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.
As a Manager in Supply Chain Advisory Services, you are the engine of transformation for our clients. You will serve as the day-to-day operational and strategic leader for complex savings implementation projects, holding full accountability for delivering significant, measurable outcomes. While leveraging senior leadership for strategic guidance, you are the primary owner of the engagement's success. This role requires a unique blend of high-level strategic thinking and ground-level execution, moving seamlessly from boardroom presentations to detailed project management. As the key client-facing leader, the Manager is responsible for the overall health of the engagement, the success of the client, and the development of the consulting team.
You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
Primary Responsibilities:
Client Engagement & Advisory Services
Serve as the Client's Strategic Advisor: Architect and own the client relationship, becoming the primary, trusted advisor for hospital executives, supply chain leaders, and transformation groups. This involves building deep, collaborative partnerships, navigating complex organizational dynamics, and ensuring all key stakeholders are aligned on project goals and strategic direction
Develop and deliver executive updates: Craft and present clear, concise, and compelling updates to senior leadership at client sites and internally. This goes beyond reporting data; it involves synthesizing complex information into actionable insights and tailoring the message to resonate with different audiences, from the CFO focused on financial impact to the COO concerned with operational stability
Drive savings initiatives: Spearhead major savings categories from end to end. This begins with a thorough assessment and opportunity identification phase-leveraging data analytics and stakeholder interviews-and progresses through strategy development, sourcing, negotiation, and full-scale implementation to ensure savings are not only identified but fully realized and sustained
Lead strategic projects: Drive critical initiatives beyond sourcing, such as establishing robust supply chain governance structures (e.g., Value Analysis Committees), leading process automation efforts to reduce manual work, and executing complex value analysis projects to balance clinical quality with financial stewardship
Build strategic partnerships: Cultivate and maintain high-impact relationships with key vendors, suppliers, and Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs). The goal is to transform transactional interactions into strategic partnerships that create long-term, mutual value, drive innovation, and improve service levels for the client
Support Business Development: While not a direct sales role, the Manager is responsible for identifying additional client needs and communicating opportunities for follow-on work or expanded services to firm leadership, contributing directly to the growth of the practice
Project & Financial Management
Set and Track Performance: Collaborate with client and/or Optum leadership to establish ambitious yet achievable savings targets and key performance indicators (KPIs). The Manager is accountable for delivering a personal annual savings target of $650k, tracking progress against all goals, providing transparent reporting, and course-correcting as needed to deliver on our commitments
Manage Engagement Economics: Take full ownership of the project's financial health. This includes overseeing the project budget, diligently tracking team hours and expenses, managing project scope, and ensuring the engagement remains profitable and on budget. This requires a disciplined approach to financial oversight and regular reporting to firm leadership
Oversee Project Planning: Develop and maintain the master project plan. This involves converting assessment findings and strategic goals into a detailed, actionable roadmap with clear workstreams, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and resource allocation to guide the entire engagement.
Implementation & Execution
Ensure Execution Excellence & Operational Discipline: Manage project timelines and deliverables with rigor, ensuring compliance with all internal Delivery Excellence processes. This includes leading key governance meetings like steering committees and managing the creation and approval of critical sign-off documents to ensure client alignment on methodologies and calculations. The Manager proactively identifies and mitigates project risks, with a specific focus on managing scope creep through formal change control processes and navigating stakeholder resistance with strategic communication plans
Validate and Finalize Outcomes: Oversee the official validation and sign-off process where achieved savings are formally documented, agreed upon by the client, and made official
Ensure Seamless Transitions: Oversee the critical handoff between the project's execution and the client's ongoing operations. This involves designing sustainable processes, training client personnel, and ensuring all necessary documentation and tools are in place to empower the client to maintain the achieved results long after the engagement concludes
Internal & Leadership Contributions
Develop Talent & Invest in People: As a leader within the firm, actively mentor and develop junior consultants. This includes providing constructive, real-time feedback, identifying growth opportunities for team members, and fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment. The Manager is also responsible for their own personal skill growth, pursuing material training and certifications to expand their capabilities
Build Practice Capabilities & Drive Innovation: Actively create, refine, and advance the firm's intellectual capital and operational assets. This includes actively contributing to the development and refinement of tools, methodologies, and templates that improve the quality and efficiency of our delivery. This also involves identifying opportunities for process improvement, supporting the creation of case studies, and sharing best practices to solve the root causes of common issues
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:
5+ years in Healthcare Supply Chain Transformation consulting or hospital supply chain
Executive Presence: Proven experience presenting to C-suite executive
Subject Matter Expertise: Proven to recognize Subject Matter Expert (SME) in at least one major supply chain category (e.g., Med/Surg, Purchased Services, etc.) and is proficient in at least two others
Skills: Demonstrated mastery of core consulting competencies, including quantitative analysis, financial modeling, contract negotiation, supplier engagement, cost reduction strategies, and end-to-end project management
Travel: Willingness to travel up to 75%, based on client expectations
Preferred Qualifications:
Lean Process Improvement (Six Sigma, Lean, etc.)
Experience leading complex supply chain transformation engagements within hospitals
Proven experience developing and revamping consulting methodologies, analytical tools, or client-facing deliverable frameworks
Experience with major ERP (e.g., Workday, Oracle, Infor) and EHR (e.g., Epic, Oracle Cerner) systems
Familiarity with value analysis, physician preference items (PPI), purchased services, and GPO alignment
*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 $110,200 to $188,800 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.
