Manager, Payer Population Health - Remote - Remote Eligible

Manager, Payer Strategy & Delivery

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Manager, Payer Strategy & Delivery will lead high-impact engagements with payer clients across all lines of business. This role is responsible for designing and supporting the implementation of population health strategic solutions that address operational inefficiencies, regulatory challenges, and member experience improvements.

The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of payer operations, population health, strong analytical capabilities, work with population health-based subject matter experts and the ability to partner to influence senior stakeholders.

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

• Lead project/program management for payer engagements, including scope definition, deliverable tracking, risk mitigation, and budget oversight
• Manage multiple complex workstreams in dynamic payer environments (e.g., claims, utilization management, network strategy)
• Conduct data analytics and financial modeling using tools such as Excel, Tableau, or Power BI to inform strategic decisions
• Develop client-ready deliverables that synthesize findings and support actionable recommendations
• Present final deliveries to payer executives, including VPs and C-suite leaders
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., actuarial, network, operations, clinical) to implement solutions
• Support the identify opportunities for account growth and support business development efforts
• Mentor junior team members and manage matrixed teams across client and internal stakeholders
• Support the diagnose complex payer challenges (e.g., member retention, value-based contracting, digital transformation) and design strategic solutions
• Build consensus among senior payer stakeholders to drive adoption of recommendations
• Serve as a key point of contact for client executives and establish effective communication cadence
• Contribute subject matter expertise in areas such as enterprise strategy, population health, and revenue diversification
• Support engagement economics and ensure quality and profitability across workstreams
• Apply both deductive and inductive reasoning to solve ambiguous problems

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 experience in management consulting or payer strategy roles
• 3+ years of experience working with health plans or payer organizations
• Experience with payer data systems and BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
• Proven success managing complex projects and cross-functional teams
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Solid communication and stakeholder management skills
• Willingness to travel up to 75%, including onsite client work

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lean Six Sigma or PMP certification
• Experience in payer operations such as claims, care management, population health, or provider network strategy
• Experience mentoring junior staff and leading direct reports
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks across Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial markets

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). The salary for this role will range from $110,200 to $188,800 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 make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes.

UnitedHealth Group is 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 is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.