Assistant Project Manager - Federal Health (CMS)

Commence is a company focused on data-driven solutions to improve health outcomes. They are seeking an Assistant Project Manager to support the Project Manager in executing contracts, managing operational workstreams, and ensuring compliance with CMS deliverables.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Project Manager in all aspects of day-to-day contract execution; serve as the designated PM backup and assume full PM responsibilities during absences or unavailability without interruption to program operations or CMS deliverables
• Own the regulatory reporting workstream end-to-end, including the preparation, review, quality control, and on-time submission of all required CMS reports, monthly status updates, and contractual deliverables
• Lead coordination of Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs) with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), including scheduling, agenda development, documentation, follow-up action tracking, and compliance with CMS JOA requirements
• Manage the program meeting structure, including CMS status calls, internal leadership meetings, and cross-functional operational reviews; prepare agendas, capture minutes, and track decisions and action items to resolution
• Own compliance tracking across program workstreams, maintaining visibility into contractual performance standards, deliverable deadlines, corrective action plans, and COR/CO correspondence; escalate issues to the PM with recommended courses of action
• Manage complex systems and medical review workflow operations, ensuring staffing levels, review throughput, and operational processes remain aligned with contractual performance standards and CMS expectations
• Interface with CMS on day-to-day operational matters within the APM’s assigned workstreams; maintain professional, responsive relationships with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO) as directed by the PM
• Support contract transition activities, onboarding of new personnel, and special projects as assigned by the PM; contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across program operations

Requirements:

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in healthcare program management, federal contracting, or a closely related operational field
• Minimum 3 years of experience managing complex systems and medical review workflow operations, including demonstrated ability to track performance across multiple concurrent workstreams
• Minimum 2 years of experience in Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) program operations, with working knowledge of Medicare coverage, payment policy, and claims processing
• Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. In lieu of a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 3 additional years of directly relevant experience may be substituted
• Prior experience as an operations manager, deputy director, or senior program administrator at a CMS medical review contractor
• Working knowledge of federal contracting reporting requirements, Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO) relationship dynamics, and monthly status reporting cycles in a CMS contract environment
• Direct experience coordinating Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs) with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), including an understanding of data sharing protocols, referral workflows, and contractor coordination obligations under CMS policy