What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manager of Utilization Management and Complex Care Management position at AbsoluteCARE Medical and Pharmacy?
Why Work at AbsoluteCare?
At AbsoluteCare, we serve the most vulnerable individuals in America. These are our neighbors, people who are at higher risk for disease or who have multiple, complex, chronic illnesses. Often, they deal with an unequal healthcare system and wind up seeking basic care from emergency rooms. We take these patients out of those spaces and turn them into members: people who are entitled to some of the best, most focused care this country has to offer.
We call this “care beyond medicine.” We have turned the doctor’s office into a comprehensive care center. Here, we surround our members with a core care team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and medical assistants who have the time and skills to get to know our members’ needs. We make the most important services available to our members under one roof. This includes a pharmacy, X-rays, a blood lab, nutrition services, urgent care, and much more.
We don’t stop at our four walls. We engage members in the communities where we all live to find the people who need us most. Through these community care teams, we remove the barriers to healthcare that so many people face daily. And it works.
Our unique care is guided by our core values of accountability, caring, trust, and teamwork. We call it ACT2.
Job Summary
The Manager of Utilization Management and Complex Care Management provides day-to-day operational leadership for the Utilization Management, Transitional Care, and Care Management teams, supports the execution of processes designed to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare utilization costs, and facilitate effective care transitions for complex populations. The Manager collaborates closely with the Medical Center leadership, Market Leadership and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless continuum of care across inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based settings.
Acting as a key liaison between staff Medical Center and Market Leadership, the Manager facilitates communication and promotes efficient team operations. Additionally, the Manager oversees performance evaluations, handles disciplinary actions, and works with the leadership team to uphold high service standards. Success in role is measured by meeting and/or exceeding KPI targets around Admissions/1000, Readmissions/1000, Average length of stay and ED Utilization.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Team Leadership and Oversight
- Lead and manage a diverse care management team, including registered nurses, social workers and community health workers.
- Oversee staff development and ensure adherence to care management standards, including person-centered care planning, SMART goals, and documentation protocols aligned with NCQA, regulatory, and health plan standards.
- Conduct performance management activities, including case audits, one-on-one coaching, and training, ensuring compliance with quality and accreditation standards.
- Manage caseloads to ensure follow-up, timely documentation, and compliance with organizational and health plan requirements.
- Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Care
- Coordinate with community-based organizations, primary care providers, and specialists to address members’ chronic care needs, facilitate transitions of care, and support member retention.
- Partner with inpatient facility case management departments for collaborative discharge planning and continuity of care.
- Host and document interdisciplinary care team (ICT) meetings, ensuring follow-up on action items to enhance member outcomes.
- Operational and Performance Improvement
- Use data and reporting to monitor team performance and drive improvements in utilization, health outcomes, quality metrics, and member satisfaction.
- Proactively identify low-performing staff or processes, implementing improvement plans or process optimizations as needed.
- Apply evidence-based guidelines (e.g., MCG, InterQual) to ensure appropriate levels of care, reduce readmissions, and improve transitions.
- Member Engagement and Case Management Expertise
- Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) on care management, chronic conditions, and organizational information systems, leading training and promoting best practices in member care.
- Address complex needs of populations with medical, behavioral, and socioeconomic barriers through data-driven interventions and therapeutic approaches such as motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care.
- Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Develop and maintain relationships with payors, facility leadership, and community organizations to support integrated member care and overcome barriers such as housing, food security, and financial instability.
- Actively participate in both internal and external meetings, representing the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
- Onboarding, Hiring, and Staff Engagement
- Conduct interviews, hiring, onboarding, and training for new team members, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Lead team meetings, engage in team-building activities, and maintain staff morale and productivity through virtual and in-person methods.
- Responsible for employee engagement scores and staff turnover metrics.
- Additional Responsibilities
- Maintain the privacy and security of member information as per organizational and legal standards.
- Adapt to dynamic environments, managing competing priorities and supporting business needs through flexible, innovative solutions.
- Meet deadlines and uphold organizational core values in daily operations.
Minimum Qualifications
License, Education and Certification:
- Minimum License: Current, active, and unrestricted license in a health or human services discipline that, within its scope of practice, allows you to conduct an assessment independently (e.g. RN, SW).
- Minimum Certifications: Qualified with CCM Credentials or obtain within 24 months of hire. CMGT-BC, CCTM, C-SWCM, C-ASWCM, ACM or FAACM will be considered.
- BLS/CPR required.
- Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in health or human services discipline required.
- Master’s degree in business, Healthcare Administration/Public Health, Finance, or a related field a plus.
- Advanced clinical practice (e.g. CNS/APN, LCSW/LISW, PsyD/PhD) a plus
- Other Certifications Considered: CMAC, CHE, CPHQ or similar certifications a plus.
- 7-10 years’ experience, with at 3-5 years in leadership, ideally in Value-Based Care, Utilization Management, or Complex Care Management.
- Experience with complex populations (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, dual-eligibles), including medically complex, trauma-experienced, and socially vulnerable individuals.
- Proficiency with evidence-based care transition strategies, including discharge planning, ambulatory care and community-based care coordination.
- Technical and Analytical Skills
- Advanced computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite and electronic health record (EHR) systems.
- Strong data analysis and reporting abilities to drive performance improvements and process optimization.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interactions with members, families, stakeholders, and interdisciplinary teams.
- Proven ability to foster team morale, handle change, and work independently while making sound clinical judgments.
- Frequent communication with team members, partners, and patients, requiring clarity and accuracy.
- Ability to work both in community settings and in a professional office environment.
- Ability to operate electronic portable devices and complete documentation and other tasks in a mobile work environment.
- Ability to travel regionally and nationally up to 80%
- Ability to operate computer, keyboard, copy and fax machine, phone, and other general office equipment.
- Ability to occasionally move objects up to 20 lbs.
- Valid driver’s license with automobile insurance, with ability to travel up to 80% within the local area.
- Reliable transportation.
- This role is expected to travel between the center as well as local facilities (ie – hospitals, SNFs, etc).
- Transitional Care Managers
- Complex Care Managers
- Team Lead (if present)
Experience
Working conditions
Physical requirements
Direct reports
May include any combination of: