ROLE OVERVIEW
The Optum SPO Senior Program Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving enterprise program execution, governance, stakeholder engagement, communications, and adoption across key Transformation, Innovation, and Enablement (TIE) initiatives within Optum Operations.
In the near term, this role will support the Strategic Programs Office (SPO) by leading a portfolio of high-priority programs focused on AI adoption, workforce transformation, capability development, innovation management, startup partnerships, Product Academy, organizational effectiveness, and enterprise enablement. The role serves as a critical link between strategy and execution, ensuring initiatives are delivered with strong governance, measurable outcomes, executive visibility, and cross-functional alignment.
The portfolio supported by this role includes initiatives with significant scale and impact, including AI adoption and workforce transformation efforts reaching 85,000+ employees, executive communications and reporting supporting 2,500+ senior leaders, persona-based AI learning journeys for 59,000+ frontline and operational employees, Product Academy talent pipeline initiatives, startup collaboration and proof-of-concept programs, and enterprise-wide innovation and transformation initiatives.
This position requires strong program and portfolio management expertise, executive communication skills, stakeholder engagement capabilities, business acumen, and the ability to influence senior leaders, operational teams, learning organizations, technology partners, innovation teams, and external stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Program & Portfolio Management
- Lead the planning, execution, governance, and performance management of strategic enterprise programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives, workforce transformation goals, and organizational priorities.
- Establish program structures, success metrics, governance frameworks, operating cadences, and reporting mechanisms to drive accountability, transparency, and measurable business outcomes.
- Manage multiple concurrent initiatives while balancing priorities, timelines, stakeholder expectations, risks, dependencies, and resource constraints.
- Drive delivery across AI, workforce capability, innovation, product development, and organizational transformation programs.
- Monitor program performance through dashboards, scorecards, KPIs, and executive reporting, providing actionable insights and recommendations to leadership.
- Identify and mitigate risks, dependencies, execution challenges, and adoption barriers through proactive stakeholder engagement and governance reviews.
AI, Workforce Transformation & Capability Development
- Support large-scale workforce transformation initiatives focused on AI adoption, upskilling, future-ready workforce capabilities, and organizational effectiveness.
- Lead implementation and scaling of AI enablement programs, persona-based learning journeys, Copilot adoption initiatives, and workforce readiness efforts.
- Coordinate capability-building programs including Product Academy, learning pathways, talent mobility initiatives, and future skills development programs.
- Partner with business and learning leaders to identify capability gaps and develop scalable solutions aligned to long-term workforce needs.
- Support organizational adoption and sustained engagement for new tools, technologies, operating models, and capability programs.
Innovation, Startup Partnerships & Business Enablement
- Lead coordination of innovation initiatives, startup partnerships, pilot programs, proof-of-concept activities, and external collaborations.
- Manage startup evaluation processes, business case development, pilot governance, milestone tracking, risk assessments, and Go/No-Go decision support.
- Drive collaboration between business leaders, operational teams, innovation stakeholders, and external partners to identify and scale solutions aligned to business priorities.
- Support enterprise innovation programs and transformation initiatives that improve operational effectiveness, employee experience, and business performance.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing, best-practice adoption, and continuous improvement across strategic initiatives.
Strategic Communications & Executive Engagement
- Develop and execute communication strategies that support enterprise initiatives, organizational transformation efforts, capability-building programs, and innovation activities.
- Create executive-ready presentations, leadership updates, scorecards, newsletters, roadshow content, business cases, and stakeholder communications.
- Lead awareness, engagement, and adoption campaigns designed to drive participation, sponsorship, and sustained commitment across strategic programs.
- Ensure communications are consistent, impactful, and aligned with organizational priorities and leadership expectations.
- Measure communication effectiveness and leverage insights to continuously improve stakeholder engagement and outreach strategies.
Stakeholder Management, Governance & Leadership
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders, business stakeholders, external partners, and supporting functions to drive alignment and execution.
- Facilitate governance forums, steering committees, executive reviews, leadership discussions, and decision making sessions.
- Influence stakeholders through data-driven recommendations, business insights, strategic consultation, and executive storytelling.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration and change readiness activities to support successful implementation and adoption of strategic initiatives.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on transformation, innovation, AI adoption, workforce capability, and enterprise enablement priorities.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
- 12+ years of experience in program management, strategic initiatives, transformation, organizational effectiveness, workforce enablement, innovation management, business consulting, or related disciplines.
- Project Management Professional - Certified
- Proven experience leading complex enterprise programs, transformation initiatives, or strategic portfolios across multiple teams, functions, geographies, and stakeholder groups.
- Strong program and portfolio management expertise, including governance, planning, risk management, dependency management, executive reporting, and performance measurement.
- Demonstrated experience supporting AI adoption, workforce transformation, capability-building initiatives, organizational change programs, or innovation ecosystems.
- Experience managing innovation portfolios, startup collaborations, pilot programs, or external partnerships from evaluation through execution and scaling.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into concise, executive-ready communications and compelling business narratives.
- Experience developing leadership communications, executive presentations, newsletters, awareness campaigns, roadshow materials, dashboards, and stakeholder engagement content.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and drive alignment without direct authority.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to leverage data, metrics, KPIs, and business insights to drive decisions and measure outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-visibility priorities simultaneously while maintaining execution excellence, quality, and attention to detail.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating complex initiatives across business leaders, learning functions, technology teams, operations teams, and external stakeholders.
- Strong consulting, facilitation, strategic planning, and organizational effectiveness skills.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Market Competitive Pay Levels
- Retirement Plan
- Medical Plan (HMO) from Day 1 of employment
- Dental, Medical, and Optical Reimbursements
- Life and Disability Insurance
- Paid Time-Off Benefits
- Sick Leave Conversion
- Tuition Fee Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Annual Performance Based Merit Increases
- Employee Recognition
- Training and Staff Development
- Employee Referral Program
- Employee Volunteerism Opportunity
- All Mandatory Statutory Benefits
WHO WE ARE
- Optum is the health care technology and innovation company of the UnitedHealth Group enterprise along with UnitedHealthcare.
- UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone.
- We're a leading health solution and care delivery organization. Our work is complex, but our mission is simple: create a healthier world, with you at the center.
- As part of a Fortune 5 enterprise, we are improving the health care experience of over 125 million people around the world.
- Elevate your career with a leading health care company while improving lives.
Join us in evolving health care so everyone can have the opportunity to live their healthiest life. This is your opportunity to be part of a team that's dedicated to Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
