Program Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in South Dakota
Program director roles in South Dakota are concentrated in healthcare, higher education, and tribal and state government sectors. Major employers include Sanford Health, Avera Health, the University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University. Sioux Falls and Rapid City anchor most opportunities, with some positions distributed across reservation communities and state agencies.
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Careers With Purpose
Sanford Health is one of the largest and fastest-growing not-for-profit health systems in the United States. We're proud to offer many development and advancement opportunities to our nearly 50,000 members of the Sanford Family who are dedicated to the work of health and healing across our broad footprint.
Facility: GSS National Campus
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Address: 4800 W 57th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts
Job Schedule: Full time
Weekly Hours: 40.00
Department Details
This leadership role is focused on the Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNP) program, delivering high-quality, coordinated care for institutionalized and often underserved populations. The role leads strategic sales efforts to drive program growth while maintaining a strong commitment to member-centered outcomes, provider relations, and facility partnerships. The position partners closely with providers and interdisciplinary teams to enhance member experience and improve health outcomes. This is an ideal opportunity for a mission-driven leader who is passionate about expanding access to thoughtful, high-quality care.
Job Summary
Responsible for the performance, strategic leadership, product development and management, program direction and oversight of all functions and processes related to Sanford Health Plan (SHP) Medicare Programs. Ensures Medicare programs are leveraged as a strategic asset across the Sanford Health Enterprise. Directs the day-to-day operations of the government programs department. Develops and implements business plans, bids, and operational budgets that lead to achieving business goals and strategies. Leads efforts to launch and operationalize Sanford's Medicare Advantage insurance products. Manages and develops Medicare product portfolio to create an assortment of product offerings to optimize membership. Works on complex compliance matters where analysis of issues, data and process require advanced specialist knowledge and in-depth industry and technical knowledge.
Develops and integrates improvements in health provider engagement, member engagement, health improvement programs, administrative excellence and data analytics. Reviews department goals and objectives accordingly. Drives quality performance through external data sources such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) to achieve goals and targets.
Provides guidance regarding emerging market opportunities to identify business threats, look for strategic solutions and develop strategies to address business issues and industry trends. Investigates and leads government program product development with growth targets, strategic initiatives and service area expansions and execute new products and programs.
Drives the launch of new Medicare products, from inception through implementation, working with internal teams and external partners to ensure a successful implementation and go-to-market delivery.
Acquires and maintains professional expertise in, and promote effective understanding of government programs organizational requirements and government regulations. Sets the vendor strategy to balance administrative costs with predicted medical cost. Develops and maintains superior professional relationships with key stakeholders and internal functional areas designed to ensure program consistency and alignment of care management, network contracting and claims operations programs. Maintains strong integration with health services division.
Possesses strong leadership capabilities and delegates responsibility accordingly. Holds team accountable for meeting and exceeding established metrics and goals. Maintains expert knowledge in different Medicare programs, such as Medicare Advantage Plans, Individual Special Needs Plans and Medicare supplemental plans.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in health care, finance or a related field required.
Minimum of seven years' required experience working in health insurance operations with expertise or experience in: provider relations, provider back office operations, product, accounting/finance, compliance, or related fields.
Minimum of five years of government programs management experience preferred.
Minimum of five years related work experience or combination of seven years of transferrable experience and education in the areas of consulting, health plan operations, provider relations, or government programs preferred.
Benefits
Sanford offers an attractive benefits package for qualifying full-time and part-time employees. Depending on eligibility, a variety of benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, work/life balance benefits, and a generous time off package to maintain a healthy home-work balance. For more information about Total Rewards, visit https://sanfordcareers.com/benefits.
Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-673-0854 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Sanford has a Drug Free Workplace Policy. An accepted offer will require a drug screen and pre-employment background screening as a condition of employment.
Req Number: R-0257244
Job Function: External Affairs
Featured: No

Careers With Purpose
Sanford Health is one of the largest and fastest-growing not-for-profit health systems in the United States. We're proud to offer many development and advancement opportunities to our nearly 50,000 members of the Sanford Family who are dedicated to the work of health and healing across our broad footprint.
Facility: GSS National Campus
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Address: 4800 W 57th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts
Job Schedule: Full time
Weekly Hours: 40.00
Department Details
This leadership role is focused on the Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNP) program, delivering high-quality, coordinated care for institutionalized and often underserved populations. The role leads strategic sales efforts to drive program growth while maintaining a strong commitment to member-centered outcomes, provider relations, and facility partnerships. The position partners closely with providers and interdisciplinary teams to enhance member experience and improve health outcomes. This is an ideal opportunity for a mission-driven leader who is passionate about expanding access to thoughtful, high-quality care.
Job Summary
Responsible for the performance, strategic leadership, product development and management, program direction and oversight of all functions and processes related to Sanford Health Plan (SHP) Medicare Programs. Ensures Medicare programs are leveraged as a strategic asset across the Sanford Health Enterprise. Directs the day-to-day operations of the government programs department. Develops and implements business plans, bids, and operational budgets that lead to achieving business goals and strategies. Leads efforts to launch and operationalize Sanford's Medicare Advantage insurance products. Manages and develops Medicare product portfolio to create an assortment of product offerings to optimize membership. Works on complex compliance matters where analysis of issues, data and process require advanced specialist knowledge and in-depth industry and technical knowledge.
Develops and integrates improvements in health provider engagement, member engagement, health improvement programs, administrative excellence and data analytics. Reviews department goals and objectives accordingly. Drives quality performance through external data sources such as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) to achieve goals and targets.
Provides guidance regarding emerging market opportunities to identify business threats, look for strategic solutions and develop strategies to address business issues and industry trends. Investigates and leads government program product development with growth targets, strategic initiatives and service area expansions and execute new products and programs.
Drives the launch of new Medicare products, from inception through implementation, working with internal teams and external partners to ensure a successful implementation and go-to-market delivery.
Acquires and maintains professional expertise in, and promote effective understanding of government programs organizational requirements and government regulations. Sets the vendor strategy to balance administrative costs with predicted medical cost. Develops and maintains superior professional relationships with key stakeholders and internal functional areas designed to ensure program consistency and alignment of care management, network contracting and claims operations programs. Maintains strong integration with health services division.
Possesses strong leadership capabilities and delegates responsibility accordingly. Holds team accountable for meeting and exceeding established metrics and goals. Maintains expert knowledge in different Medicare programs, such as Medicare Advantage Plans, Individual Special Needs Plans and Medicare supplemental plans.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in health care, finance or a related field required.
Minimum of seven years' required experience working in health insurance operations with expertise or experience in: provider relations, provider back office operations, product, accounting/finance, compliance, or related fields.
Minimum of five years of government programs management experience preferred.
Minimum of five years related work experience or combination of seven years of transferrable experience and education in the areas of consulting, health plan operations, provider relations, or government programs preferred.
Benefits
Sanford offers an attractive benefits package for qualifying full-time and part-time employees. Depending on eligibility, a variety of benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, work/life balance benefits, and a generous time off package to maintain a healthy home-work balance. For more information about Total Rewards, visit https://sanfordcareers.com/benefits.
Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-673-0854 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Sanford has a Drug Free Workplace Policy. An accepted offer will require a drug screen and pre-employment background screening as a condition of employment.
Req Number: R-0257244
Job Function: External Affairs
Featured: No
Program Director Job Roles in South Dakota
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Search Program Director Jobs in South DakotaProgram Director Jobs in South Dakota: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for program directors in South Dakota?
Sanford Health and Avera Health are the most active visa sponsors for program-level roles in South Dakota, particularly for healthcare and public health program directors. The University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University also sponsor H-1B and O-1 visas for academic and research program directors. State government agencies and tribal health organizations occasionally sponsor as well, though less frequently.
Which visa types are most common for program director roles in South Dakota?
The H-1B is the most common visa for program directors in South Dakota, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. Academic program directors at universities may also see J-1 exchange visitor visas. Program directors with extraordinary achievement in their field may qualify for the O-1. TN visas apply for Canadian and Mexican nationals in eligible management or professional categories.
Which cities in South Dakota have the most program director sponsorship jobs?
Sioux Falls is the clear concentration point for program director sponsorship jobs in South Dakota, driven by the large footprints of Sanford Health and Avera Health. Rapid City is the second most active market, with healthcare, nonprofit, and government program roles. Vermillion and Brookings see activity tied to the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University respectively.
How to find program director visa sponsorship jobs in South Dakota?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to find program director roles in South Dakota where employers are open to sponsoring international candidates. Rather than manually screening hundreds of postings, you can search by role and state to surface relevant opportunities at healthcare systems, universities, and other South Dakota employers known to sponsor.
Are there state-specific considerations for program directors seeking visa sponsorship in South Dakota?
South Dakota's sponsoring employers are heavily concentrated in healthcare and higher education, so program directors with backgrounds in public health, clinical operations, or academic administration are best positioned. The state's relatively small labor market means fewer total openings than coastal states, but competition for sponsored roles can also be lower. Employers in tribal health systems may have distinct hiring processes governed by tribal preference policies worth understanding before applying.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored program director jobs in South Dakota?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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