Senior Planning & Strategy Analyst

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.

Optum's Enterprise Clinical Services Strategy & Planning team is seeking a Senior Planning & Strategy Analyst to support strategic research, analytical problem solving, initiative planning, and decision support across a portfolio of business and operational priorities. The role will use quantitative and qualitative evidence to investigate complex questions, identify meaningful patterns, and translate findings into clear recommendations for leaders and cross-functional partners.

This position is designed for an analytical, intellectually curious professional who can work independently within an assigned area of expertise, organize work against deadlines, and communicate complex topics clearly. The analyst will contribute to initiatives from initial problem framing through analysis, recommendation development, implementation planning, and progress assessment. The role will operate at the intersection of strategy, analytics, emerging capabilities, and healthcare operations, with opportunities to evaluate new technologies and methods where they can improve decision-making or business performance.

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:
Strategic analysis and decision support

• Conduct research and structured analyses to support business strategy, operating-model, capability, investment, and improvement decisions
• Use pertinent data, facts, and stakeholder input to investigate standard and non-standard business questions and identify practical solutions
• Analyze industry, technology, operational, and organizational trends to identify emerging opportunities, risks, and strategic areas of interest
• Develop clear problem statements, analytical approaches, hypotheses, and decision criteria for ambiguous or evolving requests
• Synthesize quantitative and qualitative findings into concise recommendations, executive briefings, presentations, and decision-support materials

Planning and initiative execution

• Support the development of strategic plans, capability roadmaps, implementation approaches, business cases, and measures of progress
• Coordinate assigned workstreams, milestones, dependencies, and stakeholder inputs to keep initiatives organized and on schedule
• Partner with business, clinical, analytics, technology, and operational teams to translate strategic priorities into executable plans
• Assess initiative performance, investigate barriers, and recommend adjustments based on evidence and stakeholder feedback
• Maintain clear documentation of assumptions, decisions, findings, risks, and next steps

Applied research, analytics, and communication

• Apply statistical, analytical, modeling, or experimental methods to complex datasets when they strengthen strategic or operational decisions
• Explore emerging analytical and AI-enabled capabilities and help determine where they may provide practical business value
• Create repeatable analytical workflows, visualizations, and reporting materials that make complex information accessible to technical and non-technical audiences
• Explain findings, methods, limitations, and recommendations to stakeholders within and outside the immediate area of expertise
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture through knowledge sharing, peer review, and support for colleagues working across disciplines

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:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in strategic analysis, business analysis, quantitative research, data analytics, product development, consulting, program planning, or a related field
• Experience investigating complex questions using quantitative data, qualitative evidence, research, or structured problem-solving methods
• Experience translating analytical findings into actionable recommendations, presentations, or written materials for technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience organizing independent work, managing multiple priorities, and completing deliverables against deadlines

• Proficiency with analytical or programming tools such as Python, R, MATLAB, SQL, or comparable platforms

Preferred qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a quantitative, scientific, engineering, public policy, business, or related discipline
• Experience developing strategic plans, capability roadmaps, implementation plans, business cases, or performance measures
• Experience with machine learning, predictive analytics, simulation, modeling, experimental design, or high-dimensional data analysis
• Experience building repeatable data acquisition, processing, or analytical workflows
• Experience evaluating emerging technologies, AI-enabled capabilities, or new analytical methods for practical application
• Experience leading projects, coordinating cross-functional work, mentoring colleagues, or supporting team development
• Experience in healthcare, healthcare operations, clinical services, regulated environments, or another complex service-delivery setting
• Experience presenting findings to senior leaders or supporting decisions across multiple stakeholder groups
• Solid critical thinking, problem-solving, written communication, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to learn new business domains and methodologies quickly and work effectively with ambiguity, evolving requirements, and non-standard requests

*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 $72,800 to $130,000 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

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.