Health Improvement Manager – Rural Health Focus

Job description

About the role: We believe health is shaped by the environments where we live, learn, work, and play. By partnering with communities, we can create healthier opportunities that focus not just on restoring health, but on sustaining it. Our goal is to give all Iowans and South Dakotans, not just Wellmark members, the opportunity to live long, healthy lives regardless of their income, education or background. Wellmark aims to build relationships, engage strategic coalitions, and create alignment on opportunities to help eliminate barriers to optimal health. As a Health Improvement Manager, you will represent Wellmark with the intention of strengthening the health of communities across Iowa and South Dakota. You’re energized by communities and committed to improving health outcomes through collaboration, data, and evidence‑based action. This role is about understanding how health systems, insurers, government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations intersect — and you can navigate those dynamics with confidence. You’re a natural connector who sees patterns, relationships, and opportunities others miss. You bring healthy skepticism: you ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions, and push for clarity. About you: You bring strong business and strategic-level thinking, intellectual curiosity, and sound judgment. You understand how health and state ecosystems function and can quickly assess what’s viable, what’s aspirational, and what needs verification. You’re comfortable saying, “That’s not my lane, but I know who should be at the table,” and then making the connection. You ask questions others don’t think to ask while balancing empathy with healthy skepticism through digging into data, evidence, outcomes and applicability to Wellmark’s scope and strategic goals. This role requires presence, clarity, and confidence; someone who can engage stakeholders, hold their own in complex discussions, and represent Wellmark with credibility. Strong verbal and written communication are key. You think like a business owner, use data to guide decisions, and have the optimism to improve systems paired with the discernment to know what will truly work. This position will work a hybrid schedule of at least 3 days (Tues-Thurs) in Wellmark’s Des Moines office with 2 days remote option (Mon/Fri). You may be in-office Mondays/Fridays to meet business needs. Preferred Qualifications - Great to have: • 10 years of related experience. • Experience working on state and regional health improvement and/or rural health issues as well as in developing positive relationships with state and regional entities working on health improvement and/or rural health. Required Qualifications - Must have: • Bachelor's degree or direct and applicable work experience. • 7 years of related experience in both partnering with key stakeholders (e.g., state and regional government, business leaders, associations) and working with groups of professionals to achieve goals, as well as in working with state government and state and regional non-profit and funding organizations. • Ability to connect disparate organizations and ideas which enable effective coalition building and sustainable collaborations to ensure project outcomes. • Influencing and soliciting cooperation from local and statewide stakeholders. Must be able to understand the agenda and business models of other organizations. Ask meaningful questions, and distill information into actionable solutions. • Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate and manage key relationships. Professional, polished, and diplomatic in approach. • Utilizing strong verbal and written communication skills to articulate accurate information to stakeholders, both internally and externally, including key decision makers and diverse audiences. • Effective at delivering a presentation to a large audience to convey ideas, frameworks, and inspire action of others. • Ability to understand and interpret data to support point of view and persuade stakeholders. • Establish baseline measures and understand how to facilitate planned change and report outcomes. • Being a self-starter working proactively and independently. Adaptable and flexible with changing priorities. • Working strategically. Ability to support multiple projects to achieve short and long-term goals translating progress to internal stakeholders. • Valid driver’s license. Ability to travel >35% including possible overnight or weekend stays. Why Wellmark : We are a mutual insurance company owned by our policy holders across Iowa and South Dakota, and we’ve built our reputation on over 80 years’ worth of trust. We are not motivated by profits. We are motivated by the well-being of our friends, family, and neighbors - our members. If you’re passionate about joining an organization working hard to put its members first, to provide best-in-class service, and one that is committed to sustainability and innovation, consider applying today! Learn more about our unique benefit offerings here .