Health Economics Researcher - Remote

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 Health Economics Researcher plays a critical role in advancing evidence-based decision-making across Optum Health by developing and validating rigorous health economic models that assess the clinical and economic value of pharmaceutical therapies, clinical interventions, and clinical programs. This position serves as a key subject matter expert in health economics, outcomes research, and health technology assessment, supporting affordability, quality, and patient outcome initiatives.

The role bridges health economic analysis, clinical expertise, real-world evidence, and strategic decision-making supporting the business and affordability mission of the quadruple aim. The successful candidate will partner with clinical, data analytics, operations, technology, and senior leadership teams to evaluate clinical interventions, support National Value & Therapeutics (V&T) Committee activities, and guide evidence-based recommendations and coverage decisions.

This position requires advanced quantitative and economic modeling expertise, solid communication skills, and the ability to effectively influence stakeholders in a highly matrixed environment.

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: 

• Develop, validate, and maintain cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, cost-benefit, and budget impact models for pharmaceutical therapies, clinical programs, and clinical interventions
• Conduct health economic evaluations using published literature, real-world evidence, and internal data sources
• Assess the comparative value of emerging therapies and clinical interventions to support formulary management and National V&T Committee decision-making
• Critically evaluate and benchmark internally developed models against published economic analyses and ensure alignment with current best practices
• Perform sensitivity analyses, scenario testing, and model stress-testing to assess the robustness of economic conclusions
• Develop meaningful data visualizations, dashboards, and reporting tools to communicate key insights to decision-makers
• Translate complex evidence-based medicine and health economics findings into actionable recommendations for leadership and stakeholders
• Present complex health economic analyses and methodologies to executive leadership, physicians, clinical committees, and external stakeholders
• Provide guidance on methodological standards, best practices, and policies related to economic evaluation
• Serve as a trusted advisor on health economics, outcomes research, and value-based care initiatives
• Support development and lifecycle management of evidence-based clinical pharmacy programs and initiatives
• Support monitoring pharmaceutical pipeline developments and emerging evidence that may impact clinical and economic decision-making
• Support complex cross-functional projects with significant organizational impact.
• Support innovation and ideation efforts focused on improving member outcomes, provider experience, and healthcare affordability
• Collaborate with analytics teams to develop research strategies leveraging real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE)
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including clinical pharmacy, medical directors, data analytics, operations, technology, and business leaders
• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, and pharmaceutical manufacturers while maintaining alignment with Optum Health's mission and values

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: 

• Demonstrated experience developing and conducting health economic evaluations, including cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses
• Experience designing, testing, and validating economic models and decision-analytic frameworks
• Experience critically appraising clinical, economic, and outcomes research literature
• Proven expertise in evidence-based medicine, comparative effectiveness research, and critical literature evaluation
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of health economics, pharmacoeconomic outcomes research, and health technology assessment methodologies
• Demonstrated advanced statistical literacy and understanding of clinical study design
• Proven knowledge of managed care, pharmacy benefit management, formulary decision-making, and healthcare reimbursement
• Proven ability to communicate complex methodologies and findings to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience delivering presentations to executive leadership, clinical committees, and healthcare professionals
• Demonstrated excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Experience in project management, organizational, and prioritization capabilities
• Proven ability to work independently while managing multiple concurrent initiatives
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Proven proficiency in programming and analytic tools such as R, Python, SAS or similar platforms
• Experience with interactive application programming languages preferred
• Experience with other general programming languages useful in decision analysis preferred
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals related to health economics, outcomes research, or health technology assessment

*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 $91,700 - $163,700 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.