Associate Director of Communications - Optum Health South Region

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 Associate Communication Director, Optum Health, will lead communication strategies and execution for the South region, including executive, change management and critical event communication, and media relations, leveraging strategies and tactics that elevate the businesses' reputation and enhance performance and connections with employees and external audiences. The Associate Director will work with the South region communications lead and partner with leaders and other key stakeholders across the business to develop aligned messaging plans that engage employees on business goals, performance and culture and partner with other key stakeholders across the business and enterprise including  Government Affairs, Marketing, Clinical, Operations, Patient Experience, People Team, Legal, Compliance and other enterprise partners to identify and leverage opportunities to drive business objectives.

Essential qualities for success in this position include strategic expertise, leadership presence, collaborative disposition, uncompromising eye for quality, change agility, resourcefulness, creative problem-solving, multi-tasking skills, and flexibility.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Work closely with market presidents, senior leadership team and other key functions to develop and implement communication strategies and thought leadership opportunities, and report regularly on progress
• Serve as a strategic partner, collaborate with internal stakeholders to proactively assess and address needs, and develop and implement strategic communication plans, vehicles, media and messaging
• Coordinate market/region communication strategies and activities with national/enterprise communication activities to leverage content and ensure alignment
• Develop and implement communication strategies that connect employees to our business vision, roadmaps and goals, reinforce our mission, values and culture and improve business performance
• Develop and implement communication strategies and tactics that expand brand awareness, position our leaders and business as experts in health care and drive business results. Collaborate with the broader l communications team to identify, pursue and place earned news media and to respond to news media inquiries
• Write and develop content tailored to the specific medium and audience requirements
• Adapt style/tone to meet the needs of the specific message/leader/audience/channel
• Project manage communication campaigns to ensure timely, successful completion and quality results
• Analyze communication performance, report regularly on status and continuously improve strategy, channels, content and tactics
• Proactively seek out and promote innovative and creative approaches to communication
• Establish a cohort of media-trained spokespersons and coordinate earned news media placements
• Support issues management activities, helping minimize any impact on reputation
• Cultivate a high-performing communication function by building skills through coaching, mentoring and ongoing training and development. Develop and evaluate team members to ensure effectiveness and alignment with current and future goals and initiatives

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:

• Bachelor's degree in communication, English, Journalism or a related field
• 8+ years corporate communication experience
• Project management experience and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience communicating in multiple media (e.g., print, email, web, video/audio, graphics) 
• Experience working with local, top-tier and national news media outlets/reporters.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Demonstrated success working with senior executive level clients and stakeholders, and building solid relationships across business groups and functions
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex, often-changing environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field
• Health care experience
• Highly skilled at thoughtfully developing communication plans for a wide variety of initiatives including those in support of growth and change

• Superb writing skills with the ability to translate strategy, complex topics and technical language into compelling communication for a variety of audiences

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.

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 $112,700 to $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

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.