Senior Medicaid Policy & Payment Model Lead — Remote

Optum; Reston (VA); Remote; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum seeks a Manager to lead Medicaid policy and payment model implementation in a remote role. You will guide policy analysis, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and partner with CMS and state stakeholders to advance Medicaid initiatives.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in Medicaid policy or health policy consulting, strong written and verbal communication, and the ability to translate complex policy into actionable guidance for senior clients. Remote work available nationwide.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant professional experience in Medicaid policy, health policy consulting, government programs, technical assistance, program implementation, healthcare delivery transformation, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing Medicaid policy, program design, payment policy, delivery systems, or operational implementation.
• Experience supporting the design, implementation, evaluation, or operation of alternative payment models, value-based care programs, or other healthcare payment and delivery-system reforms.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex workstreams, organize ambiguous assignments, manage competing priorities, and drive work to completion.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams or coordinating work across multiple teams and subject-matter experts without direct reporting authority.
• Demonstrated ability to provide policy consultation and develop clear, well-supported options and recommendations for senior clients or decision-makers.
• Proven solid written communication skills, including experience drafting policy memoranda, issue briefs, implementation guidance, presentations, or similar client-facing materials.
• Proven solid verbal communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to translate complex policy and operational issues for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, high-quality work in a fast-moving client-service environment.
• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary project environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior Medicaid policy and implementation advisor supporting the AHEAD Model, working closely with CMS Innovation Center staff and Lewin task leads to advance Medicaid‑related priorities.
• Lead and coordinate Medicaid work across AHEAD task teams, establishing work plans, clarifying responsibilities, identifying dependencies, and driving activities through completion.
• Provide policy consultation, structured analysis, and thought partnership to CMS on Medicaid payment and delivery‑system reforms, including alternative payment models, value‑based care, hospital global budgets, advanced primary care, and multi‑payer alignment.
• Analyze federal and state Medicaid policies, authorities, programs, and implementation approaches, including state plan and waiver considerations, and translate findings into clear options, recommendations, and decision materials.
• Support the development and refinement of Medicaid policies and operational approaches that account for differences in state delivery systems, including Medicaid fee‑for‑service and managed care environments.
• Design and lead technical assistance strategies that help states and other stakeholders implement Medicaid payment and delivery‑system reforms and improve health and human service delivery programs.
• Develop and review high‑quality technical assistance products, including policy memos, issue briefs, implementation roadmaps, guidance documents, presentations, webinars, frequently asked questions, and other stakeholder‑facing materials.
• Facilitate discussions with CMS, state partners, subject‑matter experts, contractors, and internal teams to resolve open policy and operational questions and build alignment around recommended approaches.
• Translate complex Medicaid policy and payment issues for technical and non‑technical audiences, clearly distinguishing policy decisions, operational implications, risks, dependencies, and unresolved questions.
• Identify implementation risks, policy gaps, and emerging issues; develop options and recommendations; and elevate decisions requiring CMS direction.
• Review deliverables for accuracy, consistency, policy alignment, and practical usability, maintaining a high degree of quality and attention to detail.
• Support and mentor colleagues across task teams by providing Medicaid subject‑matter guidance, structured problem‑solving support, and review of work products.
• Contribute to broader project planning, client relationship development, and proposal or business‑development activities, as needed.

Skills

Medicaid policy

Policy analysis

Project coordination

Written communication

Verbal communication

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Client-facing

Job description

Optum seeks a Manager to lead Medicaid policy and payment model implementation in a remote role. You will guide policy analysis, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and partner with CMS and state stakeholders to advance Medicaid initiatives.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in Medicaid policy or health policy consulting, strong written and verbal communication, and the ability to translate complex policy into actionable guidance for senior clients. Remote work available nationwide.