Director, Payer Network Optimization - OI Product - Remote

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Remote; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

Optum Insight in the United States is seeking a Director of Payer Network Optimization to own the integrated portfolio across provider directory, network adequacy, and provider performance, turning data into actionable, ROI-driven decisions.

You will productize network economics, benchmarks, simulations, and analytic workflows that are explainable and trusted. Remote work is available with in-office requirements in certain locations.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of overall experience across healthcare, technology, analytics, product, or related environments.
• 5+ years of experience in payer network strategy, network economics, medical economics, or closely related areas.
• 5+ years of experience translating complex healthcare business or domain problems into technology, analytics, AI, or scalable product capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across network strategy, actuarial/finance, analytics/data science, and business stakeholders.
• Proven executive and client communication skills, including simplifying complex concepts into clear decisions and opportunities.
• Demonstrated innovation and AI orientation, including applying AI or advanced analytics for business value.

Responsibilities

• Own the Network Optimization product strategy, roadmap, prioritization, delivery, commercialization, and outcome goals within Value Connect.
• Prioritize high-value use cases across network strategy and value-based network design, access, adequacy, provider performance, referrals, leakage, steerage, and cost-of-care improvement.
• Translate network strategy, analytics, benchmarks, and simulations into trusted decision-support workflows.
• Partner with engineering, UX, data science, architecture, actuarial, medical economics, and go-to-market teams to deliver scalable capabilities.
• Ensure product logic and AI-enabled insights are explainable and aligned to client value and ROI.
• Communicate roadmap decisions and risks clearly to senior stakeholders, clients, and commercial partners.

Skills

Healthcare economics

Payer network strategy

Network economics

Cost-of-care analytics

Technology translation

Executive communication

AI orientation

Job description

OptumInsightis 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, andultimately consumers. Our deepexpertisein the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management,qualityand 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.

Provider Enablement Technology Product at OptumInsight builds and commercializes Value Connect, an analytics and AI-driven healthcare platform that helps payers and providers improve cost, quality, and performance in value-based care.

We are looking for a payer network optimization and network economics expert to fill our Director, Payer Network Optimization.

The role owns an integrated portfolio spanning provider directory and data accuracy, provider attribution, network adequacy and access, network optimization, and provider performance measurement, benchmarking, and improvement-turning network and provider data into actionable decisions that improve cost, quality, access, and value-based care outcomes.

This is a builder role-not an operator, reporting-focused product manager, or implementation lead. The right candidate can productize complex network economics, healthcare economics, analytics, benchmarks, simulations, and decision-support workflows in a way that is explainable, trusted, actionable, and commercially viable.

You’llenjoy 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

• Own the Network Optimization product strategy, roadmap, prioritization, delivery, commercialization, and outcome goals within Value Connect
• Prioritize high-value use cases across network strategy and value-based network design, access, adequacy, provider performance, referrals, leakage, steerage, site of service, accountable care organization fit, alternative payment model fit, shared savings, and cost-of-care improvement
• Translate network strategy, healthcare economics, benchmarks, simulations, and analytics into trusted decision-support workflows-not static dashboards or retrospective reporting
• Partner with engineering, UX, data science, architecture, actuarial, medical economics, network strategy, advisory, clinical, compliance, and go-to-market teams to deliver scalable capabilities
• Ensure product logic, AI-enabled insights, and recommendations are explainable, evidence-backed, user-centered, and aligned to client value and measurable ROI
• Communicate roadmap decisions, tradeoffs, dependencies, risks, value story, and performance outcomes clearly to senior stakeholders, clients, and commercial partners

You’llbe 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 asprovidedevelopment for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of overall experience across healthcare, technology, analytics, product, or related environments
• 5+ years of experience in payer network strategy, network economics, medical economics, healthcare economics, cost-of-care analytics, or closely related areas, with experience in areas such as total cost of care, unit cost and utilization, provider/network performance, network design, contracting, adequacy, or value-based care
• 5+ years of experience translating complex healthcare business or domain problems into technology, analytics, AI, or scalable product capabilities, including partnering with Product, Engineering, UX, Data Science, or technology teams and prioritizing solutions based on customer value, business impact, feasibility, data readiness, and scalability
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across network strategy, actuarial/finance, medical economics, analytics/data science, technology, and business stakeholders
• Proven solid executive and client communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex network and economic concepts, navigate differing SME perspectives and translate them into clear decisions and product opportunities
• Demonstrated innovation and AI orientation, including the ability to identify where AI, automation, advanced analytics, or emerging technology can create meaningful customer or business value

Preferred Qualifications

• Formal product management, product strategy, or commercialization experience in healthcare technology or analytics
• Experience with payer network optimization use cases such as steerage, leakage, network adequacy, provider performance, or network design
• Familiarity in AI Development Lifecycle
• 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.