Medical Director, Primary Care & Value-Based Strategy

UnitedHealth Group; Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 280,000 - 441,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Healthcare, part of Optum, seeks a Medical Director in Sumter, SC to lead clinical strategy and governance. You will oversee physicians and APPs, partner with executives, advance value-based care, and align clinical work with enterprise goals.

You will drive population health, recruit and mentor leaders, and collaborate with hospital partners across South Carolina to improve patient outcomes and experience.

Qualifications

• MD or DO with an unrestricted license to practice in SC.
• Board certification in a medical specialty as applicable.
• 5+ years of clinical practice experience across care settings.
• Experience with value-based care and/or fee-for-service models.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and clinical systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical strategy and represent the organization externally.
• Strengthen market presence through physician networking and outreach.
• Serve as senior clinical ambassador to enhance recruitment and reputation.
• Guide long-term clinical priorities and market strategy with leadership.
• Collaborate with COO and operations to ensure aligned performance.
• Address patient care issues and provide input on care adequacy.
• Mentor lead physicians and participate in governance bodies.
• Drive population health outcomes and value-based care initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Healthcare strategy

Travel to clinics

Education

MD or DO

Unrestricted medical license

Board Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Colonial Healthcare, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Medical Director to join our team in Sumter, SC. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live.

As a member of the Optum Care Delivery team, you'll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.

Explore opportunities with Colonial Healthcare, part of the Optum family of businesses. Join our team and advance your career within a leading primary care and specialty medical practice that prides itself on family-focused, patient-centric care. With over 25 years of experience, offices across Sumter, Columbia, Camden, and Manning, SC, and a commitment to reducing wait times and integrating cutting-edge medical advancements, we offer a supportive environment where you can grow professionally. Our dedication to improving the quality of life for our patients through coordinated care and advanced diagnostic services is unwavering. Be part of a network that values Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Position Highlights:

• The Medical Director serves as the senior clinical leader for Colonial Healthcare, a part of Optum in South Carolina, and is responsible for representing the organization externally, stabilizing provider culture, advancing clinical quality initiatives, and aligning clinical strategy with business direction
• The Medical Director providers leadership for all physicians and advanced practice clinicians, with an emphasis on clinical credibility, market presence, provider alignment, and strategic growth
• The Medical Director oversees clinical governance, promotes organizational discipline, stewards clinical excellence while harmonizing standards, data, and value-based care performance with enterprise strategies, ensures high-quality patient care, and maintains Optum South Carolina standing as a well-respected clinical network across South Carolina
• The Medical Director is an actively practicing physician who also dedicates administrative leadership time to shaping Optum South Carolina's strategy, reputation, culture, and provider performance. This role partners closely with the executive leadership team to advance growth, affordability, health equity, and overall patient experience

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead clinical strategy and represent the organization with employers, health systems, community partners, and regional stakeholders
• Strengthen market presence through relationship-building, physician networking, and strategic outreach initiatives
• Serve as senior clinical ambassador, enhancing recruitment credibility and promoting Optum's reputation across South Carolina
• Guide long-term clinical priorities, growth initiatives, referral development, and market strategy in partnership with organizational leadership
• Work closely with the COO and operational leadership to foster a strong partnership that ensures seamless operations, aligned execution, and sustained performance across clinics
• Maintain visible leadership amongst providers to reinforce culture, trust, and clinical alignment during organizational transition
• Set goals to reduce costs related to facilities, low-value care, specialty referrals, and other measures; engage providers in action planning to meet targets
• Address patient care issues identified by clinical teams and offer strategic input on specialty and primary care adequacy
• Act as a clinical liaison with the Marketing team
• Ensure adherence to all applicable clinical, operational, and regulatory requirements
• Identify and mentor high-potential lead physicians
• Lead, actively participate in and attend meetings as well as committee participation
• Tasks and duties pertinent to practicing medicine within standards of care
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities, as directed
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive team-focused company culture
• Accountable for population health outcomes, including quality scores, risk adjustment performance, utilization management, and total cost of care
• Lead provider engagement strategies that improve physician satisfaction, retention, and organizational trust
• Utilize clinical analytics and performance dashboards to drive evidence-based decision making
• Lead initiatives addressing health disparities and social determinants of health across South Carolina communities
• Develop physician leadership pipelines and succession planning strategies

What makes an Optum organization different?

• Be part of a best-in-class employee experience that enables you to practice at the top of your license
• We believe that better care for clinicians equates to better care for patients
• We are influencing change collectively on a national scale while still maintaining the culture and community of our local care organizations
• Practice medicine autonomously in an ambulatory setting partnering with primary care, with a sustainable and thriving national health care organization

Colonial Healthcare, joined Optum in 2024, is a primary care medical practice with additional specialties and ancillary diagnostic services that focuses on families. Colonial Healthcare aims to enhance the overall quality of life for their patients. To achieve this objective, they adopted a patient-centric approach that focuses on providing continuous, high-quality care across the entire lifespan, ranging from childhood to adulthood. The organization emphasizes on incorporating cutting-edge medical advancements while maintaining strong ties to family values and nurturing relationships with their patients. Together, we're making health care work better for everyone.

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:

• Medical Doctor (MD or DO)
• A valid, unrestricted medical license in the state in which they practice and within the specialty of practice (if applicable) - or ability to obtain prior to start
• Board Certification
• Maintain any required clinical privileges at the hospitals used to treat patients
• 5+ years of recent experience in clinical practice
• Experience in both managed care (value-based care) and fee-for-service based models
• Proficient computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, email systems, and web-based programs
• Proven good standing and remain in good standing with credentialing requirements
• Demonstrated success in value-based care (quality, risk adjustment/coding accuracy, utilization management, and patient experience)
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a wide variety of health care professionals and staff, both in and outside of the local care delivery organization
• Ability to travel to all clinics throughout the state of South Carolina

Preferred Qualification:

• 5+ years of experience in a leadership role in a medical facility or related environment

Compensation for this specialty generally ranges from $279,500 - $440,500. Total cash compensation includes base pay and bonus and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. 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.

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.