What is a managed care director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

A managed care director oversees and manages healthcare services provided by insurance companies, hospitals, and medical facilities. They develop and implement strategies to ensure patients receive quality care while managing costs. A managed care director collaborates with healthcare providers, negotiates contracts, and evaluates the effectiveness of different healthcare programs. They identify areas for improvement and develop new policies and procedures to enhance patient care.

What general advice would you give to a managed care director?

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/Coach

A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.

ScoreManaged Care DirectorUS Average

Salary

6.6

Avg. Salary $84,817

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 7.86%

Black or African American 11.02%

Hispanic or Latino 14.81%

Unknown 4.28%

White 61.31%

Gender

female 71.53%

male 28.47%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a managed care director?

Pros

High earning potential
Opportunities for advancement
Ability to make a positive impact on healthcare system
Exposure to various aspects of healthcare industry
Possibility of flexible work arrangements

Cons

High levels of stress and pressure
Long hours and demanding workloads
Adapting to constantly evolving regulations
Handling complex issues such as ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest
The possibility of facing legal challenges or malpractice suits

Key steps to become a managed care director

Explore managed care director education requirements

Most common managed care director degrees

Bachelor's

50.4 %

Master's

21.2 %

Associate

18.5 %

Start to develop specific managed care director skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	12.33%
Patient Care	7.65%
Social Work	6.74%
Quality Care	5.99%
Oversight	4.75%

Complete relevant managed care director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New managed care directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a managed care director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real managed care director resumes.

Gain additional managed care director certifications

Managed care director certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific managed care director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for managed care directors include Activity Director Certified (ADC) and Certified Manager Certification (CM).

More About Certifications

Research managed care director duties and responsibilities

Manage FTE and MH per stat numbers compare to budget.
Manage dialysis, rehabilitation contact, nursing agency contracts and staff competencies.
Lead business unit through successful JCAHO accreditation survey process with unprecedent results.
Provide technical assistance and testimony for development and passage of legislation enabling implementation of Medicaid manage care.

Get managed care director experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a managed care director. The most common roles before becoming a managed care director include staff nurse, registered nurse team lead and licensed practical nurse.

Prepare your managed care director resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your managed care director resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a managed care director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable managed care director resume templates

Build a professional managed care director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your managed care director resume.