Senior Vice President, Hospital and Health System Contracting

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 Senior Vice President, Hospital and Health System Contracting, serves as the leader responsible for the full scope of hospital and institutional provider strategy, negotiations, and relationship management across the state of California. This role reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Network for Optum Health Networks and maintains dual accountability to the CEO of California.

This leader is a key architect of Optum Health California's hospital contracting strategy across Medicare Advantage, Commercial, and Medicaid lines of business. The position requires exceptional strategic, operational, and relationship-building capabilities, with deep experience in complex payer-provider negotiations and value-based care models. The Senior Vice President works cross-functionally to ensure alignment with clinical, operational, financial, and administrative teams, while maintaining strong partnerships with hospital systems across the region.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute the institutional and hospital partnership strategy for Optum Health California, ensuring alignment with organizational goals related to growth, affordability, and quality
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to regional leadership teams, collaborating to achieve market-level objectives
• Contracting & Negotiation
  • Lead end-to-end negotiations and ongoing management of hospital and health system contracts across all lines of business (Medicare Advantage, Commercial, Medicaid)
  • Ensure contracts promote value-based care, align incentives, and support cost management and affordability initiatives
  • Exercise independent judgment and decision-making on complex contracting and business issues
• Team & Organizational Leadership
  • Build, coach, and lead a high-performing team responsible for hospital and institutional contracting
  • Develop capabilities within the team to meet evolving market demands and organizational priorities
  • Inspire teams to deliver high engagement, operational excellence, and strong performance
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with leaders across Utilization Management, Clinical Leadership, Group and IPA Operations, Claims, Finance, and other Optum Health functions
  • Ensure operational readiness and alignment in the execution of hospital contracts and related initiatives
• Market Engagement & Relationship Management
  • Represent Optum Health California with hospital executives and institutional partners
  • Build and maintain high-trust, executive-level relationships that support strategic objectives and long-term collaboration
• Performance Monitoring
  • Establish metrics and reporting processes to monitor hospital partner performance and contract outcomes
  • Lead interventions to improve quality, patient experience, affordability, and performance where necessary
  • Oversee unit cost controls and broader medical cost management strategies

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:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in hospital or institutional contracting within a health plan
• 5+ years of experience in capitation and risk-based contracting with facilities and health systems
• Deep understanding of risk-bearing entities, utilization management, and value-based care models
• Proven track record negotiating complex provider contracts across Medicare Advantage, Commercial, and Medicaid lines of business
• Proven ability to travel routinely to provider sites and internal teams across Southern California
• Proven ability to work effectively in Pacific Time Zone hours

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in medical group or IPA settings
• Established relationships with hospital systems in Southern California
• Proven solid financial acumen and strategic thinking abilities
• Proven exceptional negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to navigate and influence within a complex matrixed organization
• Proven collaborative, solutions-driven approach with a focus on execution and outcomes

*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 $200,400 to $343,500 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.