Associate Director, Strategic Analytics and Applied AI - Remote

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

Job summary

Optum is seeking an experienced analytics leader to design and deliver strategic analyses and AI-enabled solutions that translate complex data into actionable insights. You will frame questions, build models and scalable pipelines, and present executive-ready narratives to guide decision making.

You will mentor analysts and data scientists, partner with clinical, operational, and technology teams, and drive adoption from prototypes to sustainable improvements across the organization.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in applied data science or related fields.
• Experience leading complex analytics or technology-enabled projects.
• Experience designing or implementing analytics, ML, or AI-enabled workflows.
• Experience building repeatable data pipelines and automated reporting.
• Ability to translate technical findings for non-technical audiences.
• Experience mentoring analysts or data scientists.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of strategic analyses and AI-enabled solutions.
• Frame business questions, define success measures, assess data needs.
• Develop models, forecasts, and decision frameworks for leaders.
• Build scalable data pipelines and reproducible analytics assets.
• Translate results into concise, executive-ready narratives.
• Mentor analysts and data scientists in analytics and reproducible practices.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to scale prototypes to implementation.

Skills

Python

SQL

R

APIs

Visualization

Data storytelling

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Education

Undergraduate degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

SAS

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 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.

Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic analytics and decision support
  • Lead the design and delivery of strategic analyses and AI-enabled solutions that convert complex operational, organizational, and market information into actionable insights
  • Frame ambiguous business questions, define decision criteria and success measures, assess data availability, and develop rigorous analytical and implementation plans
  • Develop analytical frameworks, scenarios, forecasts, and decision models that help leaders evaluate strategic alternatives, prioritize investments, and assess operational trade-offs
  • Develop scalable analytical pipelines that integrate multiple data sources, automate repeatable processing, and produce documented assets for ongoing performance management and decision support
  • Use Python, SQL, R, APIs, visualization platforms, and modern analytical tools to prototype, test, and operationalize solutions while maintaining reproducibility, traceability, and appropriate quality controls
  • Translate technical results, assumptions, limitations, and trade-offs into concise recommendations, visualizations, and executive-ready narratives for non-technical audiences
• Research, measurement, and workflow innovation
  • Design analytical frameworks, assessments, indicators, and measurement approaches that help leaders understand organizational performance, workforce needs, program outcomes, and emerging risks
  • Apply statistical analysis, machine learning, mixed-methods research, operations research, and behavioral science methods as appropriate to the business question
  • Evaluate AI-enabled approaches for practical use, balancing accuracy, interpretability, usability, governance, cost, maintainability, and operational value
  • Develop innovative approaches when conventional methods are insufficient for complex, incomplete, high-volume, or rapidly changing data
  • Establish reusable methods, documentation, testing practices, and workflow standards that strengthen the team's applied AI and analytics capabilities
  • Partner with stakeholders to design adoption and feedback mechanisms that ensure solutions fit real operational needs and improve over time
• Strategic leadership and capability development
  • Serve as a key resource on complex or critical AI, analytics, and automation issues and proactively develop solutions that anticipate stakeholder needs
  • Lead functional workstreams or cross-functional projects, including scope, approach, milestones, dependencies, risks, resource requirements, and delivery quality
  • Review solution designs, analytical plans, code, prompts, methods, findings, and deliverables produced by others and provide recommendations for improvement
  • Mentor analysts and data scientists in strategic analytics, applied AI, data engineering, research design, reproducible practices, critical interpretation, and effective communication
  • Partner across business, clinical, operational, technology, data, and governance teams to move from prototypes to sustainable implementation and measurable improvement
  • Provide clear explanations of complex issues, including model behavior, data limitations, uncertainty, operational dependencies, and implications for action

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of experience in applied data science, advanced analytics, quantitative research, program evaluation, workflow automation, or a related discipline
• Experience leading complex analytical or technology-enabled projects from problem definition through data development, solution design, testing, interpretation, and stakeholder communication
• Experience designing or implementing advanced analytics, machine learning, AI-enabled automation, or decision-support workflows using complex data
• Experience building repeatable data pipelines, automated reporting, analytical applications, or decision-support systems
• Experience translating technical findings into actionable insights for executive, operational, policy, or other non-technical audiences
• Experience reviewing technical or analytical work and mentoring or supervising analysts, researchers, or technical team members
• Advanced proficiency with Python and experience using SQL and R or comparable analytical tools
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate stakeholder needs, solve complex problems, develop innovative approaches, and work independently on critical issues

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in data science, industrial-organizational psychology, statistics, operations research, computer science, behavioral science, public policy, or another relevant discipline
• Experience developing production-oriented analytics or AI frameworks that integrate multiple structured and unstructured data sources
• Experience with API integration, data engineering, dashboard development, and automated workflow design
• Experience applying AI and analytics to workforce strategy, organizational health, operational improvement, healthcare, public-sector, or other complex regulated environments
• Experience designing large-scale surveys, assessment instruments, measurement frameworks, or mixed-methods research programs
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, Qualtrics, SAS, or comparable tools used for data collection, analysis, visualization, and executive reporting
• Experience leading vendor-supported work, managing service expectations, or coordinating delivery across multidisciplinary teams
• Experience establishing practical standards for analytical quality, model evaluation, documentation, human review, and responsible use of AI-enabled workflows
• 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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.