Manager, Payer Advisory Services - Remote

Optum Insight is improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system. We remove friction and drive alignment between care providers and payers, and ultimately consumers. Our deep expertise in the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management, quality and revenue growth. Ready to help us deliver results that improve lives? Join us in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

This Manager position is within Optum's AI-first consulting organization and sits on the business advisory and consulting side of the organization, rather than within a technology development or engineering function.

In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to health plan clients, helping them define business needs, evaluate technology-enabled solutions, and lead large-scale transformation initiatives. You will work closely with client business leaders, operational stakeholders, product teams, and technology organizations to ensure solutions align with strategic objectives and deliver measurable business value.

The ideal candidate brings a combination of healthcare payer operations expertise, consulting experience, stakeholder management skills, and familiarity with payer platforms and technologies. While this role requires an understanding of technology capabilities and system implementations, it is focused on business transformation, strategic advisory services, operational improvement, and client delivery leadership rather than software development, engineering, or technical architecture.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

Business Advisory and Delivery Leadership

• Lead consulting projects, programs, and workstreams related to payer systems and applications, including implementations, migrations, modernizations, and optimizations
• Translate business objectives into actionable plans and partner with technology teams to enable successful execution
• Act as the bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, ensuring business requirements, operational goals, and client objectives are clearly understood and achieved
• Advise clients on operational, process, and technology-related decisions that drive business outcomes and organizational transformation

As an AI User

• Use enterprise-approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and drive continuous improvement
• Evaluate emerging AI and technology trends to inform business strategies, solution design, and innovation opportunities

Program and Project Management

• Develop and manage engagement plans, work breakdown structures, governance materials, delivery tools, budget tracking, and forecasting activities needed to execute high-quality client work
• Plan, orchestrate, and facilitate client meetings, including requirements discovery sessions, business workshops, solutioning discussions, and workstream reviews

Client Advisory and Solutioning

• Apply critical thinking, business acumen, and consulting methodologies to diagnose client challenges, identify root causes, and develop practical solution options
• Partner with technology teams to evaluate system capabilities and implementation approaches while maintaining accountability for business outcomes
• Document recommendations and solution options in executive-ready formats that support informed decision-making

Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Build consensus among client executives, business leaders, operational stakeholders, and technology partners
• Establish effective communication cadences and serve as a trusted advisor throughout the engagement lifecycle
• Manage challenging situations professionally while driving alignment across multiple stakeholder groups

Practice Contribution and Performance

• Contribute to practice innovation through service offerings, playbook development, thought leadership, process improvements, mentoring, and business development activities
• Achieve annual performance objectives related to utilization, client satisfaction, innovation, delivery excellence, and operational goals

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of healthcare payer operations and / or technology experience in at least one payer domain, such as claims, enrollment / eligibility, billing, or provider

• 5+ years of external client-facing consulting experience

• 5+ years of experience leading at least two consulting engagements or workstreams requirements, features, user stories, test cases, technical specifications, or mapping documents

• 3+ years of experience creating process flow diagrams

• 3+ years of experience in PowerPoint and/or Viso

• 2+ years of experience working with at least one core administration system (ex: Facets, QNXT, HealthRules Payer or Tapestry)

• Ability to work independently to create consulting deliverables, including project plans,

• Willingness to travel domestically up to 25%, depending on project requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience using AI tools (e.g., Copilot, Claude) to improve client delivery, develop insights, accelerate content creation, and drive operational efficiency while maintaining quality, compliance, and responsible AI standards
• Experience working on at least one end-to-end payer systems and application implementations or migration project
• Experience with any / all of the following applications: MS Project, Smartsheet, Service Now, Jira, Rally
• 3+ years of experience working on at least one agile project as a Product Owner or in a comparable role
• All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.