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:

In healthcare, evolution doesn’t just happen. It takes innovation, imagination, and a passion for solving problems in new and better ways. And innovation is taking place at a lightning-fast pace every day at Optum. 
As the fastest growing part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, we’re expanding our team in Ireland and creating excellent opportunities for those who want greater purpose and more impact in their work. We’ll provide the investment, support, and resources to advance your career. You’ll provide the talent, ambition, and drive.

Todays’ RCM is inherently complex due to opaque and payer-specific adjudication rules, incurring significant waste and inefficiency. Optum Insight is committed to delivering new technology and processes to improve the Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) workflow using advances in Gen AI and other state-of-the-art technology that would ultimately benefit all stakeholders involved in the healthcare ecosystem — payers, providers, and patients.

We are looking for a Director Data Scientist to lead a growing Data Science team to develop new analytic products. As a leader of the Data Science team, you will be part of UnitedHealth Group’s mission of helping people live healthier lives. You will work alongside other Data Scientist leaders and subject matter experts to drive a portfolio of high value-add AI solutions. Join us! There’s never been a better time to do your life’s best work

This position will report to the Senior Director Data Science in Ireland with a dotted line to US-based Data Science leadership. This role will support the development of an exciting new product which will form part of the OptumInsight product suite. The position will work in partnership with local analytic leadership in Ireland as part of the broader Optum Ireland ecosystem, while building strong relationships with US-based AI/ML experts. In addition to building and leading a high performing data science function, the role 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 offices and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model. 

Primary Responsibilities:  

•    Provide leadership for OptumInsight data science product team in Ireland in partnership with other key senior data science leaders in Ireland and the US
•    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 data science assets built within the team 
•    Take primary ownership of the pipeline of data science solutions assigned to the team – ensuring consistent use of tooling and processes across the team.
•    Provide strategic and technical direction aligned to analytic efforts around AI/machine learning 
•    Stay current on internal and external technological advances in AI and advanced analytics that can be applied to the OptumInsight business
•    Drive inclusion and diversity as part of enhancing continued development of a strong diverse team culture

You will be rewarded and recognised 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 providing development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

•    Advanced Degree in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, or related technical field.
•    Extensive experience of leadership in a matrixed environment
•    Substantial hands-on experience in AI/ML using contemporary tools such as PyTorch. 
•    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 ( claims, clinical records, authorization, provider contracts etc)
•    Natural curiosity to learn more, dig into details, and understand the key drivers of emerging trends and challenges 
•    Appreciation of  ethical and  regulatory  considerations in data science and willingness to apply them in practice 
•    Experience in managing complex data science projects within a cross-functional team, to mentor junior team members and to foster a culture of knowledge sharing. 

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.

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.

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