Director of Communications -Eden Prairie, MN Preferred/Remote Considered

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 Senior Director, Executive Communications & Thought Leadership will serve as a lead communications advisor to the Optum Health CEO and select members of the Optum Health C-suite. This highly visible role will develop and lead an integrated executive communications and thought leadership strategy that elevates the Optum Health brand, strengthens leadership visibility and credibility, and reinforces Optum Health's unique integrated value based care narrative.

The Senior Director will translate Optum Health's business strategy, clinical expertise, market insights, and impact into clear, compelling narratives for priority external and internal audiences. The individual will define the issues and conversations on which Optum Health and its leaders can credibly lead, develop distinctive executive platforms, and identify the moments and channels that will create the greatest strategic value.

This role requires both a senior communications strategist and an exceptional executive writer. The successful candidate will build trusted relationships with the CEO and select senior leaders, learn and authentically reflect each executive's voice, and produce high-quality communications across formats. The Senior Director will own the strategy and lead execution with support from across the communications organization.

The role will establish the discipline, governance, and prioritization needed to focus executive communications on opportunities that best advance Optum Health's strategy and reputation. This includes providing direct counsel, exercising sound judgment, and redirecting requests that do not align with agreed priorities.

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:

Executive Communications Strategy and Counsel

• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to the Optum Health CEO and select C-suite leaders, providing counsel on positioning, messaging, executive presence, tone, and engagement
• Develop and lead an integrated executive communications strategy aligned with Optum Health business priorities, the broader Optum narrative, and enterprise reputation objectives
• Build a deep understanding of the CEO's leadership style, perspective, and voice and translate it into communications that are authentic, distinctive, and credible
• Develop differentiated communications platforms for select C-suite leaders, defining each leader's priority topics, audiences, role, voice, and engagement approach
• Translate complex business, clinical, operational, market, and policy priorities into clear, compelling executive narratives
• Anticipate communications needs, stakeholder questions, and potential scrutiny; provide proactive counsel and real-time support in high-stakes situations
• Exercise strategic judgment in evaluating requests and opportunities, redirecting work that does not align with organizational priorities
• Ensure executive communications elevate Optum Health and reinforce a coherent, enterprise-aligned Optum narrative
  

Thought Leadership Strategy

• Develop and own the Optum Health thought leadership strategy, with primary emphasis on elevating the external visibility, influence, and reputation of Optum Health and, ultimately, the Optum brand
• Identify priority issues and areas of expertise on which Optum Health and its leaders have a credible, differentiated right to lead
• Establish a focused portfolio of thought leadership platforms aligned with business strategy, stakeholder needs, market dynamics, and reputation opportunities
• Define target audiences, desired outcomes, narratives, proof points, executive voices, channels, and activation strategies for each platform
• Develop an annual roadmap connecting executive engagement, speeches, earned media, bylined content, social media, proprietary insights, industry events, convenings, and partnerships
• Monitor the healthcare, policy, competitive, cultural, and media landscape for emerging issues, whitespace opportunities, and reputational risk
• Elevate clinical, operational, business, and other subject-matter experts when their expertise strengthens credibility and reach
• Recommend when Optum Health should lead, contribute, partner, or intentionally remain outside a public conversation
  

Narrative, Evidence and Message Development

• Develop and steward a differentiated Optum Health narrative and message architecture connecting purpose, strategy, capabilities, expertise, outcomes, and impact
• Work with key communications partners to create and maintain executive messaging platforms, core narratives, approved proof points, audience-specific messages, and issue positioning
• Partner with business, clinical, strategy, policy, research, analytics, finance, legal, compliance, and other experts to identify and validate evidence, outcomes, case studies, and stories
• Ensure consistency across audiences and channels while preserving each leader's authentic voice.
• Apply rigorous editorial judgment so content is clear, accurate, credible, relevant, and substantive rather than promotional
  

Executive Visibility, Engagement and Content

• Develop an external visibility strategy for the CEO and select C-suite leaders that advances Optum Health narratives and reputation objectives
• Establish criteria for evaluating speaking, media, social, convening, partnership, podcast, award, and other opportunities
• Proactively identify high-value forums, audiences, relationships, and moments; recommend where leaders should invest their time and voice
• Determine the most credible leader or expert to represent each priority narrative or issue.
• Working with key partners, develop integrated activation plans that extend the value of major engagements before, during, and after each moment
• Prepare, brief, rehearse, and coach executives for speeches, media interviews, industry events, employee engagements, customer meetings, and other high-profile opportunities
• Write and oversee speeches, keynote remarks, talking points, opinion pieces, presentations, social content, video scripts, briefing documents, and employee communications
• Provide strategic and editorial direction to media, storytelling, creative, and content partners while retaining accountability for final executive content
  

Strategic Internal Engagements

• Lead communications strategy and content development for select internal engagements where executive participation is critical to advancing strategy, strengthening trust, or aligning employees
• Develop executive communications for major organizational moments, including town halls, leadership meetings, business updates, strategic announcements, and periods of significant change
• Connect internal and external narratives so employees understand Optum Health's direction, priorities, impact, and role within Optum
• Use internal engagements selectively and strategically, focusing capacity on moments with the greatest leadership and organizational significance

How You'll Work

• Own the Optum Health executive communications and thought leadership strategy within the broader enterprise communications framework
• Work directly with the CEO and select C-suite leaders, building trust and access to anticipate needs and provide effective counsel
• Operate as both a senior strategist and hands-on practitioner
• Lead through influence across a highly matrixed organization, mobilizing capabilities from across the communications team
• Partner closely with Strategic Communications, Business Campaigns, Writing, Content, Storytelling, Media Relations, Public Affairs, Social Media, Brand, Marketing, Events, Employee Communications, and Channels
• Build solid relationships with clinical, business, strategy, analytics, research, finance, legal, compliance, and policy partners
• Travel approximately 25% to support executive engagements, leadership meetings, events, and other business needs

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:

• Significant progressive experience in executive communications, corporate communications, thought leadership, public affairs, reputation management, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience advising a CEO, C-suite executive, or comparably senior leader
• Proven ability to develop and execute executive communications and thought leadership strategies tied to business and reputation priorities
• Proven exceptional executive writing and editing skills across speeches, presentations, long-form, digital, social, video, and briefing formats
• Demonstrated ability to learn, develop, and consistently capture an executive's authentic voice.
• Experience working successfully in highly matrixed organization
• Ability to translate complex business, clinical, technical, policy, or financial information into clear and compelling narratives
• Demonstrated solid business acumen and ability to lead through influence in a complex, highly matrixed organization
• Ability to manage high-profile priorities, tight deadlines, sensitive information, and ambiguity with discretion and composure
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 25%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Healthcare industry experience, particularly in healthcare services, care delivery, health benefits, technology, or a diversified health organization
• Understanding of patient, consumer, clinician, employer, health plan, health system, policymaker, and industry stakeholder perspectives
• Experience developing evidence-based thought leadership using clinical outcomes, research, data, market insights, or proprietary expertise
• Experience supporting multiple C-suite leaders while maintaining differentiated platforms and a cohesive organizational narrative
• Experience building governance, operating models, editorial standards, and measurement frameworks

Key Capabilities:

• Enterprise and strategic mindset
• Executive counsel and presence
• Exceptional writing and storytelling
• Thought leadership expertise
• Editorial judgment
• Healthcare fluency
• Audience orientation
• Issues anticipation
• Cross-functional leadership
• Agility, discretion, and composure
• Strategic execution

*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 $159,300 - $273,200 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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.