The Associate Consultant is responsible for supporting the operations of Sheppard Pratt Solutions (SPS) and its related services, including consulting, management, and development focus areas.  The position supports the work of the Sheppard Pratt Solutions team to evaluate client behavioral health services and provide actionable strategies for optimization and growth.   

Under general supervision, SPS Associate Consultants work with SPS leaders to provide up-to-date, professional consultation services to clients throughout the country to assist them in better understanding their needs and providing assessments, operational strategies and business planning supports.  SPS Associate Consultants will work in all subject areas and with a variety of clients.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Engagement Leadership

May serve as the engagement leader on select consulting projects. May serve as the partnership leader in select management agreements.

2.  Client Interface

Participates in client interviews and corresponds with external shareholders to ascertain information pertinent to SPS engagements. This may involve direct research via the internet, other public resources, telephone interviews and other avenues. Support the SPS team as a point of contact for specific engagement components as outlined in consulting project scope of work summaries. This includes completing the deliverables and outcomes in the specified timeframes as noted. Assists leadership in cultivating and developing business prospects and maintaining good public relations with host hospital administration as needed Travel to client sites as part of the SPS team to perform a site assessment and face-to-face interviews. Collaborate with client reporting teams to establish, validate, and troubleshoot new data sources

3.  Market Research & Data Analysis

Gathers, analyzes, interprets and summarizes data from a variety of sources to produce volume projections, feasibility studies, operational assessments, and consulting reports as requested Assists in integrating new data into databases and assisting in creation of management dashboards and related deliverables Works with large datasets in order to profile service volumes based on patient characteristics, such as payor, age, diagnosis, and geography Utilizes third party vendors and other resources to maximize SPS consultation services to help address client challenges

4.  Deliverable Completion

Working with SPS leaders, develops consultation reports, presentations and findings for clients, including regional service inventories, needs assessments, market demand and bed studies, and gap analyses Assists with the creation of financial pro formas to substantiate recommendations to clients Helps to develop presentations and reports to convey key observations, results of analyses, and recommendations Develops tools and dashboards that can be used in multiple markets and settings to identify opportunities for growth and monitor performance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

1.  The Associate Consultant should possess a master's degree in a health administration or related business field. 1-3 years of experience in a healthcare or consulting setting, either in a leadership role or one supporting leadership, is preferred.  Specific experience in behavioral health care preferred. Experience should ideally demonstrate:

Knowledge of the hospital industry, with preference for inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance abuse program experience, including operations, processes, marketing, and strategic planning; Excellent project management, communication and group leadership and facilitation skills; Ability to organize and prioritize in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment; Demonstrated strong business analytical ability High degree of technical acumen with software and data-related technologies. Specifically required computer skills include: Microsoft Excel proficiency Microsoft PowerPoint proficiency for use in creating sophisticated, client-facing presentations Microsoft Word proficiency for use in creating client-facing reports Familiarity with publicly available large language models to assist in navigating complex tasks Data visualization tools such as Tableau or PowerBI for creating and modifying dashboards Python or previous coding experience preferred

2.  Work requires superior interpersonal skills that demonstrate clear verbal and written communication, enable comfortable interaction with senior executives, boards, physicians, community leaders, and outside vendors, and demonstrate a high degree of comfort leading, facilitating, and interacting with diverse groups.

3.  Work requires advanced writing, analytical, planning, business development, and problem-solving skills with a strong ability to conduct strategic analysis, develop financial models and complete internal/external research to support business decisions.

4.  Work with high volume of complex projects with competing deadlines requiring attention to detail which may produce mental/visual fatigue.

5.  Ability to work independently.

6.  Flexibility and willingness to learn and work in multiple content areas (clinical, financial, operational, strategy) with a wide variety of client organizations.

Working Conditions: Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability(s) to perform the essential functions of this position.

1.  Generally, work occurs in a remote setting, with on-site work in a hospital setting as necessary.

2.  Work requires frequent speaking to a wide variety of internal and external contacts.

3.  Work requires travel to client sites, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other service locations

4.  Work requires frequent use of a computer.

5.  Work requires normal vision and hearing.

Reporting Relationships:

1.  Reports to Sr. Director of Strategy, Sheppard Pratt Solutions