Director, Shared Services

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Optum California operates in one of the most complex and highly regulated healthcare markets in the country, where affordability, access, and compliance must be balanced at large scale. This role sits at the center of that challenge.

As Director of Shared Services, you will lead the transformation of core administrative functions, including referral management and UM processes, to improve care access, reduce unnecessary cost, and strengthen regulatory compliance. Your work will directly influence how patients move through the healthcare system, how providers experience our network, and how effectively we manage total cost of care.

You will join a small, high-performing team with outsized impact, operating with significant visibility into executive leadership. This is a unique opportunity to build and shape next‑generation shared services capabilities, at one of the largest and most mature managed care organizations. You will partner across clinical, operational, network, and compliance teams to design scalable solutions that meaningfully improve performance across the system.

This is not a maintenance role, it is a builder role, with real ownership of strategy, execution, and outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

Lead design and execution of shared services strategy

Define and scale shared services capabilities across referral management, UM and adjacent workflows

Align operating model to improve efficiency, reduce friction, and support enterprise priorities

Drive measurable operational and financial outcomes

Improve referral timeliness, provider experience, and patient access to care

Improve financials and reduce administrative inefficiencies

Strengthen compliance with regulatory requirements

Operate as a cross‑functional leader in a highly matrixed environment

Partner with clinical, network, contracting, claims, compliance, and technology teams

Manage relationships with National and West Region Shared Services teams, ensuring alignment across tools, workflows, and service models

Influence without authority to drive alignment and execution across diverse stakeholders

Build scalable processes and performance management capabilities

Establish KPIs, reporting frameworks, and governance to monitor service performance

Identify gaps, prioritize improvements, and drive continuous process optimization

Lead and develop a high‑performing team

Coach team members to operate with ownership, accountability, and solid executive presence

Foster a culture of problem‑solving, collaboration, and continuous learning

Serve as a trusted partner to executive leadership

Translate complex operational challenges into clear options and recommendations

Support strategic decisions with data‑driven insights and structured thinking

Key Competencies

Learning Agility and Domain Fluency:

Quickly builds credibility in new and complex subject areas, moving from initial intake to meaningful contribution with speed and sound judgment

Program Leadership and Execution:

Leads high‑priority initiatives from strategy through implementation, including planning, governance, stakeholder alignment, risk management, and execution oversight

Executive Communication and Influence:

Distills complex information into clear, concise, executive‑ready recommendations and communicates effectively across frontline teams, cross‑functional partners, and senior leadership

Strategic Judgment and Risk Awareness:

Anticipates downstream impacts, identifies hidden dependencies, and proactively surfaces operational, financial, or regulatory risks before they become issues

Process Improvement and Simplification:

Identifies inefficiencies, challenges outdated ways of working, and redesigns processes to improve clarity, scalability, and execution

Leadership, Ownership, and Team Development:

Leads through influence, builds trust across teams, develops others, and demonstrates accountability, sound judgment, and the courage to raise concerns when needed

Required Qualifications

8+ years of experience in healthcare operations, strategy, consulting, or business management

Experience in value‑based care, provider network operations, or healthcare service delivery

Proven solid analytical and problem‑solving skills, with experience in process improvement and performance optimization

Proven excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities

Proven solid communication and stakeholder management abilities, across all levels (C‑suite to front line)

Ability to travel up to 20% to Southern California admin & clinic sites (local stakeholder engagement is critical)

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with data visualization tools such as Power BI. High proficiency in MS Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint etc.)

Familiarity with California managed care regulatory environment (e.g., DMHC/Knox‑Keene)

Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies

Background in consulting or strategic operations roles

Demonstrated success leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives in a matrixed environment

Benefits
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 401(k) contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary for this role will range from $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full‑time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Equal Employment Opportunity
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—a enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

OptumCare 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.

OptumCare is a drug‑free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

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