Vice President, Payer Relationships

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 Vice President of Payer Relationships provides executive leadership for Optum Pharmacy's national payer engagement, contracting, and market access strategy across all PCS business segments, including Specialty Pharmacy, Infusion Pharmacy, Home Delivery, and future growth platforms. This leader oversees a team of Senior Directors responsible for regional and national payer relationships and is accountable for developing and executing enterprise payer contracting strategies that drive profitable growth, enhance patient access, strengthen strategic payer partnerships, and advance Optum's long-term business objectives.

The Vice President serves as the executive relationship owner for key national payer organizations and industry stakeholders, leading complex negotiations, innovative value-based arrangements, and strategic initiatives that differentiate Optum in the marketplace. This role collaborates closely with executive leaders across contracting, operations, clinical services, finance, product, government affairs, growth, and strategy to achieve enterprise objectives.

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

Primary Responsibilities:

Enterprise Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute the enterprise payer relationship and contracting strategy across all pharmacy business segments.
• Lead and mentor a team of Senior Directors responsible for regional and national payer partnerships, ensuring alignment to organizational priorities.
• Establish multi-year strategic plans to drive access, growth, profitability, and competitive differentiation.
• Serve as the executive sponsor for strategic payer initiatives and transformational contracting models.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, innovation, collaboration, and business results.

Payer Relationship Management

• Own executive-level relationships with national and regional health plans, integrated delivery systems, employers, government programs, and emerging healthcare organizations.
• Build trusted partnerships with payer executives, clinical leaders, pharmacy leaders, and network decision makers.
• Represent Optum Pharmacy in strategic industry forums, conferences, and executive payer engagements.
• Identify opportunities to expand market share, improve access, and strengthen long-term payer partnerships.

Contracting & Market Access

• Provide executive oversight of medical benefit contracting activities across Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, Exchange, and Government programs.
• Lead negotiation strategy for high-value agreements and enterprise-wide payer relationships.
• Drive development of innovative contracting approaches, including value-based care arrangements, shared savings models, quality incentives, site-of-care optimization, and risk-sharing agreements.
• Ensure consistent contracting philosophies, governance, and financial performance across all payer engagements.

Business Growth & Financial Performance

• Accountable for enterprise payer access, covered lives growth, revenue expansion, and profitability targets.
• Partner with finance, actuarial, and pricing leaders to evaluate business opportunities and optimize contract economics.
• Oversee development of business cases supporting strategic investments, expansion opportunities, and new market initiatives.
• Monitor and improve payer portfolio performance through data-driven decision making and strategic resource allocation.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with executive leaders across Operations, Network Contracting, Clinical Services, Product, Growth, Government Affairs, Legal, and Finance.
• Align payer strategies with enterprise growth initiatives, regulatory requirements, and customer needs.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and operationalization of payer agreements.
• Drive organizational alignment and communication regarding strategic payer…