Chief Medical Officer, Optum Health Solutions

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 Solutions is on a mission to shape the future of population health through clinically differentiated, value-based solutions that improve health outcomes, enhance experiences, and deliver meaningful affordability. Guided by a vision to become the preeminent leader in health and well-being programs, we are seeking a Chief Medical Officer who will inspire clinical innovation, advance evidence-based strategy, and help lead the partnerships and execution needed to create lasting impact across the health care ecosystem.

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

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, partnering closely with Product, Network, and Operations leaders to shape and execute Optum's population health strategy
• Lead and oversee a multidisciplinary clinical team, providing direction, coaching, and accountability to ensure high-quality clinical support across population health programs and initiatives
• Provide clinical leadership across cross-functional teams to ensure program design, delivery, and quality are aligned, evidence-based, operationally viable, and responsive to business and market needs
• Support the development of population health products and programs by bringing clinical expertise to strategy, design, implementation, and ongoing optimization
• Collaborate with Network leadership to strengthen provider engagement, inform network strategy, and advance clinical performance across value-based and population health initiatives
• Partner with Operations leadership to ensure population health programs are implemented effectively, delivered consistently, and supported by scalable clinical and operational workflows
• Guide the integration of clinical priorities into product development, network models, and operational execution to improve health outcomes, member experience, provider performance, and affordability
• Build and maintain solid, effective relationships with UnitedHealthcare, external payers, employers, associations, and key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring close alignment on clinical strategy, program priorities, performance expectations, and business needs
• Serve as a trusted clinical partner to UnitedHealthcare, external payers, employers, and associations, supporting collaboration across shared initiatives and helping translate enterprise priorities into actionable population health solutions
• Influence the design of care models, clinical pathways, and intervention strategies that support prevention, chronic disease management, care coordination, utilization improvement, and health equity
• Ensure clinical quality is embedded across all functions by establishing standards, advising on performance measures, and driving accountability for outcomes
• Oversee the clinical team's contribution to program development, implementation, and performance improvement efforts across Product, Network, and Operations
• Use data, analytics, and clinical insight to identify opportunities, prioritize interventions, monitor performance, and recommend improvements across products, provider networks, and operational programs
• Partner across teams, including UnitedHealthcare, external payer, employer, and association stakeholders, to evaluate program effectiveness, close performance gaps, and continuously improve quality, consistency, and clinical impact
• Support clinical governance, regulatory compliance, and adherence to evidence-based standards across population health offerings and delivery models
• Represent the clinical perspective in executive forums and cross-functional decision-making, helping ensure Optum's population health programs deliver measurable value for patients, providers, clients, enterprise partners, and external stakeholders
• Lead and influence through collaboration in a matrixed environment, fostering alignment and shared accountability across clinical, product, network, operational, UnitedHealthcare, external payer, employer, and association stakeholders

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:

• MD or DO with current, unrestricted licensure
• Board certification in a medical specialty
• 10+ years of executive-level experience building clinical programs, leading population health, value-based care, or care delivery transformation programs at scale
• Demonstrated experience successfully operating programs of similar scope and complexity, with accountability for clinical design, operational execution, quality performance, and affordability outcomes
• Solid understanding of how to position and deliver population health programs in ways that meet the needs of employers, health plans, and other risk-bearing organizations
• Deep expertise in program development and oversight for care management, chronic condition management, utilization improvement, preventive care, and quality performance initiatives
• Proven ability to serve as a trusted clinical leader to large employer and payer clients, including partnership with clinical, actuarial, and benefits leadership
• Proven track record of influencing cross-functional leaders and driving results across product, network, operations, analytics, and client-facing teams
• Proven solid business acumen, including the ability to connect clinical strategy to financial performance, trend management, and client value
• Proven excellent communication and consultative skills, with the ability to engage credibly at the executive level internally and externally

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy

Compensation for this specialty generally ranges from $386,500.00 to $579,500.00. 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.

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.