Director, AI Innovation & Strategy - Human Resources

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Equity stock purchase program

401(k) contribution

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Optum is seeking a Director of AI Innovation & Strategy in HR to lead market strategy, client growth, and solution development for AI-enabled HR offerings. You will build executive relationships with CHROs, shape growth opportunities, and oversee delivery activities to maximize value across employee experience, workforce effectiveness, and HR efficiency.

You will manage remote work across the U.S. with in-office presence in certain hubs, collaborating across product, data science, and compliance

Qualifications

• 10+ years in strategy, consulting, or HR-related leadership roles.
• 5+ years advising CHROs or C-suite leaders.
• 2+ years with AI, ML, cloud platforms, and HR data architectures.
• Willing to travel 30-40% domestically to client locations.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI-enabled HR and workforce market strategies, roadmaps, and business plans.
• Build relationships with CHROs and senior leaders to identify opportunities.
• Lead proposals, executive presentations, demos, and complex sales pursuits.
• Advise executives on AI strategy, governance, operating-model changes, and workforce adoption.
• Incorporate responsible AI considerations, including privacy, bias mitigation, fairness, transparency, and oversight.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives across product, engineering, data science, HR, legal, and compliance.
• Shape solutions that leverage workforce data and ensure integration with enterprise HR tech environments.
• Track pipeline, sales, revenue, profitability, and pricing models.

Skills

Strategy & consulting

Executive relationships

HR leadership

AI & ML experience

Business development

Travel readiness

Education

MBA or equivalent

PhD in related field

Tools

Workday

SAP SuccessFactors

Oracle HCM

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 start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The AI Strategy & Innovation team at Optum leads market strategy, client growth, solution development, and commercialization for AI-enabled HR and workforce offerings. As Director, AI Innovation & Strategy - Human Resources, you will serve as a functional thought leader and senior client advisor, predicting emerging workforce needs and developing innovative solutions with broad business impact. You will build executive relationships with CHROs and senior enterprise leaders, shape strategic growth opportunities, support sales pursuits, and convert emerging artificial intelligence capabilities into differentiated HR offerings. In this role, you will maintain active involvement in critical delivery activities to ensure AI-powered solutions enhance employee experience, workforce effectiveness, organizational performance, and HR operating efficiency, while leveraging cutting-edge machine learning and enterprise technology platforms.

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

• Market & Portfolio Strategy: Develop AI-enabled HR and workforce market strategies, priority use cases, solution roadmaps, and business plans aligned with client needs and organizational growth objectives
• Client Growth & Opportunity Development: Build and expand relationships with CHROs and senior enterprise leaders to identify and shape strategic opportunities across workforce planning, talent acquisition, onboarding, learning, performance, compensation, and employee experience
• Sales Leadership & Solution Commercialization: Lead proposals, executive presentations, demonstrations, workshops, and complex sales pursuits to convert AI innovations into scalable, repeatable offerings with clear value propositions and commercial structures
• Thought Leadership & Executive Advisory: Advise senior HR and business executives on AI strategy, investment priorities, governance, operating-model changes, workforce adoption, and value realization
• Responsible AI & Risk Management: Incorporate employment-related compliance, privacy, security, bias mitigation, fairness, accessibility, transparency, and human oversight into solution design and commercialization decisions, championing ethical AI practices across the development lifecycle
• Cross-Functional Integration: Lead complex initiatives across product, engineering, data science, HR, legal, and compliance teams, integrating enterprise AI tools and capabilities to solve business problems and streamline workforce workflows
• HR Data & Technology Strategy: Shape solutions that leverage workforce, talent, performance, and engagement data, ensuring seamless integration with enterprise HR technology environments
• Performance & Business Planning: Track pipeline, sales, revenue, profitability, product adoption, workforce productivity, and client satisfaction metrics while developing pricing approaches and business models

You’llbe 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 asprovidedevelopment for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, product management, commercialization, business development, human resources, workforce transformation, or AI-enabled solution delivery
• 5+ years of experience working with enterprise HR organizations or advising senior HR and C-suite business leaders
• 5+ years of experience in one or more core domain areas: workforce planning, talent acquisition, learning & development, performance management, compensation/benefits, employee experience, HR operations, or workforce analytics
• 3+ years of experience in business development, pricing strategies, revenue forecasting, or translating emerging AI technologies into commercially viable offerings
• 2+ years of experience with AI and machine learning capabilities, model operations, cloud platforms, and enterprise HR data architectures
• 1+ years of experience applying responsible AI considerations, including employment privacy, bias mitigation, fairness, transparency, and human oversight
• Willing and able to travel up to 30-40% domestically to client locations

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master's or Doctorate) in Business Administration, Human Resources, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams involving product management, data science, engineering, legal, and compliance professionals
• Demonstrated track record of leading complex sales pursuits or consulting engagements resulting in multi-million dollar business impact
• Direct experience with major enterprise HR software platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM) and AI integrations
• Proven executive-level communication, presentation, and negotiation skills with experience influencing CHROs and VP-level stakeholders
• All employees working remote will berequiredto 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,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.