Senior Director, Behavioral Health Care Management Operations and Product

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 of Behavioral Health Care Management Operations and Product is responsible for the strategic oversight, roadmap, and operational performance of the organization's BH Care Management (CM) product portfolio. This includes ensuring regulatory compliance, quality assurance, cost stewardship, and the development of BH CM measurable outcomes. This leader will own the end-to-end product lifecycle for BH CM systems and workflows, including complex care management, care coordination models, and BH product strategy to ensure clinical excellence. The role requires domain expertise in behavioral health and managed care operations, combined with strong execution discipline in complex, regulated environments.

The leader will drive cross-functional collaboration across Clinical Operations, Product, Network, Quality and Finance to align Behavioral Health programs with enterprise growth. Working in close partnership with the VP of Product, Technology, Clinical Leadership, Compliance, and Operations, the Senior Director will drive modernization, scalability, and measurable operational impact across the BH CM function.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Product Strategy & Roadmap Execution
  • Define and execute the product strategy for CM platforms in alignment with enterprise objectives
  • Develop, execute, and maintain a multi-quarter roadmap focused on efficiency, clinical integrity, scalability, and user experience
  • Translate regulatory, clinical, and operational requirements into structured product initiatives
  • Identify and establish opportunities to expand innovative models (e.g., integrated care, SUD programs, crisis stabilization, community-based services)
• Workflow & Platform Optimization
  • Lead redesign and optimization of CM workflows, oversee implementation of new BH programs across all lines of business
  • Drive automation and digitization initiatives to reduce manual processes and improve clinical consistency
  • Partner with Engineering to ensure disciplined product development, release management, and system reliability
  • Ensure interoperability with claims, case management, provider portals, and external partner systems
• Regulatory & Clinical Alignment
  • Ensure compliance with CMS, state Medicaid/Medicare, parity regulations, and accreditation standards (NCQA, URAC)
  • Partner with Compliance and Clinical teams to maintain audit readiness and policy-to-system alignment
  • Build governance processes for ongoing regulatory updates and workflow changes
• Operational Partnership & Change Management
  • Drive adoption of new tools and workflows through structured implementation plans
  • Monitor post-implementation performance and lead continuous improvement cycles
  • Ensure adherence to evidence-based guidelines and medical necessity criteria
  • Drive improvement in member engagement, transition of care and whole person integration with physical health partners
• Team Leadership
  • Lead and develop a team of Product Managers and Product Owners focused on CM
  • Establish disciplined product management practices, including documentation standards, prioritization frameworks, and governance
  • Foster a culture of accountability, clinical excellence, and innovation
  • Build scalable team structure aligned with enterprise growth

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:

• 8+ years of experience in healthcare product management or healthcare operations leadership
• Experience in CM within behavioral health or managed care
• Experience working in regulated, multi-state healthcare environments
• Demonstrated success managing complex clinical operations platforms
• Deep understanding of case management, utilization management, and/or BH regulatory requirements
• Solid analytical skills with the ability to define metrics and drive measurable improvement
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives in matrixed organizations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in behavioral health managed care
• Experience implementing automation or analytics tools within UM workflows
• Exposure to value-based care models and performance-based contracts

Leadership Competencies:

• Operationally disciplined with strong execution focus
• Clinically informed decision-making
• Systems thinker with ability to manage complexity
• Collaborative and influential across clinical and technical stakeholders
• Data-driven and outcome-oriented
• Change agent with strong stakeholder management skills

Scope & Impact

This role directly impacts:

• Clinical consistency and quality
• Regulatory compliance performance
• Operational efficiency and cost management
• Provider and member experience

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 to $273,200 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.

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 .