Vice President, Hospital Partnerships and Institutional Strategy

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 .

Optum Health West is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Vice President, Hospital Partnerships and Institutional Strategy to lead our efforts in developing and managing strategic partnerships with hospitals and institutional providers. This is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing hospital contracting and strategy across Medicare Advantage, Commercial, and Medicaid lines of business. The position requires deep market knowledge, strong payer-provider negotiation skills, and the ability to collaborate across clinical, operational, and administrative functions.

This hybrid role requires residency in Southern California, with routine travel to provider sites, market offices, and internal stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and Lead Institutional Strategy: Shape and execute the hospital and institutional partnership strategy for Optum Health West, aligned with the organization’s growth, affordability, and quality goals
• Contracting & Negotiation: Lead end-to-end negotiation and management of hospital contracts across Medicare Advantage, Commercial, and Medicaid lines of business. Ensure contracts support value-based care delivery and align incentives across stakeholders
• Team Leadership: Build, manage, and mentor a high-performing team responsible for hospital and facility contracting. Develop team capabilities to meet evolving market and organizational needs
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with leaders in Utilization Management, Group and IPA Operations, Clinical Leadership, Claims, and Finance to ensure operational alignment and execution of hospital contracts
• Market Engagement: Represent Optum Health West with external hospital and institutional partners. Develop and maintain executive-level relationships that support strategic objectives and long-term collaboration
• Performance Monitoring: Establish performance metrics and reporting mechanisms to monitor hospital partner performance and contract effectiveness. Lead interventions where needed to improve quality, affordability, and patient experience

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 hospital and institutional contracting within a health plan, with strong preference for candidates who have also worked in a medical group or IPA environment
• Proven track record of negotiating complex contracts across Medicare Advantage, Commercial, and Medicaid lines of business
• Demonstrated success in building and leading teams, including hiring, coaching, and performance management
• Deep understanding of risk-bearing entities, utilization management, and value-based care models
• Solid working relationships with hospital systems in Southern California is highly desirable

Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong financial and business acumen
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to navigate and influence within a complex matrixed organization
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset with a focus on execution and outcomes

The salary range for this role is $150,200 to $288,500 annually based on full-time employment. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. UnitedHealth Group complies with al minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers 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 UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

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.