Director External VBC Contracting & Pricing - Remote in MN

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.

Optum Health is a clinician-led, value-based care organization focused on improving patient outcomes, advancing care delivery, and simplifying the health care experience. We partner with physicians, health systems, employers, and communities to design innovative solutions that improve quality, affordability, and access to care.

As a strategic leader you will play a central role standardize pricing and modeling approaches, lead large‑scale contract remediation efforts, and partner closely with payer and provider stakeholders to proactively manage performance across the VBC continuum.

The Director of External Value‑Based Care (VBC) Contracting & Pricing provides national financial leadership for VBC contract economics across Optum Health's growing and increasingly complex provider portfolio. This role establishes clear ownership and governance over pricing, payment constructs, and forward‑year economics to improve margin performance, reduce loss exposure, and accelerate payer and provider decision‑making.

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:

• Own enterprise-wide VBC financial consolidation, ensuring consistent and accurate P&L views across risk models, reporting constructs, and lines of business
• Lead VBC benefit planning and multi-year forecasting in support of plan, forecast, and earnings cycles, including alignment to external margin commitments
• Serve as the primary finance partner supporting UnitedHealthcare delegated pricing, ensuring alignment between provider economics, plan assumptions, and enterprise financial targets
• Establish and maintain disciplined governance, controls, and standard methodologies for VBC financial reporting, forecasting, and performance measurement
• Coordinate financial oversight and execution tracking for more than $2B in VBC remediation initiatives, partnering closely with strategy, operations, actuarial, and clinical leaders
• Translate complex regulatory, pricing, and performance dynamics into clear, consistent executive and Board-level financial narratives
• Anticipate and proactively mitigate execution risk during high-impact cycles by driving alignment across finance, actuarial, strategy, and operational stakeholders
• Support the maturation of the VBC Strategy & Analytics operating model by enabling scalable planning, reporting, and decision-support capabilities

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:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in healthcare finance, value‑based contracting, pricing, or payer-provider financial strategy, with substantial exposure to risk‑based arrangements
• 5+ years of leadership experience (direct or indirect reporting relationships)
• Experience leading cross‑functional initiatives that span finance, contracting, operations, and clinical stakeholders
• Experience within large, matrix organizations with demonstrated business results
• Deep understanding of value‑based care economics across the continuum, including risk sharing, pricing intervals, and margin optimization
• Demonstrated leadership in complex contract economics, alternate payment models, and large‑scale financial remediation or turnaround efforts
• Sound understanding of Medicare Advantage and delegated pricing dynamics
• Demonstrated hands on leader and motivator with the ability to develop talent within the organization
• Proven ability to build relationships cross-functionally and lead toward common goals
• Excellent executive communication skills, including the ability to independently produce clear, concise written deliverables
• Proven project planning and management capability, from scoping and objective‑setting through execution, performance tracking, and results evaluation
• Ability to deal with ambiguity - can cope with change and comfortably handles risk and uncertainty in a manner consistent with UnitedHealth Group's core values

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree (MBA, MHA, MPH) or advanced degree / certification
• UnitedHealth Group experience
• Experience supporting earnings cycles, external reporting, or Board-level communication
• Experience leading large-scale financial remediation or performance improvement initiatives
• Familiarity with CMS and other regulatory frameworks impacting value-based care performance

*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 to $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.