Associate Director - Pharma Relations

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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Optum is looking for an experienced, curious and self-motivated individual with experience in account management and contract negotiations. They will take responsibility for establishing and managing solid relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies, with the primary objective to lower the overall cost of medicines for our members.
The successful candidate will report to the Senior Director of Industry Relations, Emisar. We are looking for people who can collaborate cross-functionally with various business units; finance, operations and clinical teams, and can demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple competing business projects at one time.
Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny office and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as account lead for multiple pharmaceutical companies - developing relationships with their key personnel to understand their portfolio and priorities
• Communications and negotiations of contractual terms and conditions with pharmaceutical manufacturers in compliance with UHG corporate policies, directives, business goals and objectives
• Coordinate contract redlining process with pharmaceutical manufacturers in tandem with internal stakeholders (Emisar Industry Relations leadership, legal, clinical, contracting)
• Financial modeling analytics for rebate optimization and lowest net cost strategy assessment of pharmaceutical products
• Manage regular reports and updates for the leadership team reflecting business performance and priorities
• Navigate the US healthcare market with respect to US Commercial pharmacy benefit design and operations
• Act as a strategic thought leader to solve unique and complex problems with broad impact on the business

You will 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 providing development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent
• Proven understanding of competitive landscape and familiarity with pharmaceuticals or healthcare industry
• Proven experience in contract negotiations, influencing skills, strategy development and contract redlining
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with multiple teams or departments to achieve business goals
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven ability to convey complex or technical information in a manner that others can understand, as well as ability to understand and interpret complex information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in pharmacy
• Advanced degree (MBA or PharmD)
• Proven experience in managed health care or pharmacy benefit management

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.
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: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug-free workplace. © 2026 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.