Director of Health Optimization, Missouri and Iowa - Remote

At UnitedHealthcare, we're simplifying the health care experience, creating healthier communities and removing barriers to quality care. The work you do here impacts the lives of millions of people for the better. Come build the health care system of tomorrow, making it more responsive, affordable and optimized. Ready to make a difference? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together

This role provides strategic leadership for Culture, Health Optimization, and Social Responsibility initiatives across the Missouri and Iowa Community & State health plans. The position is responsible for identifying and addressing health disparities, advancing health equity, and developing innovative solutions that improve access, affordability, outcomes, and member experience for Medicaid and DSNP populations. Working closely with internal stakeholders, community partners, and state constituents, this leader drives initiatives focused on chronic condition management, behavioral health, maternal and infant health, workforce development, social determinants of health, and care accessibility for rural and underserved communities. The role also champions organizational culture, community engagement, and health plan innovation by expanding programs and value-based services that address members' non-medical needs, helping to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen UnitedHealthcare's competitive position in the market.

If you reside in Missouri, you will have the flexibility to work remotely* as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides visionary leadership and contributes to the successful advancement of culture, health optimization and social responsibility principles. Responsible for being a champion of culture, cultivating innovation, being resilient, and inspiring others. Focus areas of health optimization will include:  Chronic condition management, behavioral and mental health, care access and affordability for rural and underserved populations, mortality and life expectancy with an emphasis on maternal/infant care, care experience and the workforce, to help build the health care workforce to deliver accessible care, and social drivers of health challenges, addressing social determinants of health and health literacy
• Establishes a consistent and disciplined approach to identifying disparities, improving health outcomes, expanding proven efforts, and measuring impact
• Consult and align with State partners and constituents serving as Community & State Missouri and Iowa health plan link to established enterprise communities (such as Culture Ambassadors, Inclusion Councils, Missouri
• Courageous Conversations and other emerging groups) and deploys those efforts within Missouri and Iowa health plan as appropriate to enhance culture, health optimization and social responsibility
• Identifies health disparities experienced by Missouri Medicaid and  IA and MO DSNP populations and works with internal and external partners to build solutions that address and reduce those disparities.  Help UnitedHealthcare Community and State Missouri and Iowa measurably improve accessibility, affordability and outcomes
• Demonstrates organizational agility and understands how the business operates and can identify and interpret business levers. Creates experiences that shape and grow the organizations' culture programs and capabilities. Understand emerging policies and initiatives that impact those we serve so that our company knows how to best navigate them
• Make community engagement an organizational core competency by enabling our businesses to both identify and address root causes at the community level that are impacting health outcomes.  Drives engagement and identifies and seeks opportunities to celebrate and communicate Culture, Health Optimization and Social Responsibility to enable active change agents throughout the organization, especially within the care delivery organizations
• Help identify opportunities to expand and implement health plan ILOS to expand services for members to drive down cost of care and increase value of care to members utilizing non-medical services and differentiate UHC Missouri competitive product (i.e. Mobile integrated health, Food as Medicine programs, Housing Programs, Domestic Violence supports, etc.)

This position will travel up to 25% of the time, throughout the state of Missouri and Iowa and limited nationwide travel.

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:

• Master's degree in health services, public health or health care administration
• 5+ years of experience with the variety of services available through the Missouri human services agencies that interface with health care
• 5+ years of experience leading and developing broad scale organizational/enterprise diversity, inclusion and equity strategies
• 5+ years of experience interfacing with Senior Leadership team
• Experience addressing health disparity and/or health equity concerns
• Experience and knowledge of change management principles, methodologies, and tools 

• Ability to travel up to 25% 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with Medicaid and/or Medicare programs 
• Experience working in a matrix environment
• Experience working with and influencing all levels of employees; inspiring others to engage, participate and act
• Proven excellent communication skills - verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and facilitation along with written message development
• Proven track record of effectively managing conflict, resolving issues, mitigating risks and influencing leaders

*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 $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

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.