Remote Director Strategic Operations Jobs in Minnesota

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.

The Senior Director, OHS Business Operations is responsible for leading OHS's Program Management Office (PMO), strategic initiative delivery, enterprise prioritization, and Shared Services engagement. This leader ensures the organization's most critical priorities are translated into actionable plans, executed with discipline, and delivered through effective governance, cross-functional alignment, and operational accountability.

The role serves as the central execution engine for OHS, overseeing the PMO team while driving portfolio governance, strategic initiative management, resource prioritization, cost optimization efforts, and Shared Services partnerships. Through solid leadership, governance, and influence, this position enables OHS to deliver against business commitments while improving organizational effectiveness and execution excellence.

Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in highly matrixed organizations
• Proven success driving complex, cross-functional initiatives and enterprise programs
• Solid executive presence with the ability to build relationships and influence senior stakeholders
• Ability to balance strategic priorities, operational execution, and organizational needs
• Experience establishing governance, accountability, and performance management disciplines
• Passion for developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity, navigate organizational complexity, and drive results

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

For all hires in the Eden Prairie, MN or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Strategic Initiatives and Transformation
  • Lead execution of OHS's highest-priority strategic initiatives and transformation programs
  • Drive cross-functional initiatives requiring coordination across business, product, technology, operations, finance, and external partners
  • Facilitate executive decision-making and organizational alignment
  • Monitor initiative outcomes and ensure realization of intended business value
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on execution risks, dependencies, and trade-offs
• Shared Services Engagement and Operational Partnerships
  • Serve as the primary business operations lead for OHS engagement with Enterprise Shared Services
  • Build and manage relationships across cross functionally
  • Lead operational governance reviews, performance discussions, escalation management, and service improvement initiatives
  • Ensure business priorities are effectively represented and understood within Shared Services organizations
  • Coordinate cross-functional resolution of operational issues impacting delivery, service performance, quality, or efficiency
  • Drive alignment between business demand, service delivery capabilities, and organizational priorities
• Prioritization, Resource Alignment and Cost Optimization
  • Lead enterprise prioritization processes across competing business initiatives
  • Facilitate resource allocation decisions and portfolio trade-offs
  • Partner with Finance, Operations, and Shared Services leaders to improve operational efficiency and resource utilization
  • Support cost optimization initiatives through governance, prioritization, and operational simplification
  • Provide executive visibility into capacity constraints, resource demands, and execution risks
• Execution Excellence
  • Advance OHS execution maturity through disciplined governance and operational rigor
  • Improve organizational accountability, predictability, and delivery performance
  • Establish operating mechanisms that support fact-based decision making and rapid issue resolution
  • Promote a culture of ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement
  • Enable leaders to focus on strategy while ensuring execution remains aligned to business priorities

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 progressive experience in business operations, strategic planning, PMO leadership, value optimization, performance management, or operational excellence
• Proven experience leading enterprise-scale programs, portfolios, and cross-functional initiatives in complex, matrixed organizations
• Solid financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, business case development, cost management, and value realization
• Experience leading PMO functions, including portfolio prioritization, intake governance, resource planning, dependency management, and executive reporting
• Experience partnering with senior leaders across business, technology, finance, operations, and shared services to influence decisions and drive outcomes
• Demonstrated success establishing and governing KPI, SLA, and performance management frameworks that drive accountability and operational improvement
• Proven ability to identify, quantify, and realize operational efficiencies and cost optimization opportunities across large organizations
• Proven solid executive presence with exceptional communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills
• Proven advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations
• Proven track record of leading organizational change and driving adoption of new processes, governance models, and operating frameworks

*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 - $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.