Deputy Manager

UnitedHealth Group; Chennai; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group, through Optum, is seeking a senior-lead-level professional in Chennai to oversee coding operations, drive performance, and ensure regulatory compliance. You will lead a team, manage client relationships, and push for process improvements across the healthcare coding function.

The role requires extensive coding experience, certifications, and strong leadership and communication skills to support quality, productivity, and retention goals.

Qualifications

• Graduate or postgraduate in Life Sciences, Allied Medicine or related fields.
• Certified coder with AAPC/AHIMA credentials (CCS/CPC/CPC-H/CCS-P).
• At least 10 years of medical coding experience with 3+ years in a Team Lead role.
• Strong knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.
• Experience with healthcare reimbursement methodologies.
• Excellent analytical and communication abilities.
• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to engage employees.
• Ability to coach and mentor staff and manage day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of coding and billing requirements and regulatory changes.
• Monitor KPIs: productivity, quality, TAT, attendance, attrition.
• Lead and coach the team; manage performance and discipline.
• Provide expertise and leadership in the assigned function.
• Manage client interactions and front-end client relationships.
• Analyze periodic reports and metrics for process improvements.
• Support internal audits and ensure compliance parameters are met.
• Drive retention strategies and annual business planning.
• Oversee staff direction, priorities, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with SME, Auditor and Trainer to identify training needs.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Coaching

Stakeholder management

Team management

Attrition management

Education

Graduate or Postgraduate in Life Sciences/Allied Medicine

Certified coder - AAPC/AHIMA

10+ years coding experience

Job description

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.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Maintain knowledge of coding and billing requirements and regulatory changes
• KPIs include but not limited to Productivity, quality, TAT, Attendance and Attrition
• Quick turnaround using logical understanding of data
• Manages overall personnel, performance, and discipline of the assigned project(s)
• Provide expertise and leadership in assigned functional area
• Manage relationship with internal stakeholders and functions
• Manage all client interaction and client communication. Should front end the relationship with the client
• Review and analysis of periodic reports and metrics
• Evaluation of operational practices and procedures
• Provide support to quality initiatives targeted towards process improvements
• Actively involved in the internal audit support, ensuring all compliance parameters are met
• Establish and maintain a working environment conducive to positive morale, individual style, quality, creativity, and teamwork
• Provide direction to staff; ensure resolution of problems; sets priorities
• Actively provides inputs and assistance to the senior management in the planning, implementation, and evaluation / modifications to existing operations, systems, and procedures, specifically relating to his/her assigned project(s)
• Managing attrition and building retention strategies
• Preparation of annual business plans including operating budgets
• Negotiating solutions, resolving conflicts and anticipating/handling critical situations
• Providing regular performance feedback and giving frequent formal and informal coaching sessions
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regards to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

Required Qualifications:

• Education Background:
  • Graduate or Postgraduate in: Life Sciences, Allied Medicine (BHMS, BAMS, BPT, Dental Grads, Pharmacist, Nursing) or others
• Certification:
  • Should be a certified coder - AAPC / AHIMA - CCS/CPC/CPC-H/CCS-P
• 10+ years of coding experience with about 3+ years of experience as a Team Lead
• Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy/ physiology, pathophysiology
• Knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures
• Proficient in healthcare reimbursement methodologies
• Proven good analytical and communication skills
• Proven solid interpersonal and communication skills
• Proven solid acumen towards employee engagements & driving customer satisfaction
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with SME, Auditor and Trainer and identify training needs for outliers
• Demonstrated ability to manage and enable teams to reach their goals
• Demonstrated ability to effectively provide 1 on 1 coaching
• Demonstrated ability to monitor absences and overall day to day operations
• Demonstrated ability to identify areas of weakness and provide educational teaching to improve those areas of weakness

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 - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.