Optum Serve Associate Director, Planning & Strategy

UnitedHealth Group•Rockville, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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. Optum Serve (OS) is The Federal Business of UnitedHealth Group. The Associate Director, Planning & Strategy provides day to day leadership for The Long-Range Plan and development of Balanced Scorecard Initiatives, establishing an implementable strategy for OS. The role owns end to end planning processes, translates enterprise and business line strategy into actionable roadmaps, and leads cross functional operating rhythms that drive outcomes. The Associate Director’s work products and decisions primarily impact Optum Serve, with visibility to, and coordination with internal OS leaders and enterprise stakeholders. The Associate Director identifies and resolves technical, operational, and organizational problems beyond the immediate Strategy team, and develops products, services and processes that impact OS business offerings and customer accounts. If you are located within the 30 minute commutable range to Washington, D.C, you will have the flexibility to work remotely 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. 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.

Requirements

7+ years total experience in strategic planning, corporate strategy, business operations, portfolio/program management, and/or management consulting; strong record translating strategy into execution at the market/site/function level
Demonstrated experience leading projects/workstreams and successfully navigating a matrixed environment
Experience in quantitative and qualitative Analytic execution and synthesis
Experience working with multiple levels and departments to define and accomplish objectives
Demonstrated proficiency in structured problem solving and analytics; advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint; familiarity with dashboarding tools
Executive level communication skills (written, visual, verbal) and stakeholder management across functions
Proven ability to successfully deliver work product under tight timelines and overall comfort working in ambiguity
High degree of initiative, judgement and discretion

Nice To Haves

Experience in federal contracting markets (VA, DoD/DHA, CMS, HHS agencies) and/or Optum Serve businesses
Experience in motivating and influencing others at all levels within the organization
Experience working in a matrix environment, with demonstrated ability in systems thinking and enterprise insight to solve complex business problems
Exposure to M&A diligence or integrations as a workstream lead/contributor (not necessarily pipeline ownership)
Hands on experience with OKR/KPI frameworks, portfolio governance, Agile/Lean delivery, and change management (e.g., Prosci)
Demonstrated ability to anticipate challenges and provide solutions
Demonstrated growth mindset in being open and able to break through barriers, while having an ability to leverage innovation

Responsibilities

Own the end to end planning cycle, including the Long-Range Plan and annual business plan including initial Balanced Scorecard Initiatives
Drive portfolio governance for the Long-Range Plan: define charters, benefits, interdependencies, and success metrics; ensure benefits realization and course correct where needed
Support long range strategy development and planning, including market and business insights development (e.g., market sizing, customer/contract analyses, competitor and policy scans) and turning analysis into clear recommendations
Incorporate federal contracting trends, opportunities, and risks—including regulatory, policy, program integrity, and geopolitical considerations—into the planning lifecycle
Develop an implementable strategy for OS, including intake, prioritization, capacity/resource planning, target setting, risk/issue management, and plan of record maintenance
Translate enterprise and Optum Serve strategies into local plans with clear goals, KPIs/OKRs, milestones, and operating mechanisms; ensure alignment across Growth, Operations, Products, Shared Services, Clinical, Engagement, Finance, and Compliance
Identify and solve cross organizational problems (process, handoffs, tooling, data) that hinder execution; standardize and optimize processes to improve cycle time, quality, and adoption
Prepare executive ready materials (briefs, dashboards, narratives) and present progress, risks, and recommendations to local and enterprise leaders
Contribute to business and enterprise initiatives (e.g., diligence analyses, integration workstreams, or operating model pilots) as a workstream lead or key contributor, coordinate handoffs back into local plans
Maintain awareness of legislative, regulatory, and funding developments of the customers and strong understanding of federal health programs, policies, procurement frameworks, and agency priorities across federal health agencies incorporating these insights into planning, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations