Senior Director-Data Science

Optum is a global organisation 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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. 

About the Role:

As a Fortune 5 business, we’re one of the world’s leading healthcare companies. There are no limits here on the resources you’ll have or the challenges you’ll encounter. 
We have been supporting global healthcare systems from Ireland and the UK for more than 20 years, building a dynamic and diverse team of more than 2,100 talented individuals. With a continued record of growth and stability, we’re on the constant lookout for fresh talent to join our expanding teams.

This position will report to the VP of Data Science Ireland and serve in support of Payment Integrity Decision Intelligence (PIDI). The position will provide general leadership for PIDI data science in Ireland with primary focus on the clinical portfolio of data science capabilities in PI . The position will work in partnership with the VP to provide primary clinical data science support for the PI Core Analytics and Solution Advisors team. In addition to building and leading a high performing data science function, the incumbent will also be accountable for translating United Health Group’s culture and values into action and be a role model for all members of the team.

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model. 

Primary Responsibilities:

•    Provide leadership for PIDI clinical data science functions in Ireland in partnership with other key PIDI senior leadership colleagues in support of Payment Integrity business.
•    Drive excellence and standardization across the data science team with a focus on skills development, training and career progression
•    Take primary ownership of the suite of clinical data science assets in production – this includes monitoring, maintenance and reporting on performance.
•    Take primary ownership of the pipeline of clinical data science assets in development – ensuring consistent use of tooling and processes across the team.
•    Provide strategic direction and thought leadership for analytic efforts around AI/machine learning as it applies to clinical data science
•    Staying current on internal and external technological advanced in AI, and advanced analytics, that can be applied to the PI business, in particular in relation to clinical Payment Integrity.
•    Drive inclusion and diversity as part of enhancing continued development of a team culture, and approach across PIDI.

Required Qualifications:

•    Advanced Degree in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, or related technical field.
•    Extensive experience of leadership in a matrixed environment, ideally in health insurance or financial services.
•    Substantial hands-on experience in data mining and predictive analytics with machine learning/statistical modeling techniques and advanced data science tools such as R or Python.
•    Expert ability to identify business objectives, and fashion analytic solutions around these objectives.
•    Strong ability to communicate technical results, with a connection back to the business objectives, to a diverse audience.
•    Skill at developing and fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture as part of a global team.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Working with healthcare data (Aka claims, authorization, provider contracts, etc)
•    Experience in Clinical Payment Integrity or Affordability with a particular focus on Waste & Error, Fraud & Abuse, Provider Education – with a further focus on either Cost & Productivity or Growth
•    Natural curiosity to learn more, dig into details, and understand the key drivers of emerging trends and challenges

All telecommuters will be required to adhere to the UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

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 marginalised 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.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug-free workplace. © 2024 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.