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 Program Manager, Workforce Capacity Planning & Data Strategy, is responsible for leading the enterprise effort to establish a comprehensive workforce planning and capacity management capability across all Optum Insight (OI) operations. This role will drive the strategy, governance, stakeholder alignment, and execution necessary to identify, acquire, and operationalize the critical data elements required to support workforce forecasting, capacity planning, productivity management, and operational performance optimization.

Working in close partnership with the Product Owner, Optum IT, business operations leaders, and data engineering teams, this leader will ensure that all workforce-related data sources—including demand, inventory, productivity, staffing, shrinkage, and performance metrics—are identified, prioritized, and made available within Databricks to enable enterprise workforce planning and decision-making.

This role requires deep workforce management and operational planning expertise, strong program leadership skills, and the ability to influence across multiple lines of business to establish a unified workforce planning framework for Optum Insight.

You will enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

Workforce Strategy & Capacity Planning

Lead the development and implementation of an enterprise workforce planning and capacity management strategy across all Optum Insight operations
Define the critical workforce planning data requirements needed to support forecasting, staffing, productivity, and capacity management
Establish workforce planning standards, methodologies, and governance processes across business units
Drive consistency in workforce metrics, planning assumptions, and reporting methodologies

Enterprise Data Strategy for Workforce Planning

Identify and prioritize all workforce-related data elements required to build comprehensive capacity planning models
Ensure acquisition and integration of key operational data sources, including:
Call volume and contact center demand
Operational inventory and work queues
Case volumes and workload demand
Productivity and throughput metrics
Staffing and resource allocation data
Shrinkage and availability metrics
Schedule adherence and occupancy measures
Performance and quality indicators
Workforce demographics and organizational structures
Partner with Product Owners and technical teams to ensure data is transformed and delivered into Databricks in a consumable, governed format

Program Leadership & Governance

Establish and lead a cross-functional workforce data governance structure
Manage program scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder communications
Develop and maintain a roadmap for workforce data acquisition, transformation, and enablement
Facilitate executive-level discussions regarding workforce planning priorities and strategic investments
Ensure alignment between business objectives and technology delivery teams

Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with operational leaders across Optum Insight to understand workforce planning challenges and requirements
Collaborate with Workforce Management, Operations, Finance, HR, Product Owners, and Optum IT teams to drive alignment
Build consensus among stakeholders regarding data definitions, planning methodologies, and success measures
Serve as the executive-facing leader responsible for workforce planning program outcomes

Analytics & Business Enablement

Ensure workforce planning data supports:
Capacity forecasting
Demand planning
Staffing optimization
Resource allocation
Productivity analysis
Operational performance management
Scenario modeling and forecasting
Drive adoption of workforce planning capabilities and tools across operational organizations
Establish KPI frameworks and executive reporting to measure workforce efficiency and effectiveness

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

Identify gaps in workforce data availability, quality, and governance
Escalate and resolve barriers impacting workforce planning maturity
Continuously evaluate opportunities to improve workforce planning capabilities and operational insights
Promote a data-driven culture focused on operational efficiency and workforce optimization

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

7+ years of experience in Workforce Management, Capacity Planning, Operations Management, Program Management, or related disciplines
7+ years of experience in workforce forecasting, staffing models, productivity analysis, and operational planning
5+ years of experience leading large-scale cross-functional programs involving multiple business and technology organizations
5+ years of experience understanding operational metrics including demand, capacity, inventory, productivity, utilization, and shrinkage
5+ years of experience working with enterprise data and analytics initiatives
5+ years of experience with stakeholder management, facilitation, and communication skills
5+ years of experience influencing senior leaders and driving organizational change
Access to reliable transportation and valid US driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience within healthcare, payer, provider, revenue cycle, claims, or healthcare operations environment
Knowledge of Optum Insight operational workflows and workforce management practices
Experience with Databricks, enterprise data platforms, and workforce analytics solutions
Familiarity with Agile delivery methodologies and collaboration with Product Owners
Experience building enterprise workforce planning and capacity management frameworks

*All Telecommuters 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 $134,600 - $230,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

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.

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