Executive Director, Product Strategy & Development - Medicaid at CVS Health

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Executive Director, Product Strategy & Development - Medicaid

Company: CVS Health

Location: Work At Home-Kentucky, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Healthcare Product Strategy & Development

Date Posted: 2025-06-10T00:00:00

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Telecommute (Kentucky)

🎨 Role Summary

Lead the product strategy and management department, overseeing the development and execution of product strategies, roadmaps, and initiatives focused on Medicaid Behavioral Health, Maternal Health, and Social Impact/Equity products.
Develop and execute a comprehensive product strategy aligned with organizational goals and market trends, ensuring long-term success and growth of the product portfolio within the Medicaid sector.
Communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, designers, and marketing professionals, to define product vision, goals, and requirements for new products or enhancements.
Drive the product development process from ideation to launch, overseeing the entire product lifecycle, including concept development, market validation, prototyping, testing, and commercialization of Medicaid products.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is not a traditional design position, it involves significant aspects of product development, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration, which often interact closely with design teams, particularly in healthcare product development focusing on user experience and accessibility for diverse populations like Medicaid members. The enhancement will focus on these intersection points where applicable.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Lead and manage the product strategy and development department, setting strategic direction and fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
Develop, execute, and oversee a business strategy specifically for Medicaid Behavioral Health, Maternal Health, and Social Impact/Equity products, prioritizing growth and market impact.
Establish and manage product roadmaps, prioritizing features and functionality based on the unique needs of the Medicaid population, market demand, and business objectives.
Conduct regular market and competitive assessments within the Medicaid landscape to identify trends, emerging technologies, and customer preferences, integrating findings into product strategy.
Provide leadership and mentorship to the product strategy and management team, supporting professional growth and development while driving team performance.
Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to develop go-to-market strategies, positioning, and pricing for Medicaid products to maximize adoption and revenue growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior leadership role with a strong focus on strategic planning, team management, and cross-functional collaboration within the specific domain of Medicaid healthcare products. This requires a deep understanding of the healthcare industry and government programs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree preferred, with specialized training or relevant professional qualification. Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., MBA, Public Health, Healthcare Administration) may be beneficial for understanding the complexities of the Medicaid landscape and product strategy.

Experience: 10+ years of experience in healthcare, with a strong focus on product development, business strategy, or market activation/engagement. 7+ years of direct Medicaid experience is required, demonstrating a deep understanding of the program's intricacies and member needs. 7+ years of management experience leading diverse teams and driving accountability is essential.

Required Skills:

Extensive experience in healthcare product development and lifecycle management, with a proven track record of bringing successful products to market, particularly within government programs like Medicaid.
Strong strategic business planning and execution skills, including the ability to develop and implement growth-oriented strategies for complex healthcare products.
Proven leadership experience, including managing multidisciplinary teams, setting strategic direction, and driving outcomes in complex stakeholder environments.
Exceptional relationship management skills at senior levels, with the ability to influence executive-level stakeholders internally and externally.
Data and results-driven approach, with the ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data to inform decision-making and product strategy.
Strong analytical and written/oral communication skills, with experience presenting to diverse audiences, including clinical and non-clinical stakeholders.
Experience with contracts, including negotiation with vendors, relevant to product development and service delivery in the healthcare sector.
Background in Payer or Production Solution environments, understanding the technical and operational aspects of healthcare product delivery.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with ILOS (In Lieu of Services) and Value Added Benefits within Medicaid programs.
Adept at leveraging business intelligence and analytics to drive product strategy and performance optimization.
Mastery of problem-solving and decision-making skills in a complex and rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, demonstrating expertise in managing complex projects and initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required qualifications emphasize a blend of strategic leadership, deep healthcare and Medicaid expertise, and strong analytical and communication skills. The preferred skills highlight specific knowledge areas within Medicaid that would be highly beneficial for success in this role.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

While a traditional design portfolio is not required, candidates should be prepared to present case studies or examples of past product strategies and development initiatives they have led, particularly within the healthcare or Medicaid sector.
Focus on demonstrating the strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and impact of your work on product outcomes, market growth, and member experience.
Highlight your process for identifying market needs, developing product concepts, and bringing solutions to fruition, including the challenges faced and lessons learned.
Showcase examples of successful cross-functional collaboration, particularly with teams like design, engineering, and marketing, and how you integrated diverse perspectives into the product development process.

Process Documentation:

Be prepared to discuss your methodology for developing product strategies, including market research, competitive analysis, and identifying target populations' needs (specifically within Medicaid).
Articulate your approach to ideation and iteration in product development, demonstrating how you gather feedback and refine product concepts.
Explain your methods for validating product concepts and testing solutions, including how you measure success and identify areas for improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is not a traditional design role, the "portfolio" concept is reframed to focus on presenting strategic and product development work through case studies. This allows candidates to showcase their experience and impact in a relevant format.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $131,500.00 - $303,195.00 per year. This range represents the base annual full-time salary for positions in this job grade. The actual salary offer will be determined by factors including experience, education, geography, and other relevant factors. This position is also eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission, or short-term incentive program, as well as an equity award target.

Benefits:

Affordable medical plan options, providing comprehensive healthcare coverage for employees and their families.
401(k) plan with matching company contributions, supporting retirement savings goals.
Employee stock purchase plan, offering opportunities to invest in the company's future.
No-cost wellness programs, including screenings, tobacco cessation, and weight management, promoting employee health and well-being.
Confidential counseling and financial coaching resources, providing support for personal and financial challenges.
Benefit solutions tailored to employee needs, including paid time off, flexible work schedules, and family leave.
Dependent care resources, assisting employees with childcare and other dependent care needs.
Colleague assistance programs and tuition assistance, supporting professional development and continued learning.
Retiree medical access, providing healthcare coverage options for retired employees.

Working Hours: The typical working hours for a full-time position are 40 hours per week. As an Executive Director, the role may require flexibility to accommodate meetings across different time zones and manage critical initiatives, potentially exceeding standard hours when necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided directly by the employer. The benefits listed are also directly from the job description, highlighting a comprehensive package. Working hours are inferred based on a standard full-time role at the executive level, with an acknowledgement of potential flexibility needed.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Hospitals and Health Care. CVS Health is a leading health solutions company with a broad presence across retail pharmacy, pharmacy benefits management, and health insurance through Aetna. The company's focus is on transforming healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes for millions of Americans.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees (over 300,000 purpose-driven colleagues). This large size indicates a complex organizational structure and significant resources, offering opportunities for impact but also requiring navigation of a large enterprise.

Founded: 1963. With over 60 years in operation, CVS Health has a long history and established presence in the healthcare industry. The acquisition of Aetna in 2018 significantly expanded its health insurance capabilities, including its Medicaid offerings.

Team Structure:

This role leads the product strategy and management department specifically for Medicaid Behavioral Health, Maternal Health, and Social Impact/Equity products.
The Executive Director will manage a diverse team of product strategy and management professionals.
Significant cross-functional collaboration is expected with teams such as engineering, design, marketing, clinical affairs, and state Medicaid partners.

Methodology:

The role emphasizes a data-driven approach to product strategy and development, utilizing market research, competitive analysis, and performance metrics to inform decisions.
The focus on product lifecycle management suggests a structured approach to bringing products from concept to launch and beyond.
Collaboration with diverse teams indicates a need for adaptable methodologies that can integrate perspectives from clinical, technical, and business functions.

Company Website: https://jobs.cvshealth.com/us/en/benefits (Link provided in original job description; company website is CVSHealth.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: Company size, industry, and founding date are derived from available information. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on the role's responsibilities and the nature of product strategy and development within a large healthcare organization focused on government programs like Medicaid.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: While not a traditional design role, this position is at the Executive Director level, indicating a senior leadership position within the product strategy and development function. It requires extensive experience and the ability to lead significant initiatives and teams.

Reporting Structure: The Executive Director likely reports to a Vice President or other senior executive within the Aetna Medicaid or Product organization, overseeing a department focused on specific product areas.

Design Impact: While not directly a design role, this position has significant influence on the strategic direction and development of products that will ultimately require design input to ensure they are user-centered, accessible, and effective for the Medicaid population. The Executive Director's vision and priorities will shape the scope and focus of design efforts on these products.

Growth Opportunities:

Opportunity to deepen expertise in Medicaid product strategy and development, becoming a key leader in a critical and evolving area of healthcare.
Potential for advancement to higher leadership roles within CVS Health or Aetna, overseeing broader product portfolios or strategic initiatives.
Opportunities to influence healthcare policy and delivery through the development of innovative Medicaid products focused on behavioral health, maternal health, and social determinants of health.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career level and reporting structure are inferred based on the job title and typical organizational hierarchies in large companies. The "design impact" is framed by the role's influence on products that will require design, reflecting the intersection of product strategy and user-centered design in healthcare. Growth opportunities are based on the strategic nature of the role and the company's size and industry position.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Telecommute (Work At Home-Kentucky). This role is designated as fully remote for candidates based in Kentucky. This offers flexibility but requires strong self-discipline and the ability to collaborate effectively with remote teams.

Office Location(s): While this role is remote in Kentucky, CVS Health has corporate offices and other locations across the US (e.g., Woonsocket, RI; Scottsdale, AZ; Northbrook, IL). Occasional travel to these locations or other sites may be required for meetings or collaborative sessions.

Design Workspace Context:

As a remote role, the candidate will need to establish a productive home office environment conducive to strategic thinking, team leadership, and virtual collaboration.
Effective use of virtual collaboration tools (video conferencing, project management software, etc.) will be crucial for interacting with the team and cross-functional partners.
Maintaining strong communication and connection with team members and stakeholders despite the lack of physical co-location will be a key aspect of the work environment.

Work Schedule: The role requires a full-time commitment. As an Executive Director, the schedule may need to be flexible to accommodate meetings with colleagues and stakeholders in different time zones and respond to business needs, particularly during critical phases of product development. While based in Kentucky, collaboration with teams across the US is likely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are based on the "Telecommute" designation and the specific location requirement (Kentucky). The "design workspace context" is adapted to the realities of a remote leadership role, focusing on virtual collaboration and home office setup. The work schedule acknowledges the demands of an executive role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening by HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit for a leadership role.
Interviews with key stakeholders, including senior leaders within Aetna Medicaid and potentially leaders from related functions (e.g., clinical, operations, technology).
Discussions focused on your experience in product strategy, development, and management within the healthcare industry, particularly Medicaid.
Case study presentations or deep dives into past strategic initiatives you have led, demonstrating your approach to problem-solving, market analysis, and achieving results.
Behavioral questions to assess leadership style, team management approach, and ability to navigate complex organizational structures.
Potential interactions with members of the team you would be leading to assess leadership fit and team dynamics.
Final interviews with executive leadership to assess strategic alignment and overall fit for a senior role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Prepare compelling case studies that clearly articulate the problem you addressed, your strategic approach, the execution process, and the quantifiable impact of your work on product success, market growth, or member outcomes within the Medicaid space.
Structure your case studies to highlight your leadership in driving the product lifecycle, from ideation and strategy to development and launch.
Be prepared to discuss your decision-making process, including how you used data, market insights, and stakeholder feedback to inform your strategy.
Practice presenting your case studies concisely and effectively, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work.

Challenge Preparation:

While a traditional design challenge is unlikely, be prepared for potential strategic case discussions or presentations on hypothetical scenarios related to Medicaid product development or market challenges.
Research current trends and challenges in Medicaid, particularly in behavioral health, maternal health, and social determinants of health, to inform your responses.
Practice articulating your strategic thinking process and how you would approach complex problems in the healthcare product space.

ATS Keywords: Healthcare Product Strategy, Medicaid, Product Development, Business Strategy, Market Activation, Leadership, Team Management, Relationship Management, Data Analysis, Communication, Strategic Planning, Product Lifecycle, Market Assessment, Healthcare Industry, Government Programs, Behavioral Health, Maternal Health, Social Impact, Health Equity, Cross-functional Collaboration, Executive Leadership, Payer, Production Solution, ILOS, Value Added Benefits, Business Intelligence, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Project Management, Innovation, Collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process is inferred based on typical executive-level hiring practices in large organizations, adapted to the specific focus on product strategy and healthcare. The "portfolio review tips" and "challenge preparation" are reframed to align with the nature of a strategic leadership role rather than a traditional design position. ATS keywords are derived from the job description and relevant industry terms.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools: While this is not a design role, the Executive Director will likely interact with teams using various tools throughout the product development lifecycle, including:

Strategic planning and roadmap tools (e.g., Aha!, Productboard, Jira) for defining and managing product initiatives.
Collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack) for communication and cross-functional teamwork.
Presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides) for communicating strategies and progress to stakeholders.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Tools for cross-functional collaboration and communication will be essential for working with engineering, design, marketing, and other teams involved in product development.
Familiarity with tools used for design handoff and documentation (e.g., Zeplin, Abstract, Confluence) may be beneficial for understanding the workflow of design and development teams.
Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) will be used to track product development progress and manage initiatives.

Research & Testing:

Tools for market research and competitive analysis will be used to inform product strategy.
Familiarity with tools used for user research and testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey) may be helpful for understanding how product concepts are validated and refined, particularly for the Medicaid population.
Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) will be used to monitor product performance and user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are inferred based on the typical tools used in product strategy, development, and management roles, as well as common collaboration tools in large organizations. While not directly using design tools, the Executive Director will need to interact with teams that do.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values: While the job description doesn't explicitly detail "design values," CVS Health's overall mission and values, particularly within Aetna Medicaid, emphasize a focus on improving health outcomes, increasing accessibility to care, and addressing health equity. For this role, relevant values would include:

A commitment to serving underserved populations and addressing the unique healthcare needs of Medicaid members, including behavioral health, maternal health, and social determinants of health.
A focus on developing innovative and effective product solutions that improve the health and well-being of members.
A collaborative and inclusive approach to working with diverse teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
A data-driven mindset, using insights to inform strategy and measure the impact of product initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

The role requires strong cross-functional collaboration with various teams across Aetna and CVS Health, including clinical, operations, technology, and marketing.
Effective communication and relationship building with internal and external stakeholders, including state Medicaid partners, are essential.
A collaborative leadership style that empowers team members and fosters open communication is likely valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "design values" are interpreted through the lens of the company's mission and the specific focus of the role on Medicaid products serving vulnerable populations. The collaboration style is inferred from the responsibilities and the need to work across a large organization and with external partners.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Navigating the complexities of the Medicaid program, including regulatory requirements, state-specific rules, and diverse member needs.
Developing product strategies that effectively address the unique behavioral health, maternal health, and social determinants of health challenges faced by the Medicaid population.
Driving innovation and implementing new product solutions within a large, established healthcare organization.
Managing competing priorities and resources across multiple product initiatives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunity to deepen expertise in Medicaid policy, programs, and market dynamics.
Exposure to a wide range of healthcare products and services across the CVS Health enterprise.
Opportunities to develop leadership skills in managing a high-performing team and influencing stakeholders at various levels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are identified based on the specific focus of the role on Medicaid and the complexities inherent in healthcare product development. Growth opportunities are highlighted based on the strategic nature of the role and the potential for learning and advancement within a large healthcare organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your approach to developing product strategy, from identifying market needs to defining product roadmaps and prioritizing features.
Explain your process for collaborating with cross-functional teams, including how you work with design, engineering, and clinical teams to bring products to life.
Discuss how you use data and insights to inform product decisions and measure the success of product initiatives.

Company Culture Questions:

Research CVS Health and Aetna's mission, values, and strategic priorities, particularly related to Medicaid and addressing health equity. Be prepared to discuss how your experience and values align with the company's.
Ask questions about the team structure, collaboration style, and how the product strategy team interacts with other parts of the organization.
Discuss your leadership philosophy and how you foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Select 2-3 compelling case studies of product strategies or initiatives you have led that are most relevant to the role's focus on Medicaid, behavioral health, maternal health, or social impact.
For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the execution, and the impact, using data and quantifiable results where possible.
Highlight your leadership role and how you navigated challenges and collaborated with others to achieve success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to a strategic leadership role in healthcare product development, focusing on relevant experience, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. The "portfolio presentation strategy" is adapted to presenting case studies of product work rather than a traditional design portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your specific experience in healthcare product strategy, development, and leadership, with a strong emphasis on your Medicaid expertise.
Prepare case studies or examples of past product initiatives you have led, focusing on the strategic thinking, execution, and impact of your work.
Research CVS Health, Aetna Medicaid, and current trends in behavioral health, maternal health, and social determinants of health to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant landscape.
Practice discussing your leadership experience, strategic approach, and collaboration style in preparation for interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Executive Director, Product Strategy & Development - Medicaid