Vice President Data Science

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.

The VBC Clinical Data Science Lead will report to the Senior Vice President of Clinical Data Science and provide enterprise leadership for the Value Based Care Clinical Solutions data science strategy across Ireland and global interfaces. This role is accountable for defining, shaping, and executing the next generation of clinical analytics and advanced data science capabilities that directly enable value based care delivery, population health management, and clinical performance improvement. 

The incumbent will lead the integration of advanced analytics, causal inference, and predictive and prescriptive models into Clinical Solutions operations and new VBC products, ensuring analytics are embedded seamlessly into clinical, operational, and business workflows. This leader will translate complex clinical and financial signals into actionable insights that improve quality, outcomes, and total cost of care. 

As a senior enterprise leader, the role will influence VBC strategy and investment priorities, drive large scale transformation initiatives across multiple domains (clinical, actuarial, operations, and technology), and ensure alignment with UnitedHealth Group's long term value based care objectives. The position is accountable for delivering measurable outcomes, including improved clinical quality, reduced avoidable utilization, and sustainable performance at scale. 

In addition to building and sustaining a high performing clinical data science organization, the VBC Clinical Data Science Lead will develop future enterprise leaders, champion a data driven and outcomes oriented culture, and serve as a role model for UnitedHealth Group's values. The role requires solid executive presence, the ability to lead change across complex systems, and proven experience managing systemic performance improvement across multiple business units in a value based care environment.

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

Primary Responsibilities:

Enterprise Leadership & Business Engagement 

• Provide strategic leadership for the VBC data science vision across Ireland and global interfaces, actively engaging with SVPs of Operations and Product for Clinical Solutions, SVPs of Technology, the Chief Data Office, and senior leaders across UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Optum Health (OH)
• Influence enterprise priorities, shape investment decisions, and align initiatives with business transformation goals and new product strategies to deliver measurable impact across the organization

Operational Integration & Performance Excellence 

• Drive systemic performance improvement by embedding data science standards into operational workflows, establishing enterprise-wide benchmarks for excellence, and leading talent development and succession planning to ensure a solid pipeline of future leaders

Strategic Asset Ownership & Technology Leadership 

• Own the strategic direction for data science platforms and assets, ensuring seamless integration into Clinical Solutions' operating model and alignment with value-based care initiatives
• Partner with enterprise technology leadership to harmonize architecture and governance across domains

Transformation & Advanced Analytics Enablement 

• Lead enterprise transformation programs that embed advanced analytics and AI/ML capabilities into clinical and non-clinical workflows, delivering measurable outcomes in efficiency, quality, and patient experience

Innovation & Emerging Technology Adoption

• Shape the enterprise innovation agenda by anticipating emerging technologies and translating advancements in AI and analytics into scalable, secure, and compliant solutions for Clinical Solutions globally

Cultural & Organizational Agility 

• Champion cultural transformation by fostering inclusion, diversity, and collaboration across multi-domain teams, strengthening organizational agility and resilience in a rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem

Executive Advisory & Data-Driven Decision Making

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives, influencing enterprise strategy and driving adoption of data-driven decision-making across business units, ensuring alignment with financial, operational, and clinical objectives

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:

• Advanced degree in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related technical field
• Proven track record of enterprise leadership in a complex, matrixed environment, ideally within healthcare, insurance, or large scale financial services, with demonstrated ability to influence multi domain strategy
• Demonstrated strategic expertise in advanced analytics and AI/ML, with ability to shape investment priorities and integrate data science into business transformation initiatives rather than focusing on hands-on technical delivery
• Demonstrated executive level ability to translate analytics into business outcomes, influencing senior stakeholders and shaping organizational strategy across multiple business units
• Demonstrated solid communication and change leadership skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to diverse executive audiences and drive adoption of data driven decision making at scale
• Demonstrated success in building enterprise talent pipelines, including succession planning, leadership development, and fostering an inclusive, high performance culture across global teams
• Proven ability to lead systemic performance improvement, manage transformation programs, and deliver measurable organizational impact beyond functional boundaries

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or equivalent business leadership experience 
• Proven experience working with healthcare data (e.g., claims, EMRs, authorizations, provider contracts)
• Demonstrated familiarity with risk adjustment, quality and stars and clinical operations
• Demonstrated natural curiosity, with the ability to explore emerging trends, analyze details, and identify key drivers of business challenges and opportunities

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.