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 Director within our Industry Relations team, you will be responsible for advancing and strengthening our strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies while maintaining the competitiveness of the assigned manufacturer contracts, specifically for one or more of the key strategic, large, or high-risk partners. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, integrated services to promote optimal outcomes, economic savings, and outstanding provider and consumer experiences. As you do, you'll discover the resources, backing and opportunities that you'd expect from a Fortune 6 leader.
You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Negotiate and execute agreements with pharmaceutical companies while managing and developing relationships with national account leads for assigned accounts
- Strategize, develop, and recommend promoting formulary positioning that also drive economic value to the patient, provider, and care delivery organizations
- Collaborate with a cross functional internal teams (e.g. Rebates, Legal, Product and Clinical) to identify areas of opportunities
- Design and create rebate assumptions and forecast models, in partnership with others to resolve business problems that affect multiple functional areas, including audit data for accuracy and troubleshoot variances in modeling
- Understand, build, and maintain financial models, analytics, and reports for (Pharmacy and medical) rebate guarantee optimization, value-focused arrangements, and/or positive/negative impact to overall spend
- Leverage pharmaceutical, business, and regulatory knowledge to ensure proposed solutions and/or strategic partnerships are in compliance with all state and federal regulations
- Fully versed in all aspects of the contracts with assigned customers as well as ensuring ongoing contract performance through competitive environment management activities
- Communicate results of process development, financial impact, and analyses to appropriate stakeholder groups (e.g. Affordability, Pricing, Accrual, Accounting, Forecasting, Underwriting, Rebate Billing, Data Operations, Legal, and other internal customers)
- Create best practices to maximize efficiency, enhance data repositories (for data transfers and audits), and streamline process workflows with compressed and varying timelines
- Identify and implement solutions to support market access and reimbursement of pharmacotherapy products across different payment models
- Provides leadership to and is accountable for the performance and direction through multiple layers of management and senior level professional staff
- Any other duties that may be required by the department
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications:
- 8+ years of experience in managed health care or pharmacy benefit management, with a focus on pharmaceutical contracting negotiations and strategy development
- 8+ years of experience in financial analyses and economic models across medical and pharmacy claims, clinical data, and benchmarks
- 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical rebate designs, arrangements, and contract executions
- 6+ years of experience interpreting and presenting business intelligence dashboards to support data-driven decision-making, financial analysis, contract performance monitoring, and executive stakeholder reporting
- High level of clinical and therapeutic class knowledge
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience applying artificial intelligence tools or AI-enabled analytics to improve workflow efficiency, synthesize information, identify insights, and support strategic business decisions
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced use of Excel and PowerPoint to build analyses, models, presentations, and business recommendations
- Proven teamwork building skills
- Proven quantifiable business results
- Proven service oriented (External and Internal)
- Proven flexible and adaptable
- Proven solid interpersonal skills, able to quickly establish rapport and work well with others to define and achieve shared business growth and affordability goals
- Proven focused on attention to detail, customer service skills; demonstrated customer centricity; understands the customer, makes customer-centric decisions, and adapts to changing customer information
*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy
Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $134,600 - $230,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in managed health care or pharmacy benefit management, focused on pharmaceutical contracting negotiations and strategy development
- 8+ years of experience in financial analyses and economic models across medical and pharmacy claims, clinical data, and benchmarks
- 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical rebate designs, arrangements, and contract executions
- 6+ years of experience interpreting and presenting business intelligence dashboards for data-driven decision-making, financial analysis, contract performance monitoring, and executive stakeholder reporting
- High level of clinical and therapeutic class knowledge
- Experience applying artificial intelligence tools or AI-enabled analytics to improve workflow efficiency and support strategic business decisions
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills for analyses, models, presentations, and recommendations
- Proven teamwork-building skills
- Proven quantifiable business results
- Proven service orientation with external and internal customers
- Proven flexibility and adaptability
- Solid interpersonal skills and ability to establish rapport and achieve shared business goals
- Attention to detail, customer service skills, and demonstrated customer centricity
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave (six weeks), paid caregiver leave (up to two weeks), Bright Horizons back-up care, and adoption assistance up to $10,000 are prominently included. Feedback suggests these family supports meaningfully aid work-life balance and are often highlighted as strengths.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match is available to all employees, including part-time staff, alongside other financial protections like disability and life insurance. Feedback suggests broad access and matching make retirement support a core pillar of the package.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan offers discounted company stock, with some roles also eligible for sign-on or performance bonuses. Feedback suggests the ESPP is a standout financial perk that helps employees build ownership over time.
Optum Insights
What We Do
Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, 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. At Optum, we support your well-being with an understanding team, extensive benefits and rewarding opportunities. By joining us, you’ll have the resources to drive system transformation while we help you take care of your future. We recognize the power of connection to drive change, improve efficiency and make a difference in health care. Join a team where your skills and ideas can make an impact and where collaboration is key to creating technology that produces healthier outcomes.
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Optum Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Optum has three workplace models that balance the needs of the business and the responsibilities of each role. These models, core on‑site (5 days/week), hybrid (4 days/week) and telecommute or fully remote, vary by country, role and location.