Principal Technical Project - Program Manager

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

7h•$112,700 - $193,200•Remote

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. As a Principal Technical Project-Program Manager you will lead projects and programs from initiation to successful release. You will work with Technical Product Managers, Data Scientists, Engineering, and key business stakeholders and leaders to create an execution plan, actively manage a project timeline, achieve key milestones, define and report on project KPIs, and support release to production. Your role is critical to the timely rollout of releases to production and to ensure the project execution process operates smoothly. In addition to program delivery responsibilities, you will play a key role in Portfolio Management by providing visibility into technology investments, resource planning, and financial performance. You will support enterprise forecasting cycles, workforce and capacity planning, capital and operating expense management, and portfolio reporting. This includes partnering with Finance, Product, and Engineering leaders to develop and maintain headcount forecasts, staffing plans, financial projections, variance analyses, and investment tracking to ensure alignment between business priorities, technology roadmaps, and financial commitments. Responsibilities also include supporting financial governance, reporting integrity, and executive-level portfolio insights. You will enjoy the flexibility to telecommute from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED
8+ years of experience in a project or program management role on software development projects
8+ years of experience delivering projects and programs in a matrixed environment
8+ years of working experience in project management tools like JIRA, MS Project, Rally or similar
6+ years of experience in change management and proactive risk management
8+ years of experience with resource forecasting, capacity planning, and Capital/O&M financial tracking.
4+ years of experience in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, automation, and dashboard creation.

Nice To Haves

Proven track record in managing multiple projects or workstreams simultaneously
Demonstrated ability to work well with management teams, staff, and internal and external customers
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong persuasion and negotiation skills, including conflict resolution skills
Ability to demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills

Responsibilities

Prepares project plans and drives the project from planning to implementation to production release
Manages project schedule and task details by utilizing project management tools such as reports, tracking charts, checklists, and project scheduling software
Monitors and reports on project progress to senior management
Proactively identifies and mitigates project risks and issues
Ensures we are accounting for critical dependencies within the project
Collaborates with the other team members throughout the development lifecycle, including working closely with Product Managers, Data Science, and Engineering team members to ensure the set of activities required to release a product is adequately planned and managed
Accepts ownership for taking on new problems and challenges and proactively explores opportunities to add value to the overall effort within the OIT&E organization
Develop and maintain program resource forecasts, ensuring alignment between delivery plans, capacity, and funding assumptions.
Monitor Capital and Operating (O&M) expenditures against plan; analyze variances and provide clear reporting to stakeholders.
Partner with finance teams to support forecast cycles, budget planning, and investment tracking for technology initiatives.
Design, develop, and deploy AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with emphasis on responsible use of AI .