1

Optum Um Medical Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Medical Director - Surgery, Orthopedics & PM&RRole Summary Are you an accomplished physician leader ... Strong experience in Utilization Management (UM), Medical Necessity Reviews, Appeals Reviews, and ...

Showing results 41-60

Optum Um Medical Director information

See salary details

$13K

$232.4K

$357K

How much do optum um medical director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for optum um medical director in the United States is $232,369.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $198,000.00 and $284,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Optum UM Medical Director do?

An Optum UM (Utilization Management) Medical Director is a physician who reviews clinical cases to ensure that medical services provided to patients are medically necessary and align with evidence-based guidelines. They work with healthcare providers, insurance plans, and internal teams to support appropriate care decisions and help manage healthcare costs. The UM Medical Director also participates in policy development, quality improvement initiatives, and provides clinical guidance within the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Optum UM Medical Director?

To thrive as an Optum UM Medical Director, you generally need an active medical license, board certification in a relevant specialty, and extensive clinical experience. Familiarity with utilization management tools, medical necessity review systems, and knowledge of regulatory guidelines such as NCQA and CMS are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and leadership skills help navigate complex case reviews and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These competencies are essential to ensure evidence-based, cost-effective care decisions that meet quality standards and regulatory compliance.

What are some typical challenges faced by an Optum UM Medical Director, and how can candidates prepare for them?

Optum UM Medical Directors often face the challenge of balancing clinical judgment with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. They regularly review complex cases, requiring strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate decisions clearly to both clinical teams and non-clinical staff. Candidates can prepare by staying updated on current utilization management guidelines, practicing evidence-based medicine, and developing skills in conflict resolution and effective communication to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

What is the difference between Optum Um Medical Director vs Optum Um Medical Physician?

AspectOptum Um Medical DirectorOptum Um Medical Physician
CredentialsMedical degree, medical license, leadership experienceMedical degree, medical license, clinical practice experience
Work EnvironmentAdministrative, leadership, strategic planningClinical, patient care, direct medical services
Employer & IndustryHealthcare organizations, insurance providersHospitals, clinics, healthcare providers

The Optum Um Medical Director primarily focuses on administrative leadership, strategic planning, and overseeing medical operations, while the Optum Um Medical Physician is more involved in direct patient care and clinical responsibilities. Both roles require medical credentials, but their daily functions and work environments differ significantly.

More about Optum Um Medical Director jobs

What cities are hiring for Optum Um Medical Director jobs?

Cities with the most Optum Um Medical Director job openings:

What states have the most Optum Um Medical Director jobs?

States with the most job openings for Optum Um Medical Director jobs include:

Infographic showing various Optum Um Medical Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 60% In-person, and 40% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $232,369 per year, or $111.7 per hour.

Associate Medical Director Behavioral Health or Utilization Management Medical Director DOE

Cambia Health Solutions

Remote

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Cambia Health Solutions rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 32 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

124th of 315 rated insurance


Job description

Associate Medical Director Behavioral Health or Utilization Management Medical Director DOEWork from home within Oregon, Washington, Idaho or Utah

This is a part-time non-benefited position with a maximum of 12 hours per week.

Build a career with purpose. Join our Cause to create a person-focused and economically sustainable health care system.

Who We Are Looking For:

Every day, Cambia's dedicated team of physicians are living our mission to make health care easier and lives better. As a member of the Utilization Management (UM) team, our Associate Medical Director BH and UM Medical Directors provides leadership, and clinical oversight for behavioral health operations across all lines of business within the health plan, with a primary focus on behavioral health utilization management. Partners with leaders and staff across the organization to ensure policies, programs and strategies related to our members. Conducts case reviews requiring physician involvement and/or provides clinical expertise to others related to behavioral health case management, prior authorizations and appeals. Provides peer-to-peer consultations with providers - all in service of creating a person-focused health care experience.

Are you a motivated and experienced medical professional looking for a new challenge? Do you have a passion for patient care and want to make a big difference in healthcare? Then this role may be the perfect fit.

What You Bring to Cambia:

Qualifications:

  • Licensed Physician with an MD or DO degree

  • Active, unrestricted license to practice medicine in one or more of our 4 states.

  • Board Certification in general psychiatry or child psychiatry required with preference for being board certified in both.

  • Qualification by training and experience to render clinical opinions about medical conditions, procedures, and treatments under review.

  • At least 3 years clinical experience.

  • Two years health plan medical utilization management and/or case management experience.

  • Equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • Must be located in one of our four states.

Skills and Attributes:

  • In-depth knowledge of best practices related to medical care for a wide variety of behavioral health conditions.

  • Demonstrated competency working with hospitals, provider groups, or integrated delivery systems to effectively manage patient care to improve outcomes.

  • Passion for population health, healthcare transformation and improving the experience of people with mental health issues.

  • Strong communication and facilitation skills with internal staff and external stakeholders, including the ability to resolve issues and seek optimal outcomes.

  • Proven ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with community and provider partners.

  • Knowledge of the health insurance industry, state and federal regulations (including Parity Legislation/Regulations), provider reimbursement methods and evolving accountable care and payment models is preferred.

  • Experience conducting medical case reviews for utilization and/or case management is strongly preferred.

  • Detail-oriented with orientation to the application of data and metrics in managing health, quality and program effectiveness.

  • Leadership experience with demonstrated ability to effectively build relationships, work with others and lead people and project teams.

  • Experience with AI tools and technologies to enhance productivity and decision-making in professional settings highly desired

What You Will Do at Cambia:

  • Completes Behavioral Health utilization management reviews, including PA, appeals and post-service.

  • Develops and Implements Behavioral Health Policies and Programs: Assists in developing high-quality, market-competitive behavioral health medical policies and programs, and provides leadership in developing short and long-range plans, goals, and objectives for integrated utilization management.

  • Operational Leadership and Oversight: Oversees the development of effective operational policies, procedures, and standards for an integrated behavioral health program, monitors utilization and results, and implements process or system changes as needed.

  • Subject Matter Expert and Clinical Leadership: Serves as a subject matter expert on behavioral health, provides medical advice, oversight, and leadership for staff, and ensures members receive safe, effective, and cost-efficient services.

  • Collaboration and Communication: Collaborates with the Executive Medical Director of Behavioral Health, leads/participates in teams for medical policy reviews and development, and discusses review determinations with providers to promote understanding of utilization management and quality improvement policies.

  • Industry Trends and Opportunities: Stays abreast of industry, medical, and technology trends, identifies and communicates new opportunities to enhance outcomes and the organization's reputation, and collaborates to implement actions to reduce medical cost trend.

  • Other roles as assigned.

#LI-Remote

Pay ranges vary based on the candidate's work location. The expected hiring range depends on skills, experience, education, and training; relevant licensure / certifications; and performance history.

Associate Medical Director

  • Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Idaho:The expected hiring range is$217,600 - $294,400, the full salary range is$204,000 - $333,000 and the bonus target is25%.

  • North Dakota:The expected hiring range is$217,171.97 - $293,820.91 and the full salary range is$192,827.15 - $318,165.72.

Medical Director

  • Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Idaho:The expected hiring range is$238,850 - $323,150, the full salary range is$224,000 - $366,000 and the bonus target is30%.

  • North Dakota:The expected hiring range is$252,506.91 - $341,626.99, the full salary range is$224,201.29 - $369,932.61 and the bonus target is20%.

About Cambia


Working at Cambia means being part of a purpose-driven, award-winning culture built on trust and innovation anchored in our 100+ year history. Our caring and supportive colleagues are some of the best and brightest in the industry, innovating together toward sustainable, person-focused health care. Whether we're helping members, lending a hand to a colleague or volunteering in our communities, our compassion, empathy and team spirit always shine through.


Why Join the Cambia Team?


At Cambia, you can:

  • Work alongside diverse teams building cutting-edge solutions to transform health care.
  • Earn a competitive salary and enjoy generous benefits while doing work that changes lives.
  • Grow your career with a company committed to helping you succeed.
  • Give back to your community by participating in Cambia-supported outreach programs.
  • Connect with colleagues who share similar interests and backgrounds through our employee resource groups.

We believe a career at Cambia is more than just a paycheck - and your compensation should be too. Our compensation package includes competitive base pay as well as a market-leading 401(k) with a significant company match, bonus opportunities and more.


In exchange for helping members live healthy lives, we offer benefits that empower you to do the same. Just a few highlights include:


  • Medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and their eligible family members, including mental health benefits.
  • Annual employer contribution to a health savings account.
  • Generous paid time off varying by role and tenure in addition to 10 company-paid holidays.
  • Market-leading retirement plan including a company match on employee 401(k) contributions, with a potential discretionary contribution based on company performance (no vesting period).
  • Up to 12 weeks of paid parental time off (eligibility requires 12 months of continuous service with Cambia immediately preceding leave).
  • Award-winning wellness programs that reward you for participation.
  • Employee Assistance Fund for those in need.
  • Commute and parking benefits.

Learn more about our benefits.


We are happy to offer work from home options for most of our roles. To take advantage of this flexible option, we require employees to have a wired internet connection that is not satellite or cellular and internet service with a minimum upload speed of 5Mb and a minimum download speed of 10 Mb.


As part of our security requirements, new hires will need access to a personal mobile device to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) upon joining the company. MFA is an important layer of protection for accessing Cambia systems and is required for all employees.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer dedicated to a drug and tobacco-free workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by law. A background check is required.

If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please email CambiaCareers@cambiahealth.com. Information about how Cambia Health Solutions collects, uses, and discloses information is available in our Privacy Policy.


What Cambia Health Solutions employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom