Principal Data Analyst

Optum; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum in Ireland seeks a highly analytical Commercial Analytics & Strategy professional to support client solutions and broader commercial initiatives across formulary design, pricing, and benefit strategy.

You will translate business needs into analytical models, communicate insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and contribute to strategic planning in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a quantitative, business, or related field.
• Experience in data modeling, financial analysis, or forecasting.
• Healthcare/PBM/managed care experience.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business insights.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to understand PBM strategy, client needs, formulary design, and financial objectives.
• Translate requirements into structured analytical frameworks and model inputs.
• Contribute to pricing, formulary positioning, and value proposition design.
• Evaluate trade-offs and financial/utilization impacts of formulary, pricing, and benefit decisions.
• Act as liaison between business stakeholders and analytics teams to ensure alignment on goals.
• Define and document business requirements for analytical models, tools, and reporting solutions.
• Review model outputs to ensure alignment with business intent.
• Translate modeling approaches and results into clear, business-friendly insights.
• Identify gaps between business needs and technical capabilities and prioritize scalable solutions.
• Synthesize data, analytics, and market insights into actionable recommendations.
• Support scenario analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Develop executive-ready presentations for internal leadership and client engagements.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Healthcare/PBM experience

Cross-functional communication

Translate complex concepts to business

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in quantitative field

Tools

SQL

Excel

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

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 diversity and inclusion, 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.

Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

We are seeking a highly analytical and business-oriented professional to join our Commercial Analytics & Strategy team. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy and analytics, supporting client solutions and broader commercial initiatives across formulary design, pricing, and benefit strategy. You will play a critical role in translating business needs into analytical frameworks, ensuring models and insights align with strategic objectives. The role requires solid understanding of PBM dynamics, financial trade‑offs, and the ability to clearly communicate complex analytical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

We’re looking for someone with a solid problem‑solving mindset, deep analytical capability, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, highly collaborative environment.

Schedule: Full‑time position with standard working hours of Monday‑Friday, 9am‑5pm. Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny office and telecommuting from a home‑based office in a hybrid work model.

Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to understand PBM strategy, client needs, formulary design, and financial objectives
• Support client solutions by translating unique requirements into structured analytical frameworks and model inputs
• Contribute to commercial strategy development, including pricing, formulary positioning, and value proposition design
• Evaluate trade‑offs and financial and utilization impacts of formulary, pricing, and benefit decisions
• Act as a liaison between business stakeholders and analytics teams to ensure alignment on goals, assumptions, and constraints
• Define and document business requirements for analytical models, tools, and reporting solutions
• Review model outputs to ensure alignment with business intent and strategic objectives
• Translate complex modeling approaches, assumptions, and results into clear, business‑friendly insights
• Identify gaps between business needs and technical capabilities and help prioritize scalable solutions
• Synthesize data, analytics, and market insights into actionable recommendations
• Support scenario analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning initiatives
• Develop executive‑ready presentations and materials for internal leadership and client engagements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a quantitative, business, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Demonstrated solid analytical mindset, with experience in data modeling, financial analysis, or forecasting
• Proven experience in healthcare, PBM, pharmacy, or managed care environments
• Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business insights
• Demonstrated solid communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work cross‑functionally

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience with formulary strategy, drug trend management, or PBM pricing models
• Demonstrated familiarity with analytics tools such as SQL, Excel, Tableau, or Power BI
• Proven experience supporting both custom client solutions and broader commercial strategy initiatives
• Demonstrated exposure to financial modeling and scenario‑based decision frameworks

Soft Skills

• Demonstrated strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills
• Demonstrated client‑focused mindset, with solid stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated solid understanding of financial and analytical modeling concepts
• Demonstrated clear and structured communication and presentation skills

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug‑free workplace.