As our Director, Pharmacy Pricing Strategy, you will lead a team responsible for defining and managing pharmacy strategy, as it pertains to new (& renewing) client opportunities. This role oversees how pharmacy network rates are represented in underwriting assumptions and pricing models across all lines of business.
You will deliver financial modeling and analytical insights to ensure pricing accuracy, consistency, and competitiveness, while partnering closely with Underwriting, Finance, Legal and Network stakeholders to drive optimal outcomes. The role plays a critical part in aligning pharmacy contractual terms, financial objectives, client commitments and organizational strategy.
We're looking for someone with excellent leadership skills, a strategic mindset, a solid aptitude for complex problem solving, industry experience, and well‑developed communication and technical skills.
Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny office and telecommuting from a home‑based office in a hybrid work model.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead pharmacy cost of goods sold (COGS) strategy by translating pharmacy network rates into underwriting assumptions and pricing models that support client bids and renewals across all lines of business
Own and govern the contract negotiation modeling framework used to support live pharmacy negotiations, including target setting, scenario analysis, negotiation tracking, and final agreement outcomes
Lead a high performing analytics team responsible for analyzing and projecting pharmacy rate compression and expansion, developing negotiation scenario models, delivering COGS value strategy insights, and assessing financial risk relative to pricing and underwriting assumptions
Oversee COGS and negotiation model development to ensure pricing assumptions are accurate, consistent, competitive, and aligned with contractual and financial objectives
Partner cross‑functionally with Network, Underwriting, Finance, Pharmacy, Legal and other stakeholders to align negotiation strategies, pricing decisions, and contractual outcomes
Identify and communicate emerging pharmacy cost trends, risks, and opportunities, providing clear recommendations to senior leadership
Required Qualifications
Proven extensive experience in Data Analytics, Finance, Pricing, or similar roles
Demonstrated proficiency in SQL and/or Python, with the ability to perform effective and efficient querying across multiple tables and subqueries
Demonstrated advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Proven experience in financial modeling and assessing financial scenarios
Demonstrated solid communication skills, with the ability to adjust tone and level of detail for varying levels of leadership and disciplines
Proven experience working with and analyzing financial data to develop business insights and strategy
Demonstrated complex problem solving skills
Proven ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams or departments to support business growth or profitability goals
Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex analytical results into meaningful insights and convey technical information in a clear and understandable manner
Demonstrated ability to work a portion of monthly hours from the Dublin or Letterkenny office
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a quantitative discipline (Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, or Engineering)
Proven experience leading a team of data analysts
Proven experience in managed healthcare or pharmacy benefit management
Proven experience creating data visualizations using Tableau or similar tools
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Azure
Demonstrated high energy and detail orientation, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects to ensure quality and timely delivery
Demonstrated ability to work independently as a self‑starter in a rapidly changing environment
Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug‑free workplace.
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