Consultant, Contract Negotiations

The AMA is recruiting for the position of Consultant, Contract Negotiations. As a member of the Representation and Negotiations team, the Consultant will play a critical role in ensuring that AMA initiatives are supported through strategic negotiation, engagement, and relationship management.

**Who are we?**

**Why work for the AMA?**

At the AMA, we know that employees are fundamental to our success as an organization. We take pride in hiring client-oriented relationship builders who embrace teamwork, personal growth and development and truly want to help us succeed. As part of our employee experience, we provide a competitive compensation package, benefits, work-life balance and development opportunities.

**Representation and Negotiations Overview**

The AMA’s Representation and Negotiations Branch leads the Association’s efforts to represent and advocate for physicians through strategic negotiation, engagement, and relationship management. The branch is responsible for the full spectrum of physician representation and negotiations across Alberta’s health system.

**Position Overview**

Reporting to Director, Contract Negotiations within the Representation and Negotiations Branch, this position supports the development and execution of negotiation strategies, contributes to the negotiation of key agreements, and ensures alignment with physician interests, legislative frameworks, and system priorities.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Contribute to the development of negotiation strategies by conducting research, analyzing policy, legislative, and contractual information, and integrating physician perspectives and system priorities.
- Participate and contribute to the negotiation of a range of agreements, including the Master Agreement, AMHSP, WCB, ARPs, and other sector-specific arrangements, with a focus on advancing physician interests.
- Lead or co-lead assigned negotiation files or components, including preparing proposals, drafting language, coordinating internal reviews, and facilitating stakeholder discussions.
- Represent the AMA in meetings and consultations with government, health system partners, and physician representatives, ensuring clear and consistent communication of AMA positions.
- Support the interpretation, implementation, and issue resolution of negotiated agreements, including the coordination of feedback and development of briefing materials and FAQs.
- Monitor and assess the evolving healthcare, policy, and legal environment to identify issues, opportunities, and risks relevant to physician negotiations and representation.
- Collaborate with AMA legal counsel, where required, in reviewing and drafting agreement language, ensuring it reflects negotiated intent, is enforceable, and aligns with legislative and policy frameworks.
- Facilitate physician engagement activities to inform negotiation priorities and ensure alignment with the needs of diverse membership groups, including academic and community physicians.
- Prepare clear and compelling communications, including summaries, briefings, and presentations for physicians, senior management, negotiation committees, and external stakeholders.
- Support the administration and continuous improvement of dispute resolution processes related to agreements and physician representation issues.

**Education and Experience**
- A bachelor’s degree in business, economics, health administration, health discipline or a related field is required. Master’s degree preferred.
- At least 5 years of experience in a health care environment including:

- Knowledge of and experience with various physician funding systems including alternative physician compensation programs in clinical and/or academic settings.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Alberta health care system.
- Project management, change management and consultative experience are required.
- Experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects is beneficial.
- Experience advising physician-led programs on service delivery models, goals and performance measures is beneficial.

**Skills**
- Must have excellent written and oral communication skills with demonstrated ability to tailor materials, especially complex technical information, and analysis, into terms that can be understood by a wide variety of audiences.
- Strong interpersonal skills are essential, especially the ability to establish and maintain relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to review, analyze, synthesize and utilize data from a variety of sources, including financial, operational, research and other data.
- Well-developed collaboration, facilitation, consensus-building and conflict resolution skills.
- Superior project management, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, adapt to change and accommodate short timelines.
- Skills in setting goals and developing effective performance / ac