Chief Operating Officer, WellMed

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The Chief Operating Officer, WellMed Region is the senior executive accountable for day-to-day operational performance and execution across the WellMed Region Care Delivery enterprise. Reporting to the WellMed Region CEO, the COO converts strategy and financial commitments into integrated operating plans, clear ownership, effective management rhythm and timely corrective action.

The COO will focus on productivity, patient access, provider capacity, SG&A discipline, delegated operations, growth execution, technology delivery, workforce optimization and operating model simplification. The role is responsible for working with the Executive Team to translating strategy into execution while driving accountability, efficiency, scalability and financial results across all markets.

The COO works in close partnership with the CEO, regional CMO, market and operations leaders, Finance, People, Growth, Technology, Enterprise Clinical Services and National Care Delivery Operations. The role owns regional results while applying national standards, reducing duplication and ensuring that local intelligence informs enterprise decisions.

Primary Responsibilities:

Own the WellMed Region operating plan and results

• Own the integrated WellMed Region operating plan, including alignment among the Long-Range Plan, Management Growth Plan, annual business plan, MBOs, forecasts and market operating plans

• Translate regional financial commitments into operational, clinical and workforce levers with accountable owners, milestones, leading indicators and quantified outcomes

• Lead performance against IOI, revenue, margin, affordability, SG&A, cost management, membership, access, quality and experience commitments

• Identify performance gaps early, require recovery plans and ensure actions are completed with pace and discipline

Establish a rigorous regional operating rhythm

• Create a consistent weekly, monthly and quarterly cadence for performance review, decision-making, issue escalation and action-plan closure

• Build a single regional view of performance that connects financial outcomes to operational and clinical drivers

• Use market-level action plans, quality-performance reviews and MBO governance to increase transparency and accountability

• Ensure the CEO and leadership team receive concise, decision-ready information on results, risks, dependencies and required interventions

Lead clinic, field and shared operations

• Provide executive oversight for day-to-day regional operations, including delegated operations, revenue cycle performance, real estate, payor and growth strategy, patient experience and administrative support services

• Improve patient access, visit productivity, schedule utilization, provider capacity, net collections, throughput and operating consistency

• Standardize core operating practices while maintaining appropriate market responsiveness and local accountability

• Create effective interfaces with national support teams for claims, payment integrity, utilization and care management, call center operations, credentialing, technology, data and digital enablement

Deliver the turnaround, affordability and growth agenda

• Lead execution of the WellMed Region turnaround plan and the operational levers needed to return the region to profitability

• Drive cost-structure improvement through SG&A management, workforce productivity, shared-service simplification, functional consolidation, process redesign and disciplined resource allocation

• Partner with clinical and financial leaders to improve affordability, medical-cost performance, risk adjustment, coding accuracy, Stars performance and quality

• Enable responsible growth through improved access, provider capacity, operational readiness, market expansion and scalable operating models

Clarify decision rights and strengthen the operating model

• Define and enforce clear decision rights across regional, market and national teams, especially for standards, staffing, capital, exceptions and performance ownership

• Establish clear accountability: national teams' own tools and standards, while regional and market operators own results

• Reduce unnecessary duplication, layers, fragmented work and unclear handoffs across the WellMed Region

• Lead integration, transformation and change initiatives with clear governance, adoption plans and measurable outcomes

Build a high-performing leadership and talent system

• Build a solid, accountable regional operations team with clear roles, effective spans of control, ready successors and differentiated development plans

• Partner with the People Team on organization health, workforce planning, leadership readiness, retention, culture, inclusion and provider and employee experience

• Create a performance culture grounded in mission, values, transparency, disciplined follow-through and constructive challenges

• Serve as a visible enterprise leader and strengthen the succession pipeline for broader regional leadership roles

Leadership capabilities

• Enterprise-minded operator who balances standardization with market realities

• Financially rigorous, analytically solid and highly disciplined in execution

• Credible partner to clinical leaders, with the ability to connect care outcomes, patient experience and operational performance

• Decisive, transparent and comfortable escalating issues, making trade-offs and holding leaders accountable

• Talent-focused leader who strengthens succession and creates clarity, trust and high performance across diverse teams

• Visible, resilient and mission-driven leader who navigates complexity and sustains momentum

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:

• 15+ years of significant executive leadership experience in large-scale, complex healthcare operations, ideally across multiple markets or a regional care delivery platform

• 10+ years of experience in ambulatory, physician practice, value-based care and risk-bearing operations

• Executive level experience demonstrating P&L accountability and a record of translating financial commitments into operational execution and measurable improvement

• Experience leading turnaround, cost transformation, operating model redesign, integration and large-scale change

• Proven ability to lead through a highly matrixed national, regional and local operating environment
  

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 $225,000-$375,000 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.  

OptumCare 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. 

OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.