Associate Director, M&A Communications - Remote

Taleo; Eden Prairie (MN); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group is seeking an Associate Director of M&A Communications to lead strategic communications for transactions. This remote role supports messaging across pre-sign, pre-close, and close phases with cross-functional collaboration across HR, Legal, and executive teams.

You will develop deal communications materials, guide leadership through messaging, and build repeatable playbooks for future transactions. Remote work within the U.S.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive corporate/strategic communications experience.
• 3+ years in communications for M&A transactions or enterprise change initiatives.
• Proven ability to provide strategic communications counsel to executive leadership.
• Strong writing, editing, and messaging under tight timelines.
• Experience leading multi-stakeholder workstreams in matrix organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy and execution of communications plans for M&A milestones.
• Own deal announcements, executive messaging, FAQs, and employee communications.
• Coordinate messaging across HR, Legal, executives, and content teams.
• Translate complex deal strategy into clear, compliant communications.
• Manage tight timelines and multiple workstreams.
• Provide strategic counsel and prepare leadership talking points.
• Create reusable templates and playbooks for future deals.
• Coordinate with integration teams for post-close messaging.

Skills

Corporate communications

Executive communications

M&A communications

Writing and editing

Project management

Job description

Improve the lives of others while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Job Description - Associate Director, M&A Communications - Remote (2389558)

Associate Director, M&A Communications - Remote - 2389558

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.

As an Associate Director, M&A Communications at Optum, you will lead and execute communications strategies for M&A transactions, ensuring accurate, timely, and well-coordinated messaging across stakeholders during critical deal milestones from pre-close through close. In this strategic leadership role, you will own the development of high-impact deal communication materials, direct cross-functional alignment across HR, Legal, Executive Leadership, Content, and Integration teams, and establish repeatable frameworks and templates to optimize future deal executions.

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:

• Lead the strategy, development, and execution of comprehensive communication plans for transaction milestones (pre-sign, pre-close, close)
• Own transaction-specific messaging and communication materials, including deal announcements, executive leadership messaging, FAQs, and enterprise employee communications
• Direct cross-functional alignment and messaging coordination across HR, Legal, business leaders, Content, and Executive Communications teams
• Translate complex transaction strategy into clear, accurate, consistent, and compliant communications tailored across diverse stakeholder groups
• Manage high-pressure communication timelines, deliverables, and dependencies across multiple deal workstreams simultaneously
• Provide strategic counsel and leadership readiness support to executive leadership, developing key messages, talking points, and briefing materials
• Build and maintain standardized templates, tools, frameworks, and repeatable playbooks for future deal communications
• Partner with Integration Specialists to ensure a seamless transition from transaction communications to post-close integration messaging

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 progressive corporate communications, executive communications, or strategic communications experience
• 3+ years of experience managing communications in fast-paced, high-stakes M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, or enterprise-level change initiatives
• Demonstrated track record of providing strategic communications counsel to executive leadership
• Proven ability to write, edit, and deliver clear, concise, and compliant communications under tight transaction timelines
• Proven solid organizational and project management experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder workstreams simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading communications within a large, highly matrixed healthcare or health services enterprise
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, drive alignment, and maintain high accuracy in rapidly evolving deal environments

*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 $112,700 - $193,200 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.

UnitedHealth Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation for any part of the application process, please call 1-866-566-8715 to be connected to Recruitment Services. Recruitment Services hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

UnitedHealth Group is a registered service mark of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. The UnitedHealth Group name with the dimensional logo, as well as the dimensional logo alone, are both service marks for the UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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