VP, Emerging Healthcare Technologies- San Francisco / Bay Area, CA

The VP, Emerging Technology Development is responsible for the strategy, market intelligence, target identification, business case justification, and the development of piloting, simulation and market - testing capabilities that would enable the evaluation of emerging technologies for future Optum solutions.  Emerging technologies could include healthcare industry breakthroughs such as artificial intelligence, cognitive computing, blockchain, virtual reality, etc. The scope of this role also includes identifying companies who are developing bots and applications that will increase the power and utility of existing technology platforms available to Optum, such as OptumOne, Cisco Spark and others.
 
First and foremost, the deliverables of this new position should directly benefit innovations created within the Optum Cisco healthcare strategic alliance.  The goal of the Optum Cisco healthcare alliance is to create highly differentiated, connected healthcare product solutions within a co - led, co - dedicated invention center located on the campus of the technology center in San Jose, CA, known as the Optum Cisco Healthcare Co - Innovation Center. Connected healthcare solutions can encompass a range of solutions within the internet of things, digital healthcare, virtual care, telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and patient engagement. The VP, Emerging Technology Development will work closely with the Optum Cisco co - innovation center team but will also interact with OptumLabs West innovation partners (such as UC Health / UCSF), the new Optum Advanced Technology Center and the Optum Machine Learning Council.The VP, Emerging Technology Development role will report to Dave Dickinson, OptumInsight’s co - innovation center co - leader, who also serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of OptumLabs.
 
Primary Responsibilities:

Responsible for identifying, defining and then developing new technologies that will help Optum meet and, ideally, exceed revenue and market share goals within a unique, intrapreneurial environment located inside one of our technology partner’s campus
Explore multiple horizons of technologies across a diversified portfolio approach, from near - term needs in population & precision health to emerging allied fields in VR / AR, blockchain, cognitive computing, computer vision, etc.
Create an innovation roadmap, fueled by Cisco ecosystem developers and / or external, third party technology partners, that could significantly increase the power and utility of Optum Cisco platform solutions
Drive market sensing and maintain an internal knowledgebase of novel technologies through the identification of relevant emerging technology trends and white space opportunities
Establish market research and product testing mechanisms to test and validate product - market fit for new technologies via piloting, simulation and by leveraging local Bay area capabilities
Expand West Coast ecosystem and collaboration opportunities for both the Optum Cisco alliance and for OptumLabs
Subject to strategic priorities, budget constraints and internal technology and data access limitations, explore, evaluate and recommend new open innovation efforts or both the Optum Cisco center and for OptumLabs, e.g., developer incubation, an emerging - technology seedling fund, intrapreneurship training, hackathons, industry x - prizes, etc.
Develop the business case for new technology solutions based upon thorough understanding of customer needs, market dynamics and trends, market intelligence and the capabilities and potential of the two strategic partner’s people, channel, data and technology assets
Work closely alongside technology partners’ solution architects and engineers to develop use cases and create new solutions that may then lead to early / rapid prototyping
Interact with Optum SMEs and relevant Optum business unit personnel to understand current product offerings, roadmaps and product visions and welcomes further ideation and feedback
Transition market tested new technology solutions and prototypes to Optum product management for in - market testing and later commercialization, as appropriate

Required Qualifications:

7+ years of progressive product innovation, technology evaluation and project management experience, ideally within healthcare (provider, payer, employer) or consumer healthcare
Four - year degree in business, healthcare, or technology (or equivalent). Knowledge of technology and software development process, experience with requirements management, project management, and complex projects and activities
Preferred Qualifications:

MBA or advanced technical degree
Demonstrated record of success in identifying novel technology solutions that deliver superior benefits in response to unmet customer needs
Innovator within a fast - paced, intrapreneurial environment
Classic technology champion who knows how to use data to support management decisions
Strong market and customer research skills
Project management skills, including risk and contingency management, time management, ability to manage competing demands and set priorities, and achieve deliverables
Experience in complex, matrix organizations; knows how to get things done both through formal channels and the informal network
Experience with business case and business model development
Proven ability to build relationships cross - functionally and lead toward common goals
Demonstrated success leading and embracing change. Ability to effectively deal with moderate levels of ambiguity - can effectively cope with change, can shift gears comfortably, can decide and act without having the total picture, comfortably handles risk and uncertainty
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
Able to champion product recommendations in front of executive management with effective formal presentation and facilitation skills
Clearly understands how to assess and weigh the competitive landscape - competitor strategies, positioning, strengths and weaknesses
Proven diplomacy and performance under pressure
Self-directed approach with positive attitude
Creative healthcare industry thought leader who embraces the power of disruptive technology
Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health - related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm)
 
 
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 
UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
 
 
Job Keywords: VP; Emerging Technology; Development; Healthcare; San Francisco; CA; California; Bay Area; Connected Healthcare; Digital Health; Internet of Things
Â