Director, Program Management - Unified Risk & Quality Platform

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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

About the Team

You will join the Unified Risk & Quality Platform (URQP) organization, a strategic enterprise initiative focused on transforming how Optum Health delivers Risk Adjustment, Quality, Affordability, Performance Management, and Value-Based Care operations through a unified platform and operating model.

The URQP team brings together Business, Product, Engineering, Data, Analytics, Clinical, Operations, and Finance stakeholders to deliver enterprise capabilities that improve operational effectiveness, strengthen governance, enable scalable growth, and drive measurable business outcomes.

The Role

We are seeking a Director of Program Management (GL30) to lead integrated program execution for the Unified Risk & Quality Platform (URQP).

In this role, you will be responsible for establishing and managing the program operating model that supports successful delivery of the URQP roadmap. You will oversee program governance, cross-functional coordination, dependency management, financial stewardship, executive reporting, and delivery oversight across multiple workstreams and stakeholder groups.

You will serve as a trusted partner to Product, Business, Engineering, Data Architecture, Operations, Clinical, Finance, and executive leadership teams, ensuring strategic priorities are translated into coordinated execution plans and measurable outcomes.

The ideal candidate will thrive in complex, highly matrixed environments and possess a strong track record of leading large-scale technology and business transformation programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

In this role, you will:

·Lead integrated program management activities supporting delivery of the URQP roadmap and platform strategy

·Establish and maintain program governance frameworks, operating cadences, escalation processes, and delivery management disciplines

·Drive coordination across Product, Engineering, Data, Analytics, Clinical, Operations, and Finance teams to ensure alignment on priorities, milestones, and deliverables

·Manage program dependencies, risks, issues, and mitigation plans across multiple workstreams and platform capabilities

·Develop and maintain integrated program plans, milestone tracking, resource planning, and delivery reporting

·Support financial capital stewardship activities, including budget management, investment tracking, portfolio reporting, and alignment between delivery outcomes and strategic funding priorities

·Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to ensure roadmap execution remains aligned to business objectives and organizational priorities

·Prepare and deliver executive reporting for governance forums including ESC, PGB, steering committees, quarterly business reviews, and leadership operating reviews

·Drive transparency, accountability, and operational excellence through structured reporting, performance metrics, and program controls

·Identify opportunities to improve delivery effectiveness, governance maturity, organizational alignment, and execution scalability across the URQP operating model

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny office and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model.

You will 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 providing development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

·Has significant experience leading large-scale enterprise technology, healthcare, or business transformation programs

·Has successfully managed complex cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholder groups, delivery teams, and operational domains

·Demonstrates solid program governance, portfolio management, and delivery management expertise

·Has experience managing budgets, investment tracking, business cases, and financial stewardship activities

·Is comfortable operating in highly matrixed organizations and influencing without direct authority

·Has exceptional organizational, communication, and executive presentation skills

·Can proactively identify risks, resolve issues, and drive alignment across competing priorities

·Has experience supporting executive governance forums and senior leadership decision-making

·Holds a degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Project Management, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications

·Experience within healthcare technology, Risk Adjustment, Quality, Value-Based Care, or healthcare operations

·Experience leading enterprise platform modernization or digital transformation initiatives

·Familiarity with Agile delivery models, product operating models, and technology development lifecycles

·PMP, PgMP, Program Consultant or similar program management certifications

·Experience managing globally distributed teams and complex vendor or matrixed delivery environments

·MBA or advanced degree

Impact

This role is responsible for establishing the operational execution framework that enables successful delivery of the URQP vision. By providing integrated program leadership, governance oversight, and financial stewardship, the Director of Program Management will play a critical role in ensuring the platform delivers on its strategic, operational, and business value objectives.

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.  

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.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug-free workplace. © 2026 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.