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.

Serving virtually every dimension of the health system, we work with a diverse set of clients across 150 countries – from those who diagnose and treat patients to those who pay for care, deliver health services, and those who supply the cures. Optum maintains operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Our innovative partnerships provide technology and tools that enable unprecedented collaboration and efficiency. As a result, we can tap into valuable health care data to uncover insights and develop strategies for better care at lower costs.

About the role:

This position will report to the Director of Data Science and serve in support of Optum Health Data Science responsibilities The position will provide general leadership for Optum Health data science in Ireland, with the primary focus on supporting the next generation, value based care analytic engine and the associated data science capabilities. The position will work in partnership with the wider data science team to provide clinical data science support for the Optum Health key stakeholders and senior leadership team. In addition to building and leading a high performing data science function, you 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.

Primary Responsibilities of the Director Data Science:  

•    Provide leadership for Optum Health and Clinical data science functions in Ireland in partnership with other key senior leadership colleagues in support of Data Science 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 data science assets in production – this includes monitoring, maintenance and reporting on performance.
•    Take primary ownership of the pipeline of 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 non-clinical data science
•    Staying current on internal and external technological advanced in AI, and advanced analytics, that can be applied to the Optum Health business, in particular in relation to rule development.
•    Drive inclusion and diversity as part of enhancing continued development of a team culture, and approach across data science.

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 of the Director Data Science:

•    Advanced Degree in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, related technical field or equivalent experience.
•    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 and relate business objectives back to a diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications of the Director Data Science:

•    Working with healthcare data (Aka claims, authorization, provider contracts, etc)
•    Experience in Suspecting and Recapture Gap closure or Affordability with a particular focus on coordination of benefits, subrogation, claims cost management and data mining.
•    Natural curiosity to learn more, dig into details, and understand the key drivers of emerging trends and challenges

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.