Director, Innovation and Strategy - Remote

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 a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Innovation & Strategy Director is responsible for establishing and leading a new business partnership model for the Client COE as AnalyticsZone expands beyond growth reporting into a broader client intelligence platform. The leader will serve as the bridge between business stakeholders and execution teams, translating strategic needs from functions such as Product, Marketing, Government Affairs, and Operations into clear priorities, data requirements, and actionable plans.

Key responsibilities include shaping cross-functional partnership strategy, leading new innovation discussions with internal partners, and helping redesign workflows so teams can operate differently as AI capabilities are introduced. As AI increases, executive and subject matter expert judgment becomes more important, and this role will help translate desired business outcomes into clear roadmaps, prioritized use cases, and adoption plans that expand the long-term value of the Client COE platform.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

Business Partnership Strategy and Innovation

• Establish and lead a new business partnership model for the Client COE, serving as the connective point between enterprise stakeholders and execution teams as AnalyticsZone evolves into a broader client intelligence platform
• Lead new innovation discussions with partners across Product, Enterprise Solutions, Product, Marketing, Operations, and Government Affairs to identify business needs and translate them into scalable platform capabilities
• Identify, shape, and prioritize high-value use cases that strengthen enterprise decision-making, improve client engagement, and expand the strategic value of Client COE data and insights
• Partner with Product to leverage data that informs solution gaps, define bundled offerings, and prescribe what to buy next based on client and market needs
• Partner with Marketing to build on the Client COE platform to shift from product-led marketing toward a more direct-to-client marketing capability
   

Execution, Roadmap Shaping, and Platform Expansion

• Translate strategic partner needs and desired business outcomes into clear priorities, workflow designs, business requirements, and actionable roadmaps for data, reporting, and platform development teams
• Help evaluate and advance data acquisitions, external data sources, and new intelligence capabilities that increase the long-term value and relevance of the Client COE platform 
• Drive cross-functional alignment across stakeholders by balancing strategic opportunity, execution feasibility, and enterprise value, while ensuring executive and subject matter expert judgment remains central to AI-enabled roadmap and investment decisions
• Drive adoption of new workflows, platform capabilities, and AI-enabled ways of working by monitoring business impact, gathering stakeholder feedback, and continuously refining priorities to ensure AnalyticsZone and related Client COE capabilities deliver measurable enterprise value

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:

• 7+ years of experience in health care, growth or revenue operations type roles
• 7+ years of experience leading teams both directly and indirectly
• 5+ years of experience in business development, strategic consulting, product strategy and design and health care operations and professional services 
• Demonstrated experience using qualitative and quantitative data to back up assumptions, design solutions, and when needed, develop business cases 
• Demonstrated track record of active collaboration, engagement, oversight, and strategy development of key growth opportunities
• Proven ability to analyze complex market opportunities and develop competitive solutions based on an understanding of the business environment, competitive landscape, and objectives
• Proven ability to listen to and understand organizational needs and champion the development of complex initiatives in response 
• Proven solid executive presence and proven ability to work effectively with executive leaders, including the capability to present complex ideas clearly, influence decisions, and build alignment across cross-functional stakeholders
• Proven solid writing and communication skills, with the ability to successfully navigate ambiguity, complexity, and rapid change while maintaining an entrepreneurial mindset and sound decision-making
• Highly detail-oriented systems thinker with the ability to work across multiple teams in a highly complex, matrixed environment and proactively identify downstream impacts of strategic decisions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years in leadership roles within strategy, growth, market or client facing roles
• Knowledge of Optum’s markets, products and processes

*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 $134,600 to $230,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is 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 is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.