based, shared savings, and risk‑sharing arrangements MSO, IPA, and delegated risk agreements Vendor and strategic partnership agreements Data sharing agreements and BAAs Independently lead some contract negotiations with minimal oversight Provide pragmatic, business‑oriented legal guidance that enables execution Strategic Legal Partnership Partner closely with stakeholders across: Network Development Contracting Operations Finance Compliance; and Executive Leadership Help structure complex arrangements that balance growth, operational realities, and legal risk Identify potential legal and regulatory issues early and propose actionable solutions Support informed, well‑documented risk decisions aligned with company priorities and regulatory guardrails. Managed Care & Regulatory Expertise Advise on California managed care and healthcare regulatory considerations Support innovative and evolving value‑based care and risk‑bearing structures Help navigate delegated care and risk arrangements Provide guidance on contract terms that materially impact operational execution Collaborate closely with Compliance on regulatory interpretation and escalation Scaling & Process Improvement Develop and refine templates, playbooks, and negotiation frameworks Improve contracting workflows, consistency, and turnaround time Identify opportunities and means to streamline legal processes What Success Looks Like Quickly ramps and independently manages a high volume of complex contracts Enables business teams to move faster while managing risk thoughtfully Is viewed as a trusted, pragmatic partner by cross‑functional leaders Brings creative, practical solutions to complex legal and operational issues Improves contracting efficiency and scalability over time Makes the General Counsel better—not busier Qualifications Required Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school Active California Bar license (required) 6+ years of managed care and healthcare contracting experience in California Strong experience negotiating: Managed care and payer agreements Provider and network agreements Value‑based or risk‑based arrangements MSO, IPA, and delegated risk structures Experience operating in fast‑paced, high‑volume contracting environments Strong judgment, problem‑solving, and critical thinking skills Ability to operate independently with clear ownership and accountability Preferred In‑house legal experience Experience supporting value‑based care organizations or risk‑bearing entities Experience in high‑growth or evolving healthcare organizations Experience scaling contracting processes, templates, and playbooks What Makes Someone Successful in This Role Strong ownership mindset; steps into ambiguity and drives resolution Comfortable making disciplined risk tradeoffs in a regulated environment Pragmatic, business‑oriented legal thinker Responsive, execution‑focused, and reliable under pressure Collaborative, low‑ego partner Able to prioritize effectively in a high‑volume environment Environmental Job Requirements and Working Conditions This position is remotely based in the U.S. The national target pay for this role is $290,000 to $325,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on geographic location (current or future), experience, and other job-related factors.