Vice President, PBM Strategic Partnerships , Regional Health Plan - Remote

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.

Are you a transformational leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and client partnership? Optum Rx is seeking a visionary Vice President of Client Management to lead some of the most influential Health Plan relationships in the industry and help shape the future of pharmacy care.

In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and senior healthcare leaders, building meaningful partnerships that drive growth, improve outcomes, and create lasting value for millions of members. You will be at the forefront of our most strategic client relationships, helping clients navigate a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape while advancing innovative solutions that improve affordability, access, and quality.

As Vice President, you will lead a high-performing team of client management professionals, inspiring excellence, fostering engagement, and developing the next generation of leaders. You will have the opportunity to influence enterprise strategy, strengthen market position, and deliver measurable results across client retention, financial performance, contract execution, and customer satisfaction. This is a highly visible leadership role for someone energized by complexity, challenge, and impact. You will operate in a dynamic environment where industry trends, regulatory changes, emerging therapies, and marketplace shifts create opportunities to help clients succeed. Your ability to anticipate change, think strategically, and lead with confidence will make a meaningful difference for clients, colleagues, and the communities we serve. We are looking for a leader who combines executive presence with business acumen, innovation with execution, and vision with action. Someone who can cultivate strong relationships, influence across organizations, champion new ideas, and successfully lead complex initiatives from concept to results. Beyond managing client relationships, you will play a key role in shaping the future of the Health Plans segment. By gathering market insights and translating them into strategic, product, and go-to-market actions, you will help position Optum Rx as a trusted partner and industry leader in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

If you are passionate about leadership, energized by solving complex challenges, and motivated by the opportunity to create meaningful impact at scale, we invite you to join us and help redefine what is possible in healthcare.

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

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Own and execute multi-year, account specific strategies that drive growth, retention, margin expansion, and long-term partnership value
• Build and sustain C-suite and senior executive relationships with health plans and key consultant firms; serve as a trusted strategic advisor
• Lead executive governance, including operating committees, QBRs, and escalation management
• Maintain end to end accountability for contract performance, interpretation, and execution, ensuring compliance with commercial, regulatory, and financial terms
• Own P&L performance for assigned accounts, including operating budgets, revenue growth, upsell targets, and cost to serve management
• Lead renewals, amendments, and market checks in partnership with Pricing, Underwriting, Legal, and Finance
• Proactively identify and mitigate financial, contractual, regulatory, and reputational risk
• Partner with senior leaders across Optum Rx and Optum enterprise to deliver integrated client specific strategic plans
• Serve as executive sponsor for complex initiatives
• Ensure alignment between sales commitments, operational readiness, and delivery outcomes
• Set and enforce a metrics driven client management and service model, holding teams accountable for performance and outcomes
• Drive high client satisfaction and retention, including NPS performance
• Serve as senior escalation point for high profile or mission critical client issues
• Provide strategic input to product teams based on market intelligence, client needs, and consultant insights
• Partner with Sales on RFPs, finalist presentations, and growth pursuits, articulating a clear and differentiated value proposition
• Represent Optum Rx externally as a credible, visible market leader
• Lead, develop, and retain a high performing account management organization, including succession and bench planning
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement

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 healthcare industry experience, including progressive leadership roles and a proven track record of success
• 6+ years of recent people leadership experience developing high-performing teams 
• 5+ years of PBM industry experience
• Deep knowledge of the PBM/managed care pharmacy industry, including evolving market dynamics, pricing, and contracting models
• Extensive account management experience with large, complex health plan clients, with demonstrated growth in responsibility, strategic partnership and contract management (interpretation, execution and negotiation)
• Proven ability to engage and influence C-suite stakeholders, leading innovative, forward-thinking discussions
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams to achieve business outcomes
• Proven deep financial acumen, including experience interpreting financial statements, identifying trends, driving strategic recommendations and managing client profitability
• Willingness to travel up to 50% at times

Preferred Qualification:

• Registered Pharmacist or PharmD
• Experience partnering with sales and cross-functional teams to support RFP responses and finalist presentations
• PBM pricing and contracting modeling experience
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively and drive results within highly matrixed organizations
• Demonstrated success leading complex negotiations, utilizing solid communication, influence, and listening skills
• Proven solid program management experience, with the ability to lead complex initiatives end-to-end
• Experience developing and delivering compelling presentations to message and position information for maximum customer impact and influence 
• Experience effectively navigating and driving results in a highly complex, matrix environment

*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 $159,300 to $273,200 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.