Director of Payor Partnerships

SonderMind

  • Denver, CO
  • $160,000-175,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 16 days ago
About SonderMindAt SonderMind, we believe everyone deserves one personalized, connected, and effective mental health destination to take care of their mental health and well-being at any stage of life. SonderMind care encompasses everything from therapy and medication management to meditation and mindfulness exercises. Our clinicians leverage our digital tools and research to deliver increasingly high-quality care and to develop thriving practices. Combining technology and human connection, SonderMind drives better outcomes through our comprehensive approach. Learn more about SonderMind at sondermind.com or download the mobile app, available on iOS and Android. To follow the latest SonderMind news, get to know our clients, and learn about what it's like to work at SonderMind, you can follow us on , , and .About the RoleWe are seeking a strategic and dynamic Director of Payor Partnerships to lead the development and management of SonderMind's relationships with commercial and government health plans. Reporting to the VP of Payor Strategy, this role will be instrumental in expanding access to mental healthcare by establishing mutually beneficial partnerships that align with quality, affordability, and innovation goals.You will play a pivotal role in negotiating contracts, designing alternate reimbursement models (value-based care arrangements), and driving strategic initiatives that position SonderMind as a trusted partner in behavioral health. You'll also be a key collaborator across clinical, operations, legal, and data teams to ensure seamless implementation and performance monitoring of all payor agreements.What you'll do
  • Lead end-to-end payor contracting efforts, including strategy development, negotiation, and execution of new and existing agreements across national and regional markets, ensuring compliance, scalability, and sustainability.
  • Build and deepen relationships with payor decision-makers, positioning SonderMind as a high-performing, data-driven behavioral health partner.
  • Develop and execute partner enablement strategies, create partner enablement playbooks, oversee RFPs/proposals, and manage the creation of onboarding guides.
  • Manage cross-functional project teams to operationalize payor contracts, resolve implementation issues, and ensure alignment with clinical and financial goals.
  • Represent SonderMind at industry forums by attending conferences, trade shows, partner events, and other industry gatherings to increase company visibility and forge new strategic alliances.
  • Leverage data analytics to articulate SonderMind's value proposition, identify opportunities for collaboration, and support contract performance improvement.
  • Design, monitor, and interpret payor contracting KPIs and dashboards to track growth, financial performance, utilization, RCM metrics, and more.
  • Monitor market trends and health policy developments to inform partnership strategy and drive innovation in behavioral health contracting.
  • Mentor and guide team members involved in payor relations, cultivating a high-performance, results-driven culture.
What does success look like?You will work independently, and with the team, to proactively identify and execute strategic initiatives. You are highly motivated and can overcome complex challenges and roadblocks.Measures of success will include:30 Days
  • Develop and enhance relationships with the top 10 payor partners and identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration.
  • Review existing payor contracts, onboarding processes, and internal playbooks to understand current state.
  • Familiarize yourself with active negotiations, proposals, and target growth opportunities.
60 Days
  • Track active pipeline, including number of new payor negotiations, proposals submitted, and target revenue or growth measures.
  • Ensure operational readiness for all new agreements and confirm integration with internal systems is on track.
  • Begin monitoring claims and reimbursement quality, focusing on claims denial rates and adherence to contracted rates.
90 Days
  • Increase partner satisfaction through proactive engagement, measured by feedback scores, NPS, or renewal rate trends.
  • Create internal playbooks, training sessions, stakeholder alignment tools, or templates to streamline future partnerships.
  • Drive measurable improvements in contract performance and operational execution.
Who You Are
  • 10+ years of experience in payor strategy, business development, or provider-payor contracting, ideally in a digital health or behavioral health setting.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills with an ability to build trust and influence at all levels.
  • Experience working with commercial and government payors, including Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care, particularly in behavioral health.
  • Proven track record of negotiating complex contracts with national or regional payors.
  • Proficiency with Salesforce, contract management platforms, and healthcare analytics software.
  • Analytical mindset with experience interpreting financial models, claims data, and performance metrics.
  • Proactive and deadline-driven, with a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
  • Self-starter comfortable working independently in a mission-driven environment.
  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) required.
Our BenefitsThe anticipated salary range for this role is $160,000 - $175,000. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, skills, education, and past performance. In addition to base salary, this position may also be eligible for a variable bonus and equity.As leaders in redesigning behavioral health, we walk the walk with our employees' benefits. We want the experience of working at SonderMind to accelerate people's careers and enrich their lives, so we focus on meeting SonderMinders wherever they are and supporting them in all facets of their lives and work.Our benefits include:
  • A commitment to fostering flexible hybrid work
  • A generous PTO policy with a minimum of three weeks off per year
  • Free therapy coverage benefits to ensure our employees have access to the care they need (must be enrolled in our medical plans to participate)
  • Competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage with plans to meet every need, including HSA ($1,100 company contribution) and FSA options
  • Employer-paid short-term, long-term disability, life & AD&D to cover life's unexpected events. Not only that, we also cover the difference in salary for up to seven (7) weeks of short-term disability leave (after the required waiting period) should you need to use it.
  • Eight weeks of paid Parental Leave (if the parent also qualifies for STD, this benefit is in addition, which allows between 8-16 weeks of paid leave)
  • 401K retirement plan with 100% matching which immediately vests on up to 4% of base salary
  • Travel to Denver 1x a year for annual Shift gathering
  • Fourteen (14) company holidays
  • Company Shutdown between Christmas and New Years
  • Supplemental life insurance, pet insurance coverage, commuter benefits and more!
Application DeadlineThis position will be an ongoing recruitment process and will be open until filled.Equal OpportunitySonderMind does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, religion, veteran and military status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including genetic information or characteristics), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

SonderMind