Director, Operations - Payer Programs

Walmart Walmart · Retail · Bentonville, AR

This role leads the operational strategy and execution for Walmart Health & Wellness payer initiatives, partnering with strategy and cross-functional teams to translate AOP priorities into scalable processes, measurable performance, and operational excellence. The Director will drive efficiency, standardization, and digital transformation across payer teams, ensuring compliance, risk mitigation, and business continuity. Key responsibilities include developing and implementing operational plans, optimizing processes, collaborating across functions, monitoring performance, managing risk and compliance, and evaluating/deploying technology for automation and workflow management. The role requires proven leadership in operations, program execution, and process optimization, with experience in KPI frameworks, standardization, enterprise systems, and strategic planning. While the role drives AI and digital transformation initiatives, it is not focused on building AI models but rather on the operational aspects of implementing and managing these transformations within a regulated healthcare payer context.

What you'd actually do

  1. Partner with Directors and Senior Directors to develop and implement payer operational plans.
  2. Identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks across payer teams and implement improvements.
  3. Serve as a bridge between strategy and execution teams to accelerate delivery.
  4. Report departmental and team performance to the leadership team with clear insights and actions.
  5. Ensure operations comply with applicable regulations and internal policies.

Skills

Required

  • Proven leadership in operations, program execution, and process optimization in complex, cross-functional environments.
  • Experience building KPI frameworks, dashboards, and performance management rhythms.
  • Demonstrated success standardizing workflows and driving operational excellence.
  • Strong cross-functional influence across compliance, legal, finance, HR, IT, and commercial teams.
  • Experience implementing enterprise systems and leading vendor performance management.
  • Ability to translate strategy into execution, including planning cycles (AOP/long-range planning).
  • Strong risk management mindset, including business continuity planning.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations, or related field and 5 years’ experience in operations, project management, or related area OR 7 years’ experience in operations, project management, or related area.
  • 3 years’ supervisory experience.

Nice to have

  • Lean/Six Sigma preferred
  • Working on cross-functional teams or projects
  • Masters: Business Administration
  • Project Management - Project Management Professional - Certification

What the JD emphasized

  • AI and digital transformation initiatives
  • compliance
  • risk mitigation
  • business continuity planning