Director, COB Operations

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 Coordination of Benefits (COB) team is responsible for identifying UHG members with coverage through either UHC or Optum, who also have other insurance coverage, to determine which of the members' policies is the primary payer. Coordinating member claim payments appropriately between insurers ensures the correct amount is paid by UHG.

COB is a global team, with team members in the U.S, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, India, and Ireland.

The Director, COB Operations will be a key member of the COB leadership team. The role will be based in Ireland and will oversee a global team of 300+ FTE. A large proportion of the team are focused on production (completing COB investigations), with the remainder responsible for activities supporting operations such as training, documentation, quality, testing, management of change processes and vendor related processes.

The ideal candidate will be a solid people leader with the ability to manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities, execute with precision and deliver results (production targets, turnaround times, inventory management, savings and revenue etc.) with high accuracy and within stated time frames. Cost management will also be a key focus of the role. As a member of the COB senior leadership team, the Director, COB Operations, will also play a key part in the creation and delivery of the COB strategy.

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:

• Responsible for the effective execution of all COB Operations processes, including identification and development of enhancements to drive operational efficiencies, to deliver on all MBO / KPI commitments including operational volumes, quality, TAT, escalations and $4.5B+ medical cost savings
• Lead and inspire a team of managers, analysts and production staff primarily responsible for business segment performance
• Ensure all relevant KPIs are being met by each team within your span
• Support the implementation of new business growth initiatives to achieve operational and financial targets
• Develop annual business plans at COB member segment-level, with the relevant matrix partners, and take the lead on their implementation and results 
• Drive performance excellence and accountability by developing collaborative relationships with and working across our matrix partners
• Support a robust control monitoring environment, including a comprehensive measurement and reporting framework   
• Create and publish timely, accurate and complete reports, presentations and dashboards to senior business partners
• Identify and resolve technical, operational and organizational problems
• Partner with matrixed organizations (e.g. Analytics, Technology, Finance and Human Capital) to ensure planned results are delivered
• Serve as a catalyst for change and challenge the status quo. Bring a high level of curiosity to bear to continuously improve the businesses

You will be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role, as well as providing development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven solid Payment Integrity experience with exposure to COB or related value streams
• Proven prior leadership experience
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and translate data to identify financial impact and develop recommendations for action plans
• Proven experience driving large and small-scale process improvement initiatives
• Demonstrated solid interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with all levels of management across all functional areas, as well as business partners in other UHG entities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate Degree or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated ability to use data to drive results 
• Demonstrated ability to review financial reports and translate financial metrics into initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrixed organization
• Demonstrated solid conceptual and analytical skills
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to be a self-starter; solid track record of innovation and moving the business forward

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. © 2026 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.