Director, Pharma Strategy

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 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.

Emisar is a Group Purchasing Organisation within the overall Optum structure, working closely with manufacturers to negotiate value on pharmaceutical products for the benefit of our group members.

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 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.

About the Role:

Emisar is seeking a leader to shape, scale, and mature its Pharma Strategy capability. This role moves beyond individual contributor strategy execution to owning strategic assets, driving durable process improvement, and building organizational capability over time.

The Director will serve as a thought partner to senior leadership, translating complex market dynamics into scalable strategies, tools, and frameworks that materially influence manufacturer negotiations and member value. As the function grows, this role is expected to assume people management responsibility, including mentoring, performance management, and team development.

The role reports to the VP, Pharma Strategy, Emisar and partners closely with Industry Relations, Finance, Clinical, and Operations leaders.

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 office and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model.

What you will do:

Strategic Leadership & Market Insight

• Own end to end pharma strategy development across priority therapeutic areas, incorporating competitive intelligence, regulatory dynamics, pipeline assessment, and pricing policy evolution
• Act as a senior subject matter expert on U.S. commercial rebate economics, and manufacturer behavior
• Anticipate market inflection points and proactively shape enterprise strategy

Asset Development & Intellectual Capital

• Design and continuously refine repeatable strategic assets including rebate optimization frameworks, class level strategy playbooks, financial models, and executive ready narratives
• Ensure assets are scalable, reusable, and consistently applied

Process Improvement & Operating Model Ownership

• Lead initiatives to improve efficiency, consistency, and quality of pharma strategy development
• Embed standardized tools, templates, and workflows across teams

Negotiation & Business Partnership

• Act as strategic advisor in manufacturer negotiations and senior decision forums
• Translate complex analysis into clear executive recommendations

Talent Development & People Management

• Mentor and develop junior team members
• Assume people management responsibility as the function scales

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

Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent
• Proven extensive experience in pharma, healthcare, payer strategy, or Pharma market access consulting
• Proven deep understanding of U.S. pharmaceutical economics and contracting dynamics
• Demonstrable solid executive communication and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MBA, PharmD, or similar)
• Proven experience building or scaling a strategy function

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.  

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.


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. © 2026 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.

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