Regional Director Network Contracting, Central Region - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Overland Park, KS

6d•$112,700 - $193,200•Remote

About The Position

Optum is seeking a Regional Director to lead Provider Relations Advocates across the Central Region and oversee network initiatives across Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The role is responsible for enhancing the provider experience, strengthening stakeholder and market relationships, and partnering with leaders across Community & State, Employer & Individual, and Medicare & Retirement to support provider satisfaction, network development, and regional priorities. This position leads Contract Managers and senior professional staff and guides development of competitive, broad-access, stable Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid networks. It evaluates contract performance and contract changes, develops and executes strategies for products, implementations, expansions, and recruitment, and coordinates with contracting, provider relations, and project management teams. The role also communicates initiative status to internal and external customers, develops payment appendices to support rate strategy, and fosters an inclusive, collaborative, supportive, and performance-driven team. The role is remote from anywhere within the U.S., subject to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

Requirements

At least 5 years of management experience in a network contract management-related role handling complex network provider contracts, recruitment, and negotiations, with accountability for business results.
At least 5 years of experience developing product pricing and using financial modeling and data analytics to make rate decisions.
At least 5 years of experience developing and managing a medical cost and administrative budget.
At least 5 years of experience with Group, Agency, and Facility contracting, contract strategy, rate methodologies, contract language, and terms of agreement.
Knowledge of Salesforce and Excel.
Remote employees must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
Candidates must pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Nice To Haves

Behavioral Health contracting experience.
Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Commercial contracting for Behavioral Health.
Facility and OP/Professional contract negotiations.
Experience reviewing and providing alternative contract language.
Exceptional understanding of Medicaid pricing, Medicare pricing, and CMS relativity.
Clear and effective verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership to and accountability for the performance of Contract Managers and senior-level professional staff.
Guide development of geographically competitive, broad-access, stable Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid networks that meet adequacy and access standards, client expectations, and unit-cost and trend-management objectives.
Evaluate current contract performance to identify remediation opportunities and potential cost savings.
Review and develop contract language, assessing financial and operational impact and legal implications of new or requested contract changes.
Develop and execute strategies for new products, implementations, expansions, and recruitment initiatives needed to meet network adequacy and access standards.
Work with the SWAT Contracting Team, Provider Relations Team, and Project Managers to ensure network goals are met.
Direct and support others in resolving business problems affecting multiple functions or disciplines.
Direct work that impacts entire functions and/or internal and external customer accounts.
Communicate the status of large network development and contracting initiatives to internal and external customers.
Develop Payment Appendices as needed to support business rate strategy.
Create a compassionate, supportive, inclusive, collaborative, curious, and goal- and performance-driven team environment.