Director Rebate Strategy and Operations - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Draper, UT

15d•$134,600 - $230,800•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Rebate Strategy and Operations owns the enterprise operating model, governance, financial controls, and scalable execution strategy for manufacturer-funded medical benefit rebate programs across Optum Health. The role is accountable for end-to-end rebate value capture, including eligibility determination, rebate qualification, drug attestation, program administration, reconciliation, compliance, audit readiness, leakage mitigation, and measurable financial performance. The Director ensures eligible manufacturer value is accurately identified, submitted, tracked, collected, reconciled, and reported, partnering across Pharmacy, Finance, Health Care Economics, Analytics, Contracting, Industry Relations, Compliance, and Market Leadership. The role leads a team focused on execution, eligibility governance, dispute resolution, compliance, process improvement, and scalable growth of manufacturer-funded programs. It is remote within the United States.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical rebates, manufacturer programs, health plan or PBM operations, specialty pharmacy, medical benefit drug operations, healthcare finance, or related healthcare value functions.
5+ years of people leadership experience, including leading teams responsible for complex operations, governance, controls, financial performance, or transformation initiatives.
Experience owning operating models, governance structures, controls, and execution processes across complex, cross-functional programs.
Experience leading programs with measurable financial accountability, including value capture, forecasting support, reconciliation, issue resolution, risk mitigation, and performance management.
Experience leading teams through operational change, process standardization, scalable growth, and sustained performance improvement.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, communicate operational and financial risk, develop business cases, and drive enterprise alignment.
Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, resolve enterprise issues, and align Finance, Analytics, Clinical, Contracting, Compliance, Operations, and other stakeholders.
Remote employees must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Nice To Haves

PharmD or pharmacist licensure.
Experience with portfolio qualification, drug attestation, rebate eligibility determination, manufacturer audit support, and dispute resolution.
Experience interpreting manufacturer contract language and translating requirements into operational processes.
Experience with HCPCS coding, J-codes, NDC crosswalks, product mapping, and utilization-based rebate methodologies.
Experience supporting Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Commercial, and value-based care populations.
Experience with workflow optimization, automation, rebate value leakage analysis, forecasting, accrual support, or financial performance measurement.
Working knowledge of medical benefit drugs, specialty pharmaceuticals, infused therapies, biosimilars, and manufacturer-sponsored programs.

Responsibilities

Own the enterprise operating model and execution strategy for manufacturer-funded rebate programs across supported lines of business.
Establish scalable operating models, policies, procedures, controls, and governance structures.
Ensure rebate-related operational activities are timely, accurate, compliant, and financially accountable.
Develop executive-level performance metrics and reporting to monitor program effectiveness, operational health, value realization, and rebate leakage risk.
Set strategic direction for portfolio- and drug-level attestation governance, including eligibility standards, qualification methodologies, and portfolio inclusion criteria.
Govern manufacturer rebate eligibility requirements, program rules, and operational interpretation to ensure consistent application.
Oversee decision frameworks for product mapping, HCPCS/J-code alignment, NDC crosswalks, biosimilar relationships, and product attribution methodologies.
Lead cross-functional alignment to ensure eligible products are identified, governed, and supported for claims submission.
Oversee manufacturer and vendor operational relationships, submission processes, supporting documentation, and program requirements.
Lead implementation of new rebate opportunities, program expansions, operating model changes, and operational onboarding.
Ensure enterprise readiness for new products, manufacturers, reimbursement models, value arrangements, and rebate entitlement requirements.
Ensure compliance with manufacturer agreements, internal governance requirements, documentation standards, and audit expectations.
Lead audit preparation, response activities, corrective action implementation, and risk mitigation.
Drive continuous improvement, automation, standardization, and scalability initiatives, and establish best practices and governance routines.
Own rebate tracking, payment reconciliation, discrepancy resolution, dispute escalation, and value realization processes.
Partner with Finance, Accounting, and Economics teams on forecasting, accrual support, realized-value reporting, and reconciliation controls.
Identify and resolve operational, data, vendor, or process barriers affecting rebate capture, collection rates, and financial performance.
Improve collection performance, reduce value leakage, and maintain accountability for financial outcomes.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team responsible for rebate operations, qualification governance, financial controls, and manufacturer program administration.
Establish strategic priorities, performance expectations, accountability routines, succession planning, and individual development plans.
Collaborate with Pharmacy, Finance, HCE, Contracting, Industry Relations, Compliance, Analytics, and Market Leadership.
Influence enterprise decision-making through executive-ready insights, operational recommendations, business case development, and cross-functional alignment.