Behavioral Health Chief Medical Officer

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.

The Behavioral Health Chief Medical Officer (CMO), executive leadership team and reports directly to the Behavioral Health CEO. This role provides leadership, oversight, and hands-on operational direction for clinical programs under the affordability pillar, with a solid emphasis on behavioral management performance, clinical performance, quality and health and safety programs.

The CMO will partner extensively with market leaders, internal behavioral management teams, and cross-functional clinical operations partners to drive execution of performance strategies. The role also oversees a team of clinical and operational professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring clinical programs that improve cost, clinical outcomes and regulatory alignment as well as growing the behavioral business externally. Must be able to engage with external senior clinical leaders and have a solid client facing presence.

This is a highly visible, collaborative leadership role supporting strategic alignment, operational discipline and clinical excellence across nationally.

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:

• Clinical Strategy & Leadership
  • Provide strategic and operational leadership of Affordability and Behavioral Management programs nationally, aligning to local, regional, and corporate clinical priorities
  • Direct clinical strategy execution for affordability initiatives, including utilization management, inpatient/outpatient medical management and cost-of-care performance
  • Drive consistent performance of key clinical programs including:
    • Clinical Performance & Quality
    • Health & Safety
    • Affordability and medical management optimization
  • Significant leadership role in the product space, advising and helping support the build of products that will support (drive) the growth of behavioral business
• Medical Management Oversight
  • Analyze national, regional, and local utilization trends to identify opportunities for improvement in clinical management
  • Oversee the development and execution of annual behavioral plans aligned to goals and compliant with regulatory standards including model of care requirements for dual eligible populations
  • Ensure behavioral management programs adhere to best-practice standards, regulatory compliance expectations, and national clinical criteria
• Cross-Functional & Market Partnership
  • Collaborate closely with matrixed CMOs to support national, regional and local affordability strategies, clinical performance improvement efforts and quality outcomes
  • Partner with senior medical directors and specialty clinical teams to improve process consistency, adherence to utilization protocols and operational efficiency
  • Serve as a liaison with internal clinical functions, network, care delivery and operational leadership to align strategic priorities and ensure execution excellence, Brilliant at the Basics
• Compliance & Quality Assurance
  • Oversee compliance with regulatory, accreditation and UnitedHealth Group standards across medical management programs
  • Evaluate and maintain alignment with nationally recognized clinical criteria and protocols

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:

• Board Certified Psychiatrist with additional expertise (specialization) 
• 10+ years of clinical leadership experience within a large healthcare system, managed care organization or integrated medical group
• Demonstrated experience in clinical management, utilization management and affordability-related clinical operations impacting members across Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial lines of business and in particular Dual Eligible and SNP members
• Demonstrated leadership experience working with or for BH care providers or demonstrated success engaging providers at a national scale to participate and optimize performance in value based arrangements
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects to completion, prioritizing tasks and delivering on deadlines with high-performance standards and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate successfully with multiple functions in a highly matrixed organization
• Proven ability to lead national-scale change initiatives and cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to successfully articulate the clinical, behavioral affairs and regulatory policy strategies to a wide audience
• Demonstrated solid interpersonal skills; should have proven skills as an effective team player who can engender credibility and confidence within and outside the company
• Demonstrated outstanding executive presence, presentation skills and communication skills
• Proven effective leadership, people management and a team-builder management style
• Proven results-oriented work ethic and a positive attitude
• Deep knowledge of value-based care, population health and clinical quality improvement methodologies
• Experience with performance improvement frameworks (Lean, Six Sigma, HRO practices)

Compensation for this specialty generally ranges from $400,000 - $595,000. Total cash compensation includes base pay and bonus and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. 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.

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.