Senior Director, AI Innovation and Strategy - Human Resources

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Hybrid; USD 159,000 - 273,000; Full time

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group’s Optum division seeks a Senior Director, AI Innovation and Strategy for Human Resources. You will lead the design, packaging, and commercialization of AI solutions, translating research into market-ready offerings and partnering with go-to-market, engineering, and operations teams.

The role supports a national remote work model with some on-site requirements in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in product strategy, management, or commercialization with focus on AI.
• 7+ years HR/workforce domain expertise (planning, talent, learning, analytics).
• 5+ years external partnership models and commercial development agreements.
• 5+ years elite management consulting with demonstrated client impact.
• 5+ years launching and scaling enterprise AI in HR/workforce domains.
• 3+ years operations with cloud platforms and model operations.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders to align strategy and delivery.
• Willingness to travel 30-40% to client locations.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio leadership: define AI solutions portfolio and roadmap.
• Go-to-Market Enablement: equip sales and delivery teams with narratives and architectures.
• Support Delivery: lead client-facing meetings to translate AI capabilities into value.
• Innovation Intake: translate research into commercial offerings with partners.
• Pricing and Commercial Discipline: develop pricing strategies with operations and finance.
• Partnerships and Ecosystem: manage external partners and ensure IP/data governance.
• Performance Management: track KPI for portfolio growth and profitability.
• Strategic AI Adoption: drive enterprise AI strategy across functions.

Skills

AI strategy

Product management

Workforce analytics

External partnerships

Management consulting

Enterprise AI

Executive communication

Travel readiness

Education

Advanced degree

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.

The Senior Director, AI Innovation and Strategy - Human Resources leads the design, packaging, and commercialization of AI solutions in the Human Resources and workforce solutions portfolio. This leader translates advanced AI capabilities into market-ready products and solution offerings, partnering closely with go-to-market, engineering, and operations teams to deliver measurable client value and business growth.

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

• Portfolio Leadership: Define and manage the AI solutions portfolio and roadmap, ensuring alignment with client needs and business strategy.
• Go-to-Market Enablement: Equip sales and delivery teams with compelling product narratives, competitive positioning, and reference architectures.
• Support Delivery: Partner with cross-functional AI engagement leaders to lead client-facing meetings, workshops, and status updates to ensure technical capabilities are translated into measurable business value.
• Innovation Intake: Prioritize and translate research outputs and new capabilities into commercial offerings by working with internal and external partners.
• Pricing and Commercial Discipline: Develop pricing strategies and commercial guardrails in partnership with operations and finance.
• Partnerships and Ecosystem: Build and manage relationships with external partners, technology providers, and industry collaborators to accelerate market reach; collaborate with Legal and Corporate Compliance functions to account for intellectual property (including patents and trademarks), data privacy and security, and commercialization quality related to new AI-enabled digital capabilities.
• Performance Management: Set and track key performance indicators for portfolio growth, profitability, and customer impact.
• Strategic AI Adoption: Drive AI enterprise strategy, adoption, and responsible AI practices across business functions to deliver tangible business outcomes

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 asprovidedevelopment for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in product strategy, management, or commercialization, with recent focus on AI or machine learning-powered products, platforms, or solution delivery
• 7+ years of deep domain expertise across one or more HR/workforce areas (e.g., workforce planning, talent acquisition, onboarding, learning and development, performance, compensation, benefits, or workforce analytics)
• 5+ years of experience with external partnership models, such as joint ventures, contract-based research collaborations, technology licensing arrangements (e.g., white-labeling), or commercial development agreements
• 5+ years of experience in elite management consulting environments (e.g., McKinsey, Bain, BCG, or equivalent), with demonstrated progression in responsibility and client impact
• 5+ years of experience identifying, evaluating, and implementing transformational AI technologies and solutions within complex organizations
• 5+ years of experience launching and scaling enterprise AI solutions within Human Resources, workforce, talent, employee-experience, or related functional environments
• 3+ years of experience managing model operations, cloud platforms, and productization best practices
• Experience partnering with executive leaders (Director level and above) to develop, present, and gain alignment on business, technology, or transformation strategies.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, aligning diverse stakeholders to achieve business objectives in complex, matrixed organizations
• Ability to travel up to 30-40% to client locations

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., Master's, MBA)
• Experience establishing IP protection, data privacy, and governance frameworks for AI-enabled digital capabilities
• 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 $159,300 to $273,200 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,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.