Chief Operating Officer, WellMed

UnitedHealth Group•San Antonio, TX

12d•$225,000 - $375,000

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer, WellMed Region is the senior executive accountable for day-to-day operational performance and execution across the WellMed Region Care Delivery enterprise. Reporting to the WellMed Region CEO, the COO converts strategy and financial commitments into integrated operating plans, clear ownership, effective management rhythm and timely corrective action. The COO will focus on productivity, patient access, provider capacity, SG&A discipline, delegated operations, growth execution, technology delivery, workforce optimization and operating model simplification. The role is responsible for working with the Executive Team to translating strategy into execution while driving accountability, efficiency, scalability and financial results across all markets. The COO works in close partnership with the CEO, regional CMO, market and operations leaders, Finance, People, Growth, Technology, Enterprise Clinical Services and National Care Delivery Operations. The role owns regional results while applying national standards, reducing duplication and ensuring that local intelligence informs enterprise decisions.

Requirements

15+ years of significant executive leadership experience in large-scale, complex healthcare operations, ideally across multiple markets or a regional care delivery platform
Executive level experience demonstrating P&L accountability and a record of translating financial commitments into operational execution and measurable improvement
10+ years of experience in ambulatory, physician practice, value-based care and risk-bearing operations
Experience leading cost transformation, operating model redesign, integration and large-scale change
Proven ability to lead through a highly matrixed national, regional and local operating environment

Responsibilities

Own the WellMed Region operating plan and results
Own the integrated WellMed Region operating plan, including alignment among the Long-Range Plan, Management Growth Plan, annual business plan, MBOs, forecasts and market operating plans
Translate regional financial commitments into operational, clinical and workforce levers with accountable owners, milestones, leading indicators and quantified outcomes
Lead performance against IOI, revenue, margin, affordability, SG&A, cost management, membership, access, quality and experience commitments
Identify performance gaps early, require recovery plans and ensure actions are completed with pace and discipline
Establish a rigorous regional operating rhythm
Create a consistent weekly, monthly and quarterly cadence for performance review, decision-making, issue escalation and action-plan closure
Build a single regional view of performance that connects financial outcomes to operational and clinical drivers
Use market-level action plans, quality-performance reviews and MBO governance to increase transparency and accountability
Ensure the CEO and leadership team receive concise, decision-ready information on results, risks, dependencies and required interventions
Lead clinic, field and shared operations
Provide executive oversight for day-to-day regional operations, including delegated operations, revenue cycle performance, real estate, payor and growth strategy, patient experience and administrative support services
Improve patient access, visit productivity, schedule utilization, provider capacity, net collections, throughput and operating consistency
Standardize core operating practices while maintaining appropriate market responsiveness and local accountability
Create effective interfaces with national support teams for claims, payment integrity, utilization and care management, call center operations, credentialing, technology, data and digital enablement
Deliver the affordability and growth agenda
Drive cost-structure improvement through SG&A management, workforce productivity, shared-service simplification, functional consolidation, process redesign and disciplined resource allocation
Partner with clinical and financial leaders to improve affordability, medical-cost performance, risk adjustment, coding accuracy, Stars performance and quality
Enable responsible growth through improved access, provider capacity, operational readiness, market expansion and scalable operating models
Clarify decision rights and strengthen the operating model
Define and enforce clear decision rights across regional, market and national teams, especially for standards, staffing, capital, exceptions and performance ownership
Establish clear accountability: national teams' own tools and standards, while regional and market operators own results
Reduce unnecessary duplication, layers, fragmented work and unclear handoffs across the WellMed Region
Lead integration, transformation and change initiatives with clear governance, adoption plans and measurable outcomes
Build a high-performing leadership and talent system
Build a solid, accountable regional operations team with clear roles, effective spans of control, ready successors and differentiated development plans
Partner with the People Team on organization health, workforce planning, leadership readiness, retention, culture, inclusion and provider and employee experience
Create a performance culture grounded in mission, values, transparency, disciplined follow-through and constructive challenges
Serve as a visible enterprise leader and strengthen the succession pipeline for broader regional leadership roles