Vice President, Business Analytics & Operations

Sonova AG•Aurora, IL

About The Position

The Vice President of Business Analytics & Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership for AudioNova’s managed care and third party network strategy; growth initiatives; and leadership of the operations support team. This senior leader will partner closely with the Managing Director and other senior leaders to optimize network access and payer relationships, drive scalable growth, and ensure efficient, high-quality operational capabilities that support patient-centered care and profitable, sustainable expansion of the retail hearing care business.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, or related field, MBA or advanced degree preferred
15+ years of senior operations leadership experience in retail, healthcare, or a related field with substantial exposure to managed care, payer contracting, and network strategy.
Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and ability to translate strategy into executable programs.
Excellent leadership, coaching, and talent management capabilities.
Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills (payers, providers, partners, internal teams).
Analytical and data-driven decision-maker with proficiency in using KPIs and dashboards to steer performance.
Change management and project management expertise; comfortable leading large, multi-disciplinary initiatives.
Financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, ROI analysis, and cost-management discipline.
Superior communication skills (verbal and written) and the ability to influence at all levels, including the executive team.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year network strategy to optimize payer mix, accessibility, and clinical outcomes across the retail network.
Build and manage payer relationships; lead managed care contracting, rate negotiations, and performance-based agreements; design network incentives aligned with quality and cost efficiency.
Lead utilization management and care pathways (prior authorizations, referrals, follow-up protocols) to improve outcomes while controlling costs.
Analyze payer trends, reimbursement methodologies, and access barriers; translate insights into actionable network and product/pricing strategies.
Collaborate with clinical leadership on network quality, vendor partnerships (audiology clinics, ENT practices, DME suppliers), and service delivery models.
Monitor and report on network performance metrics, contract profitability, and provider adherence to defined standards.
Define and drive strategic growth programs (store/network expansion, new formats, digital channels, and service line enhancements.
Lead go-to-market strategies, pricing architecture, promotions, and patient acquisition/retention plans aligned to growth objectives.
Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships and alliances (e.g., physician networks, retail partnerships, corporate programs) to accelerate market penetration.
M&A strategy and valuations: assist retail M&A activities by developing valuation frameworks, performing target screening and market sizing, and building a robust business case and deal thesis that align with growth objectives. Assist financial modeling, scenario analysis, and diligence of potential targets to inform decision-making and capital allocation.
Due diligence and integration planning for acquisitions: oversee end-to-end due diligence (commercial, financial, operational, regulatory, IT, payer, legal, and data/privacy considerations); develop and maintain integration playbooks with clear milestones, owners, and accountability.
Transition and post-close accountability: establish and lead a Transition Management Office (TMO) or equivalent for each closing; oversee transition activities including operating model design, governance structure, system/data migration, customer/payer communications, define integration plans; monitor synergy realization, integration risk, and post-close performance against targets.
Align growth initiatives with marketing, merchandising, field operations, and finance to ensure coherent execution and measurable impact.
Own the strategy, governance, and delivery of ERP and enterprise systems (including integration with POS, CRM, WMS, and other key platforms); ensure data integrity, security, and compliance.
Lead inventory and supply chain management: demand planning, SKU optimization, replenishment, warehousing, vendor management, shrinkage reduction, and cost-to-serve improvements.
Oversee systems setup and deployment for new stores/locations, including data migration, system configuration, and process standardization; ensure rapid, accurate onboarding.
Drive data governance and analytics: develop dashboards and reporting for leadership, store operations, network performance, and payer-related metrics; enable data-driven decision-making.
Pricing strategy, governance, and execution: develop and maintain pricing strategy for all products and services across the network; define price architecture, base pricing, promotional pricing, and discount policies; oversee payer-specific pricing and negotiated contract pricing where applicable; ensure pricing rules are encoded in ERP/POS and e-commerce systems; manage price changes, promotions, and allowances; monitor price realization, gross margin, and SKU profitability; conduct pricing analytics; ensure price integrity and cross-channel consistency; collaborate with Marketing and Finance on promotions and campaigns.
Design and implement process improvements across the operations platform (standard operating procedures, best practices, change management) to achieve efficiency, consistency, and scale.
Ensure customer experience is consistently high across channels through reliable systems, inventory availability, and effective store support.
Build, coach, and lead a high-performing cross-functional team responsible for ERP, inventory, network strategy, and growth initiatives; establish clear goals, development plans, and succession plans.
Partner with Finance, Compliance, Legal, Marketing, and Field Operations to ensure alignment of strategy, budget, risk management, and performance metrics.
Own budget development, cost optimization, and ROI planning for all programs under the VP’s remit.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, patient-centric care, and ethical business practices.