Payer Partnerships Director

Lyra Health is a leading provider of evidence-based mental health care, serving more than 20 million people globally in partnership with employers and more than 100 million through health plan and partner relationships. The company has delivered more than 15 million sessions of mental health care, published more than 35 peer-reviewed studies, and delivered unmatched outcomes in terms of access, clinical effectiveness, and cost efficiency. Extensive peer-reviewed research confirms Lyra’s transformative care model helps people recover twice as fast and results in a 26% annual reduction in overall healthcare claims costs. Lyra is transforming access to life-changing mental health care through Lyra Empower, the only fully integrated, AI-powered platform combining the highest-quality care and technology solutions.

About the Role:

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Payer Partnership Director to lead the contracting strategy and execution for our Health Plans & Health Systems (HP/HS) vertical. In this role, you will partner closely with business development and the solutions team to drive our market strategy, forge net-new relationships, and ensure optimal payer coverage to support our growth and expand access to care across each market.

We are looking for someone familiar with cutting-edge approaches to payer contracting in behavioral health at the regional and national level—moving beyond traditional fee-for-service models to champion bundled rates and innovative programs. You will approach these partnerships by offering a value add: directly addressing specialty network gaps and designing tailored products that perfectly match the needs of our payer partners.

Payer Contracting Strategy & Execution:

Lead the end-to-end payer contracting strategy to secure net-new contracts and expand payer coverage in key target markets.

Negotiate rates, terms, and contract language with national and regional health plans, ensuring agreements are financially viable, sustainable, and aligned with Lyra’s broader business goals.

Drive the execution of the contracting roadmap from initial outreach to contract execution and implementation.

Market Activation & Cross-Functional Alignment:

Partner closely with Operations, Business Development, and Clinical leadership to intimately understand the market activation strategy and prioritize contracting targets accordingly.

Translate market expansion and business development goals into actionable, targeted network development initiatives to ensure robust coverage for prospective and existing clients.

Serve as a subject matter expert on the payer landscape for internal cross-functional teams, driving alignment on shared goals.

Relationship Development & Management:

Cultivate, build, and manage strong, long-term relationships with key decision-makers and network managers at national and regional health plans.

Act as the primary relationship owner for payer partners, navigating complex organizational structures to establish Lyra as a preferred behavioral health partner.

Market Intelligence & Strategic Initiatives:

Analyze market trends, competitive intelligence, and reimbursement landscapes to continuously refine and inform Lyra’s contracting playbook.

Track and report on contracting KPIs and network adequacy, nimbly adjusting and reprioritizing strategies to optimize access to care for our members.

Experience: 12+ years of progressive experience in payer contracting, network development, or managed care, preferably within the digital health, behavioral health, or health tech space.

Negotiation Expertise: Proven track record of successfully sourcing, negotiating, and executing complex fee-for-service and/or value-based contracts with national and regional health plans.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Significant experience driving alignment across business development, operations, and executive teams to push toward a shared market strategy.

Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of the health plan landscape, credentialing processes, reimbursement methodologies, and regulatory requirements.

Agility & Drive: A self-starter who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, with a proven ability to independently build net-new relationships and navigate long, complex sales/contracting cycles.