Vice President, Pharmacy of Fulfillment & Engineering

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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The VP of Pharmacy Fulfillment is responsible for pharmacy operations including oversight for the Home Delivery, Specialty, PharmScript, and multidose pharmacy operations and teams, partnering closely with the various COE and business partners. This position is responsible for working with the organization to strategically and tactically develop, align, and execute fulfillment and distribution operations to meet business demand and improve patient/customer experience. This position will provide strategic direction and leadership for multiple pharmacy fulfillment centers and field operations, apply accountability standards based on key metrics, implement change to continuously improve performance and increase workflow efficiencies, and be accountable for delivering on performance and financial objectives. This position will provide coaching, mentoring and support in the development of staff and recognize individual and team success.

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 Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership to shape operational, business, and financial objectives for pharmacy operations aligned to existing and evolving growth plans
• Lead regular business reviews with field leaders to assess performance, identify risks, and align actions to business and financial objectives
• Own operating budget performance, productivity outcomes, labor efficiency, cost per script/order, capacity planning, and expense management across the pharmacy fulfillment network.
• Partner with Finance to establish forecasts, savings commitments, business cases, investment priorities, and performance recovery plans tied to operational, service, quality, and growth objectives.
• Evaluate and decide operational trade-offs across service, cost, quality, compliance, automation, labor, and growth to deliver sustainable network performance.
• Engage onsite pharmacy leadership, Process Engineering, Supply Chain, Automation, and Quality teams to establish problem-solving routines, remove barriers, and advance continuous improvement
• Partner with the Quality Team to strengthen quality and safety programs/processes so quality standards are achieved, employee safety expectations are clear, and adherence is reinforced across operations
• Reinforce adherence to regulatory and compliance requirements through regular process review, inspection readiness, audit follow-up, and operational accountability routines
• Collaborate across Home Delivery and specialty organizations to prioritize and implement operational enhancements that improve member experience and Net Promoter Score
• Partner with the Supply Chain organization to align in-stock and inventory positioning, fulfillment, logistics, shipping, and carrier/vendor capabilities and performance with operational demand and service expectations
• Build leadership capability and team practices that set high standards of operations and performance, engage and inspire others to perform at their best, and rigorously identify and develop key individuals with the critical capabilities needed by the organization
• Strengthen inventory control governance and operating routines for all products within pharmacy fulfillment centers, including inbound receiving, proper put away and storage, tracking and tracing, cycle counting, packing, outbound shipping, damages, resends, returns, and disposal
• Lead, model, and influence behaviours that support UHG's cultural values, employee engagement, teamwork and collaboration, diversity and inclusion
• Partner with the People Team to advance talent management and succession planning, promote consistent policy application, support talent planning, hiring and promotions, and address corrective action and employee relations matters through appropriate partnership channels
• Maintain leadership visibility with pharmacy leaders and employees through regular engagement and communication routines that help assess employee engagement, satisfaction, and organizational readiness
• Represent Fulfillment/Distribution Operations in escalated client-facing and member-impacting issues, ensuring operational perspective, risks, and resolution needs are clearly communicated
• Provide leadership direction in establishing new employee training/onboarding processes for new and existing pharmacy operations to promote consistency across sites, employee proficiency, quality and safety adherence, and appropriate sign-offs
• Influence sequencing and centralized roll-out planning for process/policy changes, technology implementations, enhancements, fixes, and fulfillment site plans in partnership with accountable business and functional leaders
• Orchestrate communication between field and Ops/Engineering/IT teams to ensure appropriate parties are engaged in testing, implementation planning, change readiness, and execution of changes/enhancements
• Lead the adoption and utilization of technology solutions/applications to improve productivity, efficiency, and throughput, streamline fulfillment/distribution processes, manage and balance workflow, and optimize speed and cost of shipping
• Partner with field leaders to identify issues with existing best practices and standard operating procedures, align on resolution paths, and reinforce standardization across the network
• Interpret and elevate emerging performance trends through close partnership with Reporting, Finance, Automation/Engineering/Maintenance, and Quality Teams, aligning leadership attention to risks, opportunities, and corrective actions
• Engage broader OptumRx teams to understand and address end-to-end fulfillment, pharmacy, and member process issues and strengthen overall operational capabilities
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders and business partners on large-scale projects, operational changes, and implementations to ensure change management risks, readiness needs, and execution plans are identified and addressed
• Collaborate with Front End Pharmacy Operations and Customer Service to identify, prioritize, and address resend issues and implement solutions that reduce member and operational impact
• Review and communicate monthly progress and quarterly results of employee incentive programs, highlighting performance trends, risks, and leadership follow-up needs
• Lead and facilitate Fulfillment/Distribution Operations team calls and meetings to drive alignment, accountability, issue resolution, and execution follow-through

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 leadership experience
• 8+ years of experience leading in fulfillment, distribution, manufacturing operations or leading a large network of regional pharmacies or Engineering/Sourcing/Supply Chains/eCommerce
• 8+ years building, leading and developing teams
• Demonstrated experience owning significant operating budgets, productivity targets, cost transformation initiatives, capital investment decisions, and/or P&L outcomes
• Expertise within Inventory management, demand planning, logistics and supply chain execution
• Proven ability to define expectations in ambiguous environments with the ability to influence change at all levels across the organization
• Expertise in Operational efficiency and effectiveness
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50%
• Knowledge, skills and abilities: Influencing skills, strategy, good communication/collaboration with multiple level partners, numerical reasoning, understanding of data and business intelligence functions, verbal and written communication skills
• Certifications: Six Sigma Green Belt a plus
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)a plus

*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 $200,400 to $343,500 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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.