Manager, Strategic Initiatives - San Juan, PR

UnitedHealth Group•San Juan, PR

8d•Onsite

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. Positions in this function serve as deployable general management execution leaders for the Puerto Rico Geo Leadership Office. This position is assigned to a defined strategic initiative, project, or connected workstream for a specified period and establishes the structure required to convert approved direction into clear plans, accountabilities, governance, decisions, implementation, and measurable outcomes. This role coordinates work across functions and organizational boundaries, maintains visibility of progress and execution risk, prepares decision-ready escalations, and drives commitments through completion and transition. Assignments may support People priorities, operating model improvements, capability development, workforce transformation, AI adoption, portfolio evolution, cost and productivity, or other priorities selected by the Geo Leader.

Requirements

5+ years of Progressive experience leading complex initiatives, programs, transformation, operating model work, or cross-functional execution in a matrixed organization
5+ years of Experience converting broad direction into executable plans, governance, accountabilities, milestones, decisions, and measurable outcomes
5+ years of Project or program management experience covering risks, issues, dependencies, benefits, and executive reporting
3+ years of Experience influencing senior stakeholders and coordinating outcomes without direct authority
Experience with Microsoft Tools: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint
Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish (verbal and written)
Ability to work 40 hours per week during standard business operating hours, with flexibility to support occasional meetings across US time zones based on business need

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in business, healthcare administration, strategy, project management, analytics, or a related discipline
PMP, Agile, Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, Prosci, or comparable certification
Experience in healthcare operations, shared services, global capability environments, or regulated businesses
Experience with governance design, operating models, strategic work intake, change execution, or benefits realization
Experience using approved AI-enabled productivity tools to improve synthesis, reporting, and follow-through
Demonstrated ability to enter an unfamiliar workstream, learn quickly, create structure, and maintain momentum through implementation

Responsibilities

Mobilize assigned initiatives by converting an approved priority into a clear assignment charter and integrated execution plan, including scope, outcomes, deliverables, milestones, workstreams, completion criteria, and required resources
Confirm stakeholders, accountabilities, decision rights, dependencies, and escalation routes; surface ambiguity, conflicting expectations, missing inputs, and delivery constraints before they become execution failures
Establish and manage fit-for-purpose governance forums, review cadences, RACI models, and decision gates
Prepare and facilitate reviews centered on outcomes, exceptions, risks, decisions, and corrective action; document decisions and translate them into named actions, due dates, and clear ownership
Coordinate implementation across functional, operational, capability, and enterprise stakeholders; monitor milestones and commitments, follow up proactively, and identify delays early
Resolve execution gaps within delegated authority and prepare decision-ready escalations when leadership action is required
Maintain an integrated view of risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, and pending decisions, including impact, urgency, mitigation, ownership, and escalation requirements
Present material issues with facts, options, implications, and a clear recommendation; track mitigation and resolution through closure or formal transfer
Develop concise dashboards and executive progress briefs that show outcomes, milestones, risks, decisions, adoption, and next actions
Partner with the functional owner to establish baselines, targets, and evidence of value; identify when completed activity is not producing the intended adoption or business outcome
Coordinate implementation readiness across processes, people, communications, training, technology, and controls, as applicable
Document the sustained operating process, transfer remaining responsibilities to the permanent owner, and conduct close-out reviews capturing results, open items, and lessons learned
Use approved AI and Microsoft 365 tools to accelerate synthesis, meeting follow-up, action tracking, reporting, risk identification, and first-draft development, maintaining human review and functional accountability for decisions and final deliverables
Operate without assuming financial approval authority, talent or organizational design decisions, legal or compliance determinations, or permanent ownership of a functional process after the agreed transition point
Solve complex problems independently and work with minimal direction; other duties may apply