Sr. Consultant (Payer Operations) Optum Advisory - Remote

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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. The Sr. Consultant (Payer Operations) Optum Advisory - Remote works within an Optum Advisory delivery team and serves a key role in contributing to engagement work products, project execution, and business management activities. This role structures and conducts analysis, creates client-ready content for assigned workstreams, and contributes to problem solving across the full scope of each project. Success in this role requires healthcare payer operations experience, strong analytical and financial problem-solving skills, and the ability to independently manage assigned workstreams while supporting junior team members. The role will lead client communications related to assigned workstreams, proactively identify risks and issues, and make sound recommendations to improve project delivery and client outcomes. Role emphasis: Independent workstream delivery, analytics, client-ready deliverables, team problem solving, knowledge management, and emerging consulting leadership. 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.

Client Engagement Delivery and Workstream Leadership: Structure the approach and analysis for assigned workstreams largely independently, with guidance from the Project Manager or engagement leadership as needed. Develop and deliver client-ready work products, including analyses, process documentation, current-state and future-state materials, issue summaries, recommendations, and presentation content. Lead client communications related to assigned workstreams and, at times, support communications for work performed by more junior team members. Establish timelines for assigned workstream activities and assist junior team members with timelines, deliverables, and follow-through in accordance with overall project requirements. Serve as a major contributor to team problem solving across the full project scope, including structuring and facilitating problem-solving sessions with support from the Project Manager. Proactively anticipate challenges, dependencies, and risks within assigned areas and make practical adjustments or recommendations to address issues. May serve as project lead for smaller, more templated engagements or work in familiar payer operations terrain. Communicate effectively and accurately in writing and verbally with clients, prospects, team members, and practice leaders. Payer Operations and Analytical Contribution: Apply payer operations knowledge across domains such as claims operations, payment integrity, provider operations, member and provider services, appeals and grievances, compliance, operational reporting, and performance management. Conduct data analysis and financial analysis to identify issues, root causes, business impacts, and practical solution options. Translate analysis, stakeholder input, and project findings into clear insights and actionable recommendations. Build credibility as a knowledgeable contributor on payer operations topics and maintain a foundational understanding of healthcare industry dynamics. Maintain awareness of Optum data sets, tools, research, assets, and methods used by the practice to support client delivery. Practice Development and Team