Quality Process Improvement Engineer - Telecommute

UnitedHealthcare is a company that's on the rise. We're expanding in multiple directions, across borders and, most of all, in the way we think. Here, innovation isn't about another gadget, it's about transforming the health care industry. Ready to make a difference? Make yourself at home with us and start doing your life's best work.(sm)

In QuEST, we are striving to make health care operations more efficient and effective, enabling consumers to focus on their health care rather than on its administration. We are committed to ensuring consistent and accurate quality practices across UnitedHealth Group. We serve as an advocate for the constituent experience, identifying process improvement opportunities and assisting with the development of remediation strategies that will enable the business to provide the best experience to their constituents.

This position is part of the Government Operations Quality Team, which is responsible for reshaping the way United Healthcare approaches quality and process design. We are looking for quality and process engineers who want to transform processes and build quality in with forward thinking process analysis and evaluation. Ideal candidates will be interested in improving the healthcare member experience through the application of quality, lean, and continuous improvement approaches. If you can identify and solve complex opportunities while telling a compelling story to senior leaders in a corporate environment this is the role for you.

The Quality Process Improvement Engineer will be integral in this quality transformation, within our Government Operations Quality Team, driving new quality perspectives within our Customer Focused Quality mission. In this role you will lead the identification, application and implementation of customer focused quality principles and approaches within a highly matrixed transactional environment. You will be required to assess processes, identify opportunities for improvement, implement long term permanent corrective actions, develop, and deliver new process designs with quality built-in, and deliver clear and concise business cases for process improvement within a corporate environment. The Quality Process Improvement Engineer is responsible for working with Business Operations Partners to identify ways in which we can reduce wastes and deliver the right outcomes to our customers, the first time, every time. Our Quality Process Improvement Engineers are responsible for defining business requirements, producing supporting process documentation, telling a compelling story, and driving customer-centric process improvements that improve metrics, cost, and experience. The Quality Process Improvement Engineer is required to apply critical thinking, problem-solving methodologies, statistical analysis, and a systemic approach towards design/implementation of transactional process improvements. In this role you will be a part of a strategic shift that requires the ability to lead, mentor, guide, train, and support other project resources within the QuEST Quality Teams and effectively lead and manage work efforts whether value stream mapping, problem solving, FMEA or end-to-end business process improvements.

Individuals within the Government Operations Quality Team are responsible for process re-design, implementation of process improvements, effective collaboration, innovation, problem solving, change management, storytelling and communication at the executive level as well as with front line staff. We serve as change agents tasked with developing a new culture of quality, identifying constituent pain points (process, product and/or technology), and implementing opportunities to improve the constituent experience.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Effectively assess processes, identify opportunities for improvement, quantify impact and translate customer needs into efficient, effective, and streamlined processes within our corporate business operations
• Execute transformational quality initiatives through the application of Value Stream Mapping, Systemic Problem Solving, Statistical Data Analysis and End-to-End Process Improvements including process re-design where applicable
• Review, Analyze and Report Statistical findings through critical thought and storytelling of key findings and opportunities to all levels within a matrixed organization
• Liaise and work closely with the QuEST Line of Business and Provider leads and team members, Operations team, and other business partners to own the delivery of short-term containment and long-term strategic projects to support the QuEST mission and vision
• Interact with stakeholders to share diagnostics, build future state process designs and implement those designs, integrate and build quality error proofing into processes, and present implementation recommendations with a balance between short term gains and strategic imperatives
• Provide leadership on business process improvement and drive forward a culture of continuous improvement and efficiency
• Partner to identify critical to quality metrics, and support the operationalization of monitoring and management to deliver improved performance across business processes
• Leverage a broad base of quality engineering tools and problem-solving methodologies to deliver bottom-line impacting and continual process improvements
• Acquire an understanding of and document current state process within QuEST as well as within business operations
• Analyze processes, data and systems to identify improvement opportunities and make improvement recommendations
• Evaluate downstream business systems, processes, and / or organizational impacts and identify risks and barriers
• Create effective and compelling visual materials/presentations that support the process improvement impact to the organization and adequately represent the impact to quality, cost and time
• Develop and maintain work plans, time schedules, project task lists, and status reports
• Provide direction, guidance, and support to other project team members
• Define, track, and monitor key success measures associated with projects
• Successfully deploy and support change management and appropriate training plans
• Develop and maintain appropriate relationships with all stakeholders to facilitate the successful accomplishment of key quality initiatives
• Ensure effective communication with all internal stakeholders throughout the project
• Build and present business cases for Executive Leadership review and approval, including estimates on benefit, effort, resource needs, and timing

You’ll 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 provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and education
• 7 years of experience in process improvement, design/re-design and implementation of permanent and continuous corrective actions
• 7 years of experience applying quality and/or process engineering principles, leading problem-solving efforts with cross-functional teams to deliver business improvements stemming from complex business problems and demonstrated ability to communicate with clarity and conciseness
• 5 years of experience driving quality implementation, standardization, and adoption within a complex/matrixed environment with quantified financial, FTE, and/or time savings delivery
• 5 years of experience implementing process designs and/or re-designs utilizing Lean, Continuous Improvement, Quality/Systems Engineering and Six Sigma approaches, proactively building quality into processes with appropriate controls and monitoring
• 5 years of specific and successful experience using Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, Process (Gemba) walks, FMEA, and systemic problem-solving techniques to identify, prioritize, and communicate continuous improvement opportunities
• 5 years of experience influencing people through clear/concise storytelling at all levels in the organization on key decisions and strategies to drive change
• 5 years of experience in a corporate setting

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in engineering, business, technology, and/or health care related field
• 5 years of experience in health care operations or a transactional process environment
• Demonstrated project and/or program management experience
• Proven application of quality engineering, process engineering, lean/six sigma and/or process improvement principles; Certifications
• Proven leadership, interpersonal, and organizational/management skills with an ability to motivate and lead cross functional teams to accomplish shared goals under stringent timelines
• Proven self-starter that demonstrates accountability and ownership of their work, capable of precisely communicating by providing relevant information to different levels of leadership and cross functional groups through appropriate communication channels, and a team player willing to freely share knowledge, resources, and information
• Demonstrated ability to identify and analyze relevant data to determine the root cause of problems, make data-based decisions, and prioritize actions that will have the greatest impact on customer outcomes and experiences
• Data driven, yet comfortable with ambiguity and able to balance a bias for action with an understanding of appropriate risk
• Ability to prioritize, run multiple parallel projects and deliver on time with outstanding quality of content and form

To protect the health and safety of our workforce, patients and communities we serve, UnitedHealth Group and its affiliate companies require all employees to disclose COVID-19 vaccination status prior to beginning employment. In addition, some roles and locations require full COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as an essential job function. UnitedHealth Group adheres to all federal, state and local COVID-19 vaccination regulations as well as all client COVID-19 vaccination requirements and will obtain the necessary information from candidates prior to employment to ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Failure to meet the vaccination requirement may result in rescission of an employment offer or termination of employment.

Careers with UnitedHealthcare. Let's talk about opportunity. Start with a Fortune 5 organization that's serving more than 85 million people already and building the industry's singular reputation for bold ideas and impeccable execution. Now, add your energy, your passion for excellence, your near-obsession with driving change for the better. Get the picture? UnitedHealthcare is serving employers and individuals, states and communities, military families and veterans where ever they're found across the globe. We bring them the resources of an industry leader and a commitment to improve their lives that’s second to none. This is no small opportunity. It's where you can do your life's best work.(sm)

*All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

Colorado, Connecticut or Nevada Residents Only: The salary range for Colorado residents is $82,100 to $146,900. The salary range for Connecticut/Nevada residents is $90,500 to $161,600. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

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.