Lead Applications Development Consultant - Cypress, CA

UnitedHealth Group is an innovative leader in the health and well-being industry, serving more than 55 million Americans. Through our family of companies, we contribute outstanding clinical insight with consumer-friendly services and advanced technology to help people achieve optimal health.UnitedHealth Group IT provides a diverse and comprehensive array of application design and infrastructure services designed to advance improved health and well-being for our customers, and to benefit UnitedHealth Group employees across the enterprise.  Comprised of the Application Services Group, Enterprise Shared Services Group and the IT Business Services Group, UnitedHealth Group IT has over 7,000 internal and external resources across the globe, and offices in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, South Carolina and Wisconsin. UnitedHealth Group IT Application Services group delivered approximately $332 million of new technology, enhancements, and maintenance on applications for UnitedHealth Group in 2006.  Aligned to the business groups, this area is responsible for delivering, through technology, on the business agenda, while driving economies of scale through leveraging applications and people.  Primary Responsibilities: Senior level individual responsible for application support of critical call center applications. Demonstrates advance level of understanding and application of general systems concepts and their integration with business problem resolution. Provide the technical team with leadership for application operations and maintenance. Technical lead assigned to the most difficult, complex, and vital support tasks associated with multiple, large systems operations and maintenance. Coordinate completion of technical assignments amongst off shore teams. Liaison with users and other systems areas involving complex problem solving is a significant element of work. Accountable for effectiveness, quality, and timeliness of resolution for application issues. Evaluate, redesign and modify existing program logic to improve overall system performance. Develop project cost and benefit estimates, including identification and evaluation of alternatives. Provide training and assistance on full range of technical issues to lower level and offshore staff. Project leader for minor enhancements and work orders or in temporary absence of project leader / manager. Provide second level application support, coordinating the involvement of business and/or UT development resources in problem resolution as necessary.  Identify enhancements to improve supportability, operability or performance of applications within the application group.  Develop supporting business case for suggested enhancements. Resolve issues within defined application-level service performance.Qualifications: Extensive experience in complex, cross departmental projects involving multiple platforms. Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience demonstrating advanced level of understanding and application of general systems concepts and their integration with business problem solving skills. Proven track record of 4 to 5 years in the IT industry. Extensive, demonstrable knowledge in Microsoft VB, VB.NET, and XML. Training or equivalent experience in project or team leadership role. In-depth knowledge of systems development life cycle and/or operational maintenance environment. Distinguished as leader through possession of broad understanding of company business issues and their integration with broad and complex information systems applications. Able to schedule, assign, direct, review and perform related follow up and work coordination activities with others on technical team. Able to perform advisory role on complex issues. Strong trouble shooting and problems solving skills. Exhibit a collaborative style that promotes teamwork. Able to perform general management functions in the absence of area manager. Works under broad, general direction. Healthcare and/or call center application support experience. Excellent spoken and written communication skills. Effective communications with all levels of internal and external customers and staff. Passion for technology and  solving complex technology issues. Ability to multi-task and recognize/adapt to changing priorities.  On call support coverage for 24x7 applications as required.Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere:  equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V