People Leader – Program & Project Management - Remote or Hybrid in MN or DC

About the position 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 Enterprise Information Security (EIS) team is responsible for cybersecurity across our organization. We support our business and members by reducing risk, rapidly responding to threats, focusing on business resiliency and securing new acquisitions. We are seeking an experienced people and delivery leader to own and scale our Operational and Strategic project portfolio, outside of the Accelerator program. This role provides direct people leadership for a team of Project Managers and is accountable for delivery health, prioritization, and execution across operational initiatives, strategic efforts, and support projects (including select AI initiatives). This role creates critical leadership bandwidth as the organization grows, enabling senior leadership to remain focused on portfolio level strategy, executive engagement, and outcomes while ensuring solid delivery discipline and team development. 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.

Responsibilities

• Own delivery health, prioritization, and execution for Operational and Strategic projects, including support and emerging initiatives (e.g., AI efforts)
• Ensure clear plans, dependencies, risks, and milestones are defined and actively managed
• Partner closely with initiative owners and domain leaders to align delivery to business outcomes
• Drive consistency in delivery practices, execution standards, and reporting across the portfolio
• Directly manage 6 GL28 Project Managers (excluding the dedicated GL28 Program Manager role)
• Provide coaching, feedback, and career development aligned to PM standards and expectations
• Create consistency in performance, delivery approach, and stakeholder engagement
• Manage capacity, workload balancing, and prioritization across the team
• Serve as the primary escalation layer for delivery risks, issues, and resource constraints
• Proactively resolve issues before escalation to executive leadership
• Maintain solid stakeholder communication and clear escalation paths
• Escalate with context, options, and recommendations when needed
• Bring structure and focus to work that spans operational execution and strategic enablement
• Improve predictability, transparency, and delivery confidence across non Accelerator efforts
• Enable senior leadership to stay focused at the portfolio and executive level
• Support the continued evolution of PMO delivery and operating models

Requirements

• 5+ years of demonstrated experience as a people manager of project or program
• 5+ years of experience delivering complex, cross functional initiatives in a large matrix organization
• 2+ years of experience leading, managing and/or mentoring project managers with/ without HR accountabilities
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities across multiple workstreams
• Proven solid communication, stakeholder management, and escalation skills

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in security, technology, or enterprise transformation environments
• Exposure to AI, emerging technology, or innovation driven initiatives
• Experience scaling or maturing PM teams within a PMO or portfolio model

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package
• incentive and recognition programs
• equity stock purchase
• 401k contribution

Apply tot his job Apply To this Job