VP Product Strategy - Prior Authorization & Electronic Benefit Verification

Surescripts serves the nation through simpler, trusted health intelligence sharing, in order to increase patient safety, lower costs and ensure quality care. We deliver insights at critical points of care for better decisions - from streamlining prior authorizations to delivering comprehensive medication histories to facilitating messages between providers.

The VP, Product Strategy serves as the market-facing commercial leader for the Surescripts Prior Authorization (PA) and Electronic Benefit Verification (eBV) product areas, operating as the strategic 'two in a box' partner to the corresponding Product team leader. Strategy is focused on the customer; Product is focused on the product; together they are accountable for the success of the PA and eBV products in the market. This role owns the 3-year growth plan for the PA and eBV portfolio, drives early adopter identification and success, leads key deals, and owns the value proposition, ROI model, and pricing strategy. The VP, Product Strategy is the day-to-day face of Surescripts' products to prescribers, pharmacies, payers, PBMs, EHR vendors, and other market partners from Early Adopter through Key Project lifecycle, building the customer relationships, market momentum, and commercial discipline that drive product-market fit and revenue growth.

The VP, Product Strategy is expected to bring deep health IT market experience and deeply understand life sciences company data needs and the business drivers behind data purchases. Along with fluency in the regulatory and interoperability landscape shaping PA and eBV (e.g., NCPDP standards and CMS interoperability and prior authorization rules), and the agility to apply consistent strategic and commercial capabilities as business priorities evolve.

• Own and drive the 3-year growth plan for the Prior Authorization (PA) and Electronic Benefit Verification (eBV) product areas as part of the Long-Range Planning (LRP) process; update the plan at minimum twice per year and whenever material changes in market, regulatory, or competitive conditions occur.
• Define and own the value proposition and return on investment (ROI) model for the PA and eBV portfolio in close partnership with the corresponding Product Management leader; serve as the strategic 'two in a box' counterpart focused on the customer while Product focuses on the product.
• Serve as the market-facing leader for the PA and eBV product areas, acting as the day-to-day face of Surescripts to prescribers, pharmacies, payers, PBMs, EHR vendors, and other ecosystem partners across the full product lifecycle.
• Identify and pursue early adopter strategies: define criteria for target early adopters, drive engagement and alignment with early adopter customers, support delivery through to Live and Happy status, and partner with Marketing to leverage early adopter success in broader market awareness.
• Lead Key Deals for the PA and eBV product areas, acting as the primary face of strategic and high-value deals in partnership with Sales; negotiate complex pricing exceptions within established bands and escalate to appropriate leadership as needed.
• Own product pricing strategy for the PA and eBV product areas, including pricing bands, pricing structure and model, and overall terms, in collaboration with Finance and subject to Pricing Committee approval; maintain directionally consistent pricing across like customers.
• Lead cross-functional core team for the PA and eBV product areas, integrating insights from Product, Services, Sales, and Marketing to track progress against the growth plan, surface key deals and early adopter status, and drive alignment.

• Define product positioning and provide go-to-market messaging guidance to Marketing for external communications, demand generation campaigns, field enablement materials, and industry events.
• Monitor and synthesize regulatory, technology, and competitive developments relevant to Prior Authorization and Electronic Benefit Verification - including CMS interoperability and prior authorization rules, NCPDP and X12 standards, and payer, PBM, and EHR market dynamics; translate external dynamics into strategic opportunities, risk mitigation plans, and product-market adjustments.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with customers, prospects, and ecosystem partners relevant to the PA and eBV product areas to accelerate adoption and inform product-market strategy.
• Develop business cases for growth investments within the PA and eBV product areas, including market sizing, competitive analysis, financial modeling, and scenario planning; communicate findings to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with other Strategy leaders on long-range strategic planning, partnership, investment, or acquisition opportunities that strengthen the PA and eBV product areas.
• Represent Surescripts at industry conferences, working groups, and external events relevant to Prior Authorization and Electronic Benefit Verification (e.g., NCPDP and industry PA and interoperability workgroups) to build brand awareness and establish thought leadership.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 12+ years of related, progressive experience in healthcare technology, health information technology, or a related field.
• 8+ years of people management experience or experience in roles showing progressive leadership.
• 5+ years of experience in product strategy, go-to-market strategy, or commercial strategy within a healthcare technology or health IT company, ideally including exposure to prior authorization, benefit verification and eligibility, e-prescribing, or related pharmacy or payer-connectivity solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to drive market adoption of healthcare technology products, including early adopter program management and key deal leadership.
• Proven ability to develop and own a product value proposition and ROI model in partnership with a product management organization.
• Proven ability to engage and influence at the VP/C-suite level with payers, EHR vendors, PBMs, health systems, or other healthcare ecosystem participants.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to present complex strategic and commercial content to CEO and Board-level audiences.
• Ability to travel to industry conferences, customer meetings, and internal events as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA)
• Direct experience with prior authorization and/or benefit verification solutions - including electronic prior authorization (ePA), real-time prescription benefit, or eligibility and benefit verification (X12 270/271, 278; NCPDP SCRIPT) - and familiarity with adjacent health IT domains (e.g., e-prescribing, medication history, clinical messaging, data and analytics).
• Working knowledge of the regulatory and standards environment governing prior authorization and benefit verification, including CMS interoperability and prior authorization rules (e.g., CMS-0057-F), NCPDP and X12 transaction standards, and FHIR-based prior authorization and benefit APIs.
• Experience at a healthcare network, health information exchange, or health IT platform company in a strategy or commercial leadership role.
• Experience partnering with product management in a co-leadership or 'two in a box' model.
• Track record of building 3-year growth plans and long-range financial models for healthcare technology products.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment with evolving scope.

Surescripts embraces flexibility through its Flexible Hybrid Work model for most positions. This model allows employees to work virtually while still utilizing our offices as collaboration centers. With alignment and agreement from your leadership, you can come and go from the office as needed.

To be considered for employment, applicants must have a valid U.S. work authorization allowing work without restrictions with Surecripts in the U.S. At this time, we are unable to provide support or provide sponsorship for immigration benefits such as work visas. Additionally, we do not participate in academic training programs or work-study programs through an academic institution that require employer endorsement of F-1/CPT or F-1/STEM.

As a strategy-minded member of the Growth team, you enjoy cross-disciplinary problem solving. You are motivated by multifaceted challenges that require you to quickly identify the data points that matter and generate a hypothesis. You are relentless in your pursuit of continuous improvement with the chops to dive into analytics, then step back to see the forest for the trees. You prefer a good narrative over a fancy PowerPoint slide. You provide market-focused expertise and industry understanding that builds trust and influences customer behavior.

Surescripts Growth is a team of both thinkers and doers. We pressure test our ideas and then move past thinking to put our plans into action. We're ambitious, yet realistic, with our goal in mind: to increase the value of the Surescripts Network Alliance.

We love a good framework, of course. But we also work to understand our ever-evolving role as a network business and how our solutions impact our customers and the patients and providers they serve. We take on some of the most pressing opportunities and problems facing our business. And we thrive in this fast-paced environment.

Why Wait? Apply Now

We're a midsize company. This means you're not just another employee ID number. Here, you can build real relationships and feel supported by truly awesome people with diverse backgrounds and talents in an innovative and collaborative work culture. We strive to create an environment where you can be yourself, share your ideas and work your way. We offer opportunities for employee development, as well as competitive compensation packages and extensive benefits.

Benefits include, but are not limited to, comprehensive healthcare (including infertility coverage), generous paid time off including paid childbirth and parental leave and mental health days, pet insurance, and 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting. To learn more, review the Keep You and Yours Healthy, Balancing Work and Life, and Where Talent Takes Shape links under the Better Benefits. Better Work. Better Life section of our careers site.

Physical and Mental Requirements

While performing duties of this job, an employee may be required to perform any, or all of the following: attend meetings in and out of the office, travel, communicate effectively (both orally and in writing), and be able to effectively use computers and other electronic and standard office equipment with, or without, a reasonable accommodation. Additionally, this job requires certain mental demands, including the ability to use judgement, withstand moderate amounts of stress and maintain attention to detail with, or without, a reasonable accommodation.

Surescripts is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.