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.
The Director, Data Analytics & Applied AI Solutions is a senior leadership role within Clinical Solutions Risk Adjustment & Quality, responsible for owning, building and scaling data, analytics, automation and applied AI capabilities. The role leads BI, reporting, data management and decision-support delivery while accelerating AI, machine learning and agentic solutions that improve productivity, quality, operational performance and decision-making.
A key expectation is moving opportunities beyond experimentation, identifying high-value AI/ML, automation and advanced analytics use cases, progressing proofs of concept into production, driving adoption and ensuring measurable operational, commercial, quality or productivity impact.
The Director will partner across business, operations, product, data science, engineering and technology teams to translate operational challenges into secure, scalable analytics and AI-enabled solutions, including coding agents, intelligent automation, predictive models, data mining, LLM-enabled voice/text query and advanced decision support.
This role suits a leader who combines operational understanding, product thinking and applied AI delivery experience, while building a high-performing and inclusive team culture.
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 office and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Own the Data Operations roadmap for data, analytics, automation and applied AI, prioritising opportunities that improve performance, insight, productivity, quality and decision-making
- Drive AI/ML, predictive analytics, coding agents, automation, data mining and LLM-enabled solutions from idea or proof of concept through production, adoption, scaling and measurable impact
- Lead BI, reporting, analytics, data management and decision-support capabilities across Clinical Solutions Data Operations
- Act as a credible operations technical partner to engineering, technology, product and business teams, shaping solution direction, trade-offs and production readiness
- Define key metrics, reporting standards, dashboards, data quality controls and performance insights for reliable business information
- Lead, coach and develop a team of data and analytics specialists, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation, inclusion and performance
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:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Data Analytics, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience
- Proven experience leading business intelligence, reporting, dashboarding, data quality, analytics delivery, and business performance teams
- Proven experience leading or partnering in the delivery of AI, machine learning, automation, advanced analytics, or agentic solutions from proof of concept through production, adoption, scaling, and value realization
- Demonstrated technical fluency to partner effectively with data science, engineering, product, and technology teams on solution feasibility, design, and production-ready delivery
- Proven ability to translate complex business challenges into data, analytics, and AI-enabled roadmaps that drive efficiency, quality, outcomes, or financial performance
- Demonstrated solid leadership, communication, and execution skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, manage priorities, and deliver measurable outcomes
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certification or formal training in Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Product Management, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated knowledge of the U.S. healthcare industry, Risk Adjustment, or population health management
- Proven experience delivering AI, machine learning, automation, or advanced analytics solutions within complex, regulated environments
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.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Information Systems, Business, Technology, or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience
- Proven significant experience leading data analytics, business intelligence, reporting, data operations, or related functions within complex environments
- Proven experience leading teams responsible for business intelligence delivery, dashboarding, reporting, data quality, insight generation, and business performance analytics
- Demonstrated solid understanding of data governance, metric definition, reporting controls, and importance of consistent and reliable business performance information
- Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders, business teams, data engineering teams, and technology teams to translate business needs into scalable reporting and analytics solutions
- Demonstrated solid leadership, communication, and execution skills, with ability to influence across a matrixed organization, manage competing priorities, and deliver measurable outcomes
- Must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are applying (proof required)
- Demonstrated knowledge of the U.S. healthcare services industry
- Familiarity with U.S. healthcare Risk Adjustment and population health management
- Certification or formal training in Data Analytics or a related discipline
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave (six weeks), paid caregiver leave (up to two weeks), Bright Horizons back-up care, and adoption assistance up to $10,000 are prominently included. Feedback suggests these family supports meaningfully aid work-life balance and are often highlighted as strengths.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match is available to all employees, including part-time staff, alongside other financial protections like disability and life insurance. Feedback suggests broad access and matching make retirement support a core pillar of the package.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan offers discounted company stock, with some roles also eligible for sign-on or performance bonuses. Feedback suggests the ESPP is a standout financial perk that helps employees build ownership over time.
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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Optum Offices
Hybrid Workspace
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.