Account Executive, State Government - Remote EST

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Remote; USD 135,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

Optum is seeking an externally focused Account Executive to manage a portfolio of State Government clients (Medicaid/HHS) across the United States. You will serve as the primary relationship owner, drive renewal and expansion opportunities, and coordinate with sales, operations, and product teams to deliver measurable outcomes for state agencies.

You will build executive-level relationships, understand state priorities and budgets, and lead long-term account plans while traveling up to 50% as

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience working directly with State Government clients or agencies (e.g., Medicaid, HHS, or other state health and human services programs)
• 5+ years of demonstrated external, client-facing experience serving as a primary account lead or trusted advisor to senior government stakeholders
• 5+ years of experience in account management, managed services, consulting, or advisory roles supporting complex State Government contracts
• Experience partnering with sales, product, technology, and operations teams
• Proven experience growing and retaining accounts, not just delivering contracted work
• Track record of client trust, expansion, and long term partnership building
• Solid executive presence and ability to influence across highly matrixed organizations
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
• Reside in eastern time zone

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of accountability for assigned State Government clients (Medicaid / HHS)
• Build and maintain trusted, executive level relationships with state officials (CIO, HHS leadership, agency executives)
• Lead multi year account planning aligned to state priorities, budgets, and legislative direction
• Identify and drive growth opportunities across Optum's portfolio (Analytics, Healthcare Access, Program Operations, BPO, Technology)
• Translate state needs into enterprise-wide solutions, partnering across Optum Insight, UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, and Optum Rx
• Represent the voice of the client internally, influencing without direct authority
• Support contract renewals, expansions, and performance outcomes in partnership with sales, operations, and product teams
• Spend the majority of time externally with clients, not managing day to day delivery

Skills

State government experience

External client facing

Account management

Cross-functional collaboration

Growth & retention

Executive presence

Influence without authority

Travel up to 50%

Eastern time zone

Job description

OptumInsightis improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system. We remove friction and drive alignment between care providers and payers, andultimately consumers. Our deepexpertisein the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management,qualityand revenue growth. Ready to help us deliver results that improve lives?Join us to startCaring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum Insight is standing up a new State Government Market structure to strengthen long term partnerships with Medicaid and Health & Human Services (HHS) agencies across the United States. This role supports Optum's strategy to partner with states at a more strategic level-helping them address complex healthcare, technology, and operational challenges through integrated, enterprise wide solutions.

The Account Executive (AE) is an externally focused, individual contributor responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of State Government client relationships, with a primary focus on middle tier and smaller revenue accounts. The AE serves as the primary relationship owner for assigned states and is accountable for client satisfaction, retention, and growth. This includes understanding each state's priorities, budget environment, legislative landscape, and long term objectives, and aligning Optum's capabilities to meet those needs.

Acting as a trusted advisor to senior state officials and agency leadership, the AE leads multi year account planning, identifies expansion opportunities, and partners across Optum Insight, UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, and Optum Rx to deliver measurable outcomes aligned to state priorities. The role requires strong state government expertise, executive presence, and the ability to influence across a highly matrixed organization.

Success in this role requires experience managing external, executive level client relationships, comfort operating in complex environments, and the ability to connect client needs with Optum's broad portfolio of analytics, healthcare access, program operations, BPO, and technology solutions.

You'llenjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of accountability for assigned State Government clients (Medicaid / HHS)
• Build and maintain trusted, executive level relationships with state officials (CIO, HHS leadership, agency executives)
• Lead multi year account planning aligned to state priorities, budgets, and legislative direction
• Identify and drive growth opportunities across Optum's portfolio (Analytics, Healthcare Access, Program Operations, BPO, Technology)
• Translate state needs into enterprise-wide solutions, partnering across Optum Insight, UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, and Optum Rx
• Represent the voice of the client internally, influencing without direct authority
• Support contract renewals, expansions, and performance outcomes in partnership with sales, operations, and product teams
• Spend the majority of time externally with clients, not managing day to day delivery

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience working directly with State Government clients or agencies (e.g., Medicaid, HHS, or other state health and human services programs)
• 5+ years of demonstrated external, client-facing experience serving as a primary account lead or trusted advisor to senior government stakeholders
• 5+ years of experience in account management, managed services, consulting, or advisory roles supporting complex State Government contracts
• Experience partnering with sales, product, technology, and operations teams
• Proven experience growing and retaining accounts, not just delivering contracted work
• Track record of client trust, expansion, and long term partnership building
• Solid ability to lead and influence highly matrixed, cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Demonstrated ability to drive account growth, renewals, and measurable outcomes within regulated, politically complex environments, beyond simply delivering contracted work
• Solid executive presence and ability to influence across highly matrixed organizations
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
• Reside in eastern time zone

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in state government consulting, government healthcare vendors, or Medicaid focused organizations
• Experience working across large, complex enterprises
• Background with firms such as Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, Cognizant (government healthcare), or similar
• Prior exposure to P&L ownership or account financial leadership
• 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 - $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,locationand 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 marginalizedgroupsand those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and deliveringequitablecare 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 adrug -free workplace. Candidatesare required topass a drug test before beginning employment.