Candesa Product Manager, Utilization Management

company•City of Utica, NY

About The Position

This role leads the strategic vision, roadmap, and execution of the Candesa UM product, driving innovation and ensuring strong alignment with organizational goals. As a cross‑functional connector, the position partners closely with teams across the organization to deliver impactful product enhancements and high‑quality technical implementations. The leader in this role removes barriers, streamlines collaboration, and ensures teams meet critical milestones and performance standards. This role will support Sales and serve as a trusted liaison for external clients—building strong relationships, guiding them through sales and implementation, and ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Minimum of six (6) years progressive health plan operations or pharmacy benefit manager experience.
High school diploma required.
Prior experience supervising or leading people, projects and/or teams.
Remains current on evolving market dynamics within the industry and regulatory environment. Ties this information to Candesa mission and ensures awareness among key business partners.
Ability to work while sitting and/or standing at a workstation viewing a computer and using a keyboard, mouse and/or phone for three (3) or more hours at a time.
Ability to travel across the Health Plan service region for meetings and/or trainings as needed.
Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull 15 pounds or less.
Manual dexterity including fine finger motion required.
Repetitive motion required.
The ability to hear, understand, and speak clearly while using a phone, with or without a headset.

Nice To Haves

Project management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads the strategic planning, execution, and business objectives for the Candesa UM product.
Drives short and long‑term product development and enhancements by serving as a central point of collaboration for key internal stakeholders including Pharmacy Solutions, Compliance, Legal, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Provider Contracting, and AD&T.
Provides oversight of technical implementation work, ensuring high-quality delivery and alignment with product goals.
Removes obstacles and aligns cross‑functional teams to meet quality standards, project timelines, and organizational objectives.
Supports the Sales team as the product subject matter expert, partnering with external clients throughout sales, contracting, and implementation stages.
Acts as a primary liaison for external clients, fostering strong relationships, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining smooth operational performance.
Manage end‑to-end implementation, updates, and maintenance of custom pharmacy benefit designs for employer groups.
Maintain a structured repository of custom benefits by group including design components, historical updates, and change requests.
Consistently demonstrates high standards of integrity by supporting the Lifetime Healthcare Companies’ mission and values, adhering to the Corporate Code of Conduct, and leading to the Lifetime Way values and beliefs.
Maintains high regard for member privacy in accordance with the corporate privacy policies and procedures.
Regular and reliable attendance is expected and required.
Performs other functions as assigned by management.