Associate Director, Marketing

Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make health care work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.

Position Overview

Optum Technology is seeking a strategic, highly collaborative marketing leader to serve as a hybrid Integrated & Product Marketing Director supporting the Optum Technology organization and CIO leadership team. This individual contributor role will drive executive thought leadership, technology storytelling, product marketing, and integrated communications strategies that elevate Optum Technology's market presence and showcase innovation across the enterprise. 

This role is ideal for a senior marketing professional who can operate at both strategic and executional levels - partnering closely with technology executives, product leaders, communications teams, and cross-functional marketing partners to translate complex technical concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with clients, partners, analysts, and industry audiences. 

The role blends executive communications, speaking engagement strategy, product and innovation marketing, technology partnership marketing, and integrated campaign development to support Optum Technology's business priorities and reputation in the market. 

Primary Responsibilities 

Executive & Thought Leadership Strategy

• Partner with the CIO organization and senior technology leaders to develop and execute integrated thought leadership strategies aligned to Optum Technology and Optum Insight priorities.  

• Shape executive narratives and positioning around innovation, AI, platform modernization, digital transformation, interoperability, data, and enabling technologies.  

• Identify and drive opportunities for executive visibility through conferences, media, analyst engagement, webinars, industry forums, and strategic events.  

• Develop keynote messaging, presentation narratives, executive talking points, bylines, blogs, and strategic communications content.  

Integrated Marketing & Communications

• Develop integrated marketing and communications plans that support Optum Technology initiatives, innovation programs, and enterprise priorities.  

• Lead cross-channel marketing initiatives across digital, events, contentand executive engagement opportunities.  

• Lead and manage internal and external social media and communications strategies across platforms such as LinkedIn, Viva Engage, and other enterprise and digital channels to amplify thought leadership, promote innovation initiatives, and drive employee and market engagement. 

• Partner with enterprise marketing, communications, social media, creative, and digital teams to ensure alignment and execution consistency.  

• Identify the most effective channels and tactics to amplify messaging and increase engagement with target audiences.  

Product & Innovation Marketing

• Help develop and maintain clear, value-based positioning and messaging for technology products and innovation 

• Support go-to-market strategy and positioning for enabling technologies, platforms, innovation capabilities, and strategic technical solutions.  

• Translate complex technical concepts into differentiated, customer-centric value propositions and market-facing messaging.  

• Collaborate with product, engineering, architecture, and innovation teams to support launches, adoption initiatives, and storytelling around emerging capabilities.  

• Create and maintain sales enablement materials including one-pagers, capability decks, FAQs, videos, and executive presentations 

Technology Partnership Marketing

• Support strategic technology partnership marketing opportunities with external partners, alliances, and ecosystem collaborators.  

• Coordinate joint messaging, co-branded thought leadership, speaking engagements, and integrated communications efforts with partner organizations.  

• Help position Optum Insight Engineering as an innovation leader within the healthcare technology ecosystem.  

Market Intelligence & Strategic Insights

• Monitor industry trends, competitive positioning, customer priorities, and emerging healthcare technology developments to inform marketing strategies and executive positioning.  

• Use analytics and performance insights to evaluate effectiveness of campaigns, thought leadership, and engagement activities.  

• Identify opportunities to improve reach, engagement, and market impact through new tactics, channels, and innovation approaches.  

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence

• Operate as a strategic marketing advisor and connector across technology, marketing, communications, growth office, and business stakeholders.  

• Lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct reporting relationships.  

• Build trusted relationships with executives and key partners across Optum and UHG.  

• Manage multiple high-visibility initiatives simultaneously with strong prioritization and executive presence.  

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications 

• 7+ years of experience in integrated marketing, product marketing, communications, executive communications, or thought leadership roles

• 3+ years of demonstrated experience supporting senior executives and complex enterprise organizations

• 3+ years of experience developing integrated go-to-market and thought leadership strategies

• 3+ years of experience writing at an executive level, presentation development, and storytelling capabilities

• 3+ years of experience managing high-profile speaking engagements, industry events, and executive visibility programs
• 3+ years of experience in a marketing technology role or similar field
• 1+ years of experience translating technical or complex subject matter into clear, compelling business messaging
• Advanced level of proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint (ability to show examples during potential interview)

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in healthcare technology, enterprise technology, SaaS, digital health, AI, cloud, platform, or innovation-focused organizations

• Familiarity with healthcare industry trends, payer/provider technology ecosystems, and digital transformation initiatives

• Experience supporting C-suite or senior technology executives

• Experience with analyst relations, partnership marketing, and executive communications strategy

• Knowledge of digital marketing, marketing automation, and content performance measurement tools 
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authority
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with ability to connect marketing outcomes to business priorities
• Experience working in matrixed enterprise environments

Leadership & Success Profile 

This role reflects the strategic expectations of a Grade Level 29 Marketing Director role, including:

• Independent leadership and ownership of complex initiatives  

• Strategic thinking with strong execution orientation  

• Cross-functional influence and collaboration  

• Strong communication and executive engagement capabilities  

• Data-driven decision making and continuous improvement mindset  

• Innovation and growth orientation  

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and operate effectively in a fast-paced enterprise environment  

Unlike a traditional people-leader Director role, success in this position will be defined by enterprise influence, executive partnership, strategic impact, and the ability to lead through collaboration and expertise rather than direct people management. Error! Filename not specified. 

Key Characteristics 

• Strategic storyteller and communicator  

• Executive presence and strong business acumen  

• Highly collaborative and relationship-oriented  

• Curious, adaptable, and innovation-minded  

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills  

• Customer- and market-centric mindset  

• Pragmatic problem solver with a "roll up your sleeves" mentality 

*All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to 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 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: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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

#RPO, #GREEN