Sr. Director, Optum People Analytics

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

The Optum People Analytics team turns workforce data into insight and action-advancing our mission to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. As Senior Director, you will be the enterprise connector and thought partner for Optum’s leaders, leveraging data driven insights to shape strategy, drive change, and deliver measurable business impact. You will lead the Optum People Analytics & Insights team and play a senior role within UHG’s People Analytics CoE, partnering closely with colleagues across Optum, UHC, and UHG to build scalable, efficient, and consistent solutions. This role is ideal for a senior analytics leader with a solid foundation in I/O Psychology, behavioral science, or applied research who has scaled people analytics to influence enterprise strategy and outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Impact
  • Set the vision and roadmap for Optum People Analytics, aligned to Optum’s growth priorities and the UHG People Analytics CoE
  • Translate business goals into analytics strategies (descriptive, predictive, prescriptive) that inform decisions, quantify impact, and improve performance
  • Provide an enterprise “single source of truth” and consistent organizational views across Optum
• Executive Partnership
  • Serve as a key advisor to the Optum CPO and People Leadership Team; shape strategies on talent, engagement, retention, and workforce planning
  • Design executive scorecards, dashboards, and standard reporting that track progress against core organizational strategies and CoE standards
• People Leadership & Operations
  • Lead, recruit, and develop a high performing team of analytics & insights professionals; set goals, manage performance, and mentor for growth
  • Champion cross enterprise automation and analytics product development to improve efficiency and scale
• Analytics & Products
  • Direct advanced analytics to solve complex business problems across Optum – including turnover and employee survey analysis, strategic workforce planning, and succession/mobility insights
  • Establish and enforce best practice methods for experimental design, forecasting, segmentation, and causal inference where appropriate
  • Uphold solid data governance, privacy, and ethics for HR/PII data; elevate data literacy across the Optum People team and business leaders
• Cross Enterprise Collaboration
  • Partner with UHG People COEs and analytics leaders in UHC and UHG to align standards, share solutions, and accelerate adoption across the enterprise
  • Balance needs of multiple stakeholder groups while delivering on Optum’s analytics agenda

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 as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years applying conceptual/advanced analytics to frame hypotheses, test assumptions, interpret results, and convert findings into action
• 10+ years analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data to produce business insights

• 10+ years consulting with senior stakeholders and influencing executive decisions

   

• 5+ years leading or partnering closely with FP&A on financial drivers, impact sizing, and benefits realization

   

• Demonstrated expertise in designing and building executive-ready analytics products, including dashboards, and reporting that connect workforce insights to business performance
• Proven ability to synthesize complex analyses into clear, actionable recommendations, linking People Analytics insights to business outcomes
• Proven solid data acumen with the ability to identify trends, anomalies, and data quality issues requiring investigation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading change at scale; comfort with ambiguity and evolving priorities
• Working knowledge of HR data platforms (e.g., Oracle HCM, survey/experience tools), and data privacy/ethics for HR/PII (e.g., CCPA considerations)
• Familiarity with the UnitedHealth Group businesses (Optum RX, Optum Insight, Optum Health, etc.) and operating models
• Domain depth in People/HR and organizational systems, ideally within large, matrixed, or regulated environments (healthcare experience is a plus)
• Expertise in applied statistical and research methods and techniques (e.g., forecasting, segmentation, validation, causal/experiment design) and translating them into decision-ready products
• Advanced Excel and enterprise BI (e.g., Power BI, Domo); ability to partner or guide work in SQL and a statistical language (Python/R) for modeling
• Track record developing talent and shaping a learning, growth mindset culture
• Demonstrated inclusive, role model leadership that builds psychological safety and elevates the team’s craft
• Demonstrated outstanding communication and consulting skills; able to simplify complexity for non technical audiences and influence without authority
• Demonstrated systems thinking and organizational agility; global perspective on workforce dynamics

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.

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 marginalized 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.

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 a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.