Associate Medical Director

UnitedHealth Group•Kentfield, CA

11d•$248,500 - $373,000•Onsite

About The Position

Optum CA is seeking an Associate Medical Director to join our team in San Jose, CA. 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. At Optum, you’ll have the clinical resources, data and support of a global organization behind you so you can help your patients live healthier lives. Here, you’ll work alongside talented peers in a collaborative environment that is guided by diversity and inclusion while driving towards the Quadruple Aim. We believe you deserve an exceptional career, and will empower you to live your best life at work and at home. Experience the fulfillment of advancing the health of your community with the excitement of contributing new practice ideas and initiatives that could help improve care for millions of patients across the country. Because together, we have the power to make health care better for everyone. Join us and discover how rewarding medicine can be while Caring. Connecting. Growing together. The Associate Medical Director (AMD) is a member of the clinical leadership team who provides leadership to support the development of infrastructure and ongoing performance management on population health and medical management initiatives and programs for the San Jose region. They will also be responsible for maintaining and establishing a network of high-quality providers within the market. In partnership with operational leadership, they will develop and ensure ongoing relevance of clinician compensation structure. The AMD will support the hiring and performance management of employed clinicians and oversee community physician leaders.

Requirements

MD or DO degree with an active, unrestricted license in CA
Current board certification in IM/FM
5+ years of experience in an outpatient clinic setting
Solid willingness and capability to learn and execute value-based care strategies, including Quality/HEDIS metrics, Utilization Management, and complex IPA/Group practice structures
Proven solid written and oral communication skills
Proven leadership qualities: collaborative, empowering others
Commute to local sites within San Jose/Santa Clara County and occasionally to other regional meetings within California

Nice To Haves

3+ years of experience in a leadership role within a managed care or IPA environment.
Proven presentations skills

Responsibilities

Schedule: Full-time, 40 weekly hours onsite in San Jose. Business hours M-F 8am-5pm
Functions in a fully non-clinical, administrative capacity with no direct patient care responsibilities
Oversees both physician leaders and clinicians across both IPA (Independent Physician Associate) and Employed/Group sites
Drives regional performance against value-based care metrics, including Medicare Risk Adjustment (HCC coding), CMS STARs, HEDIS quality measures, utilization management, inpatient metrics, and patient satisfaction
Supports cost-efficiency strategies including inpatient management, high-risk member management, and optimal site-of-service selection for specialists
Works with local leadership to address practice variations, manage clinical grievances, conduct peer reviews, and implement immediate corrective action plans for quality-of-care issues
Meets in-person with clinical groups and individual clinicians to deliver performance data, share actionable insights, and drive regional improvement
Acts as the primary liaison for communication with physicians, hospitals, and other providers in the community to support network alignment
Engages actively in regional committees including quality improvement, peer review, specialty networks, contracting, and credentialing
Participates in recruitment efforts for employed physicians and specialty services to ensure the region is adequately staffed to serve its membership
Partners closely with an operations dyad collaborator to execute strategic goals set by senior leadership, focusing on access, affordability, and clinical quality