Clinical Consultant Pharmacist, Sales and Retention - Columbia, SC

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 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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

As an Optum Rx Clinical Consultant Pharmacist - Sales and Retention, you'll partner with one of the leading health insurers, dedicated to enhancing the health and well‑being of nearly three million members across the region. You'll join a client‑centric team that bridges clinical excellence with business impact-driving new program growth, supporting retention efforts, and delivering actionable market intelligence.

You will be a trusted clinical advisor, applying your pharmacy expertise and managed care acumen to help strengthen market position, drive sustainable cost management, and deliver superior care solutions to members.

If you are located in Columbia, SC, you will have the flexibility to work remotely* as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

Identifies opportunities for clinical program up-sell

Clearly communicates analytical and reporting needs to supporting departments. Identifies and creates opportunities to manage trend and add OptumRx products

Supports sales and marketing including participating UR sales activities, as needed based on criteria

Supports RFPs (tier analyses, formulary disruptions, answer questions)

Supports Implementations (presenting on formulary disruptions or discussing clinical programs)

Participates in health fairs and other member events

Identifies and creates opportunities to manage trend and add OptumRx products

Stays aware of and provides clinical market intelligence to clients

Communicates drug information to clients and responds to plan-specific clinical inquiries

Helps clients be competitive within their market

Experience working within or closely supporting the PBM industry, with knowledge of both independent or regional PBMs and large national PBM organizations related to sales strategy

Analyzes and interprets benefit designs

Makes clinically sound recommendations to clients based on trend

Comprehends and effectively explains formulary and clinical program changes to clients

Routinely collaborates with account management to provide clinical aspects of client quarterly reviews

Independently navigate internal resources and relationships to source solutions for custom client requests

Provides superior clinical consultation and clinical account management with a focus on client satisfaction, client retention, and trend management

Provides education for clients, pharmacists, members and physicians per contractual requirements

Formulates and delivers client recommendations based on available data

Able to incorporate treatment and practice guidelines into client presentations including up-selling opportunities

Effectively manages client objections to new programs and required changes

Collaborates with clients to establish achievable but aggressive clinical program goals, including generic dispensing rate improvements, implementation of utilization management programs, improvement in medication adherence rates, improvements in therapy gaps for key chronic disease states, formulary compliance targets, and HEDIS and NCQA measures

Facilitates ongoing maintenance of client custom formulary and utilization management updates

Identifies opportunities to increase efficiency

Mentors clinical coordinators, as needed

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 of Science in Pharmacy or PharmD

Current and unrestricted Pharmacist license in South Carolina

3+ years of experience working as a licensed pharmacist

3+ years of clinical account management pharmacist experience

Experience working for a PBM or Health Plan in a client-facing role with external clients (beyond patients and prescribers)

Experience developing and delivering formal presentations to clients

Proficient skills in Microsoft Office, Power Point, Excel, Word, Teams, OneNote, and Outlook

Ability to travel locally up to 25%

Ability to work onsite in Columbia, SC

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience contributing to the Request for Proposal (RFP) process

Experience participating in Finalist presentations

Formulary analysis experience

Experience working with Commercial Self-Funded, Fully-Insured, ERISA and Non-ERISA clients

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer 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 us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $91,700 - $163,700 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.