Director, Technical Project Management - Remote

Optum is a global leader in health care innovation, developing solutions to improve health systems. The Director of Technical Project Management will lead the delivery of complex AI and technology initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment and execution across various teams.

Responsibilities:

• Lead portfolio-level AI and advanced analytics programs from ideation through deployment and scaling
• Partner with Data Science, Engineering, Architecture, Product, and Business leaders to deliver AI solutions aligned with enterprise strategy
• Establish delivery frameworks tailored for AI/ML lifecycle (model development, validation, MLOps, deployment, monitoring)
• Oversee roadmap planning, milestone tracking, dependency management, and release coordination
• Build and manage enterprise program structures, including steering committees, governance forums, and executive reporting
• Drive disciplined project management practices (Agile, SAFe, Hybrid, Waterfall as appropriate)
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, risk registers, financial forecasts, and benefit realization tracking
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, data privacy, and model risk management standards
• Translate AI technical concepts into clear business language for executive stakeholders
• Ensure proper integration of AI solutions into production systems (APIs, cloud platforms, data pipelines)
• Partner with MLOps and DevOps teams to operationalize AI models with monitoring and retraining frameworks
• Support model validation, testing, and production readiness reviews
• Serve as primary delivery lead for executive sponsors
• Provide clear, concise executive reporting on progress, risks, and ROI
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment across IT, Product, Compliance, Security, and Operations
• Manage vendor and partner relationships for AI platforms and services
• Lead and mentor a team of technical project and program managers
• Establish AI delivery standards, templates, and playbooks
• Build scalable PMO practices tailored to AI and emerging technologies
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in technical program or project management
• 5+ years of experience leading large-scale, cross-functional technology programs
• 5+ years of experience managing enterprise-level stakeholders and executive communications
• 3+ years of experience as a people manager
• 3+ years of experience delivering AI/ML, advanced analytics, or data platform initiatives
• 2+ years of experience with AI lifecycle (data sourcing, feature engineering, model training, validation, deployment, monitoring)
• 2+ years of experience working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Ability to travel up to 25% for client meetings, workshops, and industry events
• PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or Agile certifications
• Experience in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services, insurance)
• Demonstrated familiarity with MLOps, model governance, and AI risk management frameworks
• Demonstrated background collaborating with data scientists and machine learning engineers