Opportunities with Surest, a UnitedHealthcare Company (formerly Bind). We provide a new approach to health benefits designed to make it easier and more affordable for people to access health care services. Our innovative company is part tech start-up, part ground-breaking service delivery-changing the way benefits serve customers and consumers to deliver meaningful results and better outcomes (and we have just begun). We understand our members and employers alike desire a user-friendly, intuitive experience that puts people in control when it comes to the choices they make and the costs they pay for medical care. At Surest, we pride ourselves in our ability to make a difference, and with the backing of our parent company, UnitedHealthcare, we can operate in the best of both worlds-the culture and pace of an innovative start-up with big company support and stability. Come join the Surest team and discover the meaning behind Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Surest™, a UnitedHealthcare Company, is reinventing health benefits to make health care easier to understand and more affordable. We combine innovative technology with a modern service model to give members and employers a simple, intuitive experience that puts them in control of their health care choices and costs. Backed by UnitedHealthcare, Surest offers the speed and culture of a start-up with the stability and scale of a large organization. Join us as we build a smarter health benefit and help reshape the future of health care.
The Benefit Strategies team consists of individuals that develop strategic plan design/positioning recommendations and support financial forecasting for new and existing plan sponsors (and their consulting/brokerage partners).
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:
Each Benefit Strategist serves as a market-facing subject matter expert, partnering with sales and account teams to:
- Educate employers, consultants, and internal stakeholders on Surest's differentiated actuarial plan design and tech-enabled health-system navigation to drive behavior change
- Develop, analyze, and present actuarial and financial modeling to forecast Surest's impact on member behavior, medical spend, and overall plan performance
- Compare and interpret Surest plan performance relative to traditional benefit designs to inform strategic recommendations
- Design and recommend plan enhancements that support continuous improvement and optimized performance of Surest offerings
- Generate client-specific actuarial deliverables, including IBNR estimates and other compliance-related outputs
- Support, troubleshoot, and enhance actuarial tools and models used in day-to-day work
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 Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline
- 5+ years of experience in health benefit financial analysis, pricing, forecasting, or rate setting, including roles with direct accountability or oversight
- Experience serving as a strategic medical benefit lead for one or more employer groups with 5,000+ employees
- Proven experience analyzing, modeling, and trending benefit and utilization data
- Proven experience developing and implementing new benefit strategies, programs, policies, or procedures
- Solid understanding of health care risk management principles and benefit operations
- Familiarity with health plan analytics, actuarial modeling techniques, and interpretation of plan experience data
- Intermediate or higher level of proficiency with MS Excel & PowerPoint
- Demonstrated ability to identify inefficiencies and opportunities within benefit programs and drive process improvements
- Solid ability to build external client relationships while collaborating effectively with sales and account teams
Preferred Qualifications:
- Actuarial Designation of ASA or FSA
- Experience working as Benefits Consultant for large and jumbo employers
- Experience working with or for health technology companies
- Proven leadership experience managing projects, mentoring team members, and developing training or shared resources
- Proven solid presentation and communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to build relationships with HR leaders
- Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and solve complex problems efficiently
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline
- 5+ years of experience in health benefit financial analysis, pricing, forecasting, or rate setting
- Experience serving as a strategic medical benefit lead for employer groups with 5,000+ employees
- Proven experience analyzing, modeling, and trending benefit and utilization data
- Proven experience developing and implementing new benefit strategies, programs, policies, or procedures
- Solid understanding of health care risk management principles and benefit operations
- Familiarity with health plan analytics and actuarial modeling techniques
- Intermediate or higher level of proficiency with MS Excel & PowerPoint
- Demonstrated ability to identify inefficiencies and drive process improvements
- Solid ability to build external client relationships
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple plan types with employer HSA contributions, in‑network preventive care at 100%, and included 24/7 virtual visits, alongside dental and vision options. This breadth allows predictable copay choices or tax‑advantaged HSA designs to fit different usage needs.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs include a 401(k) with employer match eligibility and full vesting over time plus an Employee Stock Purchase Plan at a discount. Together these elements support long‑term savings and ownership.
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Parental & Family Support — Family supports include six weeks paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and subsidized Bright Horizons back‑up care. Emotional well‑being resources like a premium Calm subscription and a 24/7 EAP complement these supports.
Optum Insights
What We Do
Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, 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. At Optum, we support your well-being with an understanding team, extensive benefits and rewarding opportunities. By joining us, you’ll have the resources to drive system transformation while we help you take care of your future. We recognize the power of connection to drive change, improve efficiency and make a difference in health care. Join a team where your skills and ideas can make an impact and where collaboration is key to creating technology that produces healthier outcomes.
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Optum has three workplace models that balance the needs of the business and the responsibilities of each role. These models, core on‑site (5 days/week), hybrid (4 days/week) and telecommute or fully remote, vary by country, role and location.