Director, Inventory Management, Pharmacy Care Services (PCS)
Optum is a global organisation 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.
As a Fortune 5 business, we’re one of the world’s leading healthcare companies. There are no limits here on the resources you’ll have or the challenges you’ll encounter.
The Director, Inventory Management, will report to Sr. Director and lead a team of direct reports. The Associate Director will create a new business planning function with OptumRx's Procurement department. This new integrated business planning (IBP) function will consist of sales & operations planning (S&OP), forecasting and demand planning, inventory planning, and supplier collaboration. This role is to ensure success for Optum's advanced planning and collaboration solution and needs a strategically minded leader who can also manage the ongoing processes involved with forecasting demand, adjusting demand based on sales inputs, and aligning demand with available supply in supply chain.
Primary Responsibilities
This individual will be responsible to deploy a new demand forecasting and supplier collaboration system
Requires a deep knowledge of S&OP process, forecasting systems, inventory planning, and matching demand with supply
Develops and executes a clear demand planning strategy for the business and manages a high‐performing team charged with all aspects of demand planning
Partners with the business leaders to develop a thorough understanding of clients, members, market dynamics, trends, as well as marketing strategies and tactics designed to drive demand forecasting process effectively and achieve business objectives
Ensures the demand planning process is in place to deliver the business plan with operational excellence.
Has process ownership building aligned plans for product including life cycle, seasonality, new and lost businesses volume, and new product launches
Engages business leaders in resolving strategic demand issues through in-depth analysis and marketplace assessment to understand the risk/benefit tradeoffs between various approaches and opportunities
Act as a key liaison between the executive leadership team and operational teams
Leads and supports sustainable process improvement by diagnosing complex business problems and providing recommended plans to deliver process improvements through the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Principles
Business ownership of all demand and supply planning systems as well as Procure to
Pay system functionality and improvements
Facilitate and own the S&OP monthly cycleWork closely with operations, fulfillment, and procurement teams to optimize inventory levels and minimize lead times
Lead the implementation of advanced planning application such as Kinaxis
Implement forecasting tools and methodologies to improve accuracy
Implement supplier collaboration tools and methodologies to improve service levels and reduce out-of-stocks
Supplier collaboration process leadership: work with each supplier to develop, implement, and execute a supplier collaboration process appropriate for that relationship
Provide leadership, and subject matter expertise to teams across the global sites as it relates to SIOP, materials planning, inventory management, and supplier collaboration
Leads and supports sustainable process improvement by diagnosing complex business problems and providing recommended plans to deliver process improvements through the implementation of Lean Six Sigma Principles
Direct supervision and best practice training of Demand Planners and Analysts Initiates continuous improvement programs focused on inventory optimization with cost reduction
Lead, manage and develop the Demand Planners and Senior Analysts including goal setting, performance review, hiring decisions,, etc. in support of job satisfaction, retention, and career development
Develops functional, market level, and/or site strategy, plans, production and/or organizational priorities
Identifies and resolves technical, operational, and organizational problems outside own team
Required Qualifications
Proven experience in forecasting and supply chain, preferably within healthcare or pharmaceuticals
Extensive experience leading people and managing teams
Experience with demand planning software
Experience in and/or exposure to S&OP, SIOP, or CPFR processes and procedures
Experience with aspects of the supply chain, including planning, fulfillment operations, purchasing, warehousing, and inventory management is ideal
Experience in change management and work redesign initiatives
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Familiarity with forecasting software platformsAdvanced level of Excel
Exceptional analytical and problem solving skills
Highly collaborative leadership style and excellent facilitations skills
Ability to lead effectively and handle conflict in cross-functional integration role
Solid influence management skills
Ability to manage cross-operating group/cross-functional resources without the use of direct reports
Ability to interact with various levels of the organization
Ability to communicate within all levels of the organization
Leadership Competencies
Ability to be a strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.
Skilled in influencing and building consensus across senior leadership.
High emotional intelligence and situational awareness.
Ability to lead through change and foster innovation.
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.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone—of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income—deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes – an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
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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