Role overview
At UnitedHealthcare, we're simplifying the health care experience, creating healthier communities and removing barriers to quality care. The work you do here impacts the lives of millions of people for the better. Come build the health care system of tomorrow, making it more responsive, affordable and optimized. Ready to make a difference? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
The UnitedHealthcare Chief Data Scientist is a strategic leader responsible for establishing a new data science capability with the remit to transform data, advance analytics and AI into measurable enterprise value across the healthcare insurance ecosystem. This role ensures that advanced predictive analytics directly supports core business objectives, including affordability, quality of care, member experience, financial and actuarial planning and operational efficiencies. The Chief Data Scientist operates at a senior level and partners with senior UnitedHealthcare business leaders to identify high-impact transformative opportunities and deliver solutions that drive impact. The senior leader will work cross functionally with the UnitedHealth Group and Optum teams to secure efficient, scalable and sustained solution design and deployment.
You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
Hybrid in MN/DC: This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week.
*Primary Responsibilities:
UnitedHealthcare Strategy & Business Alignment**
- Collaborate with executive leaders across Financial, Actuarial, Healthcare Economics, Operations, Provider and Member Experience organizations to translate strategy into a prioritized data science roadmap with enhanced predictive capabilities
- Identify and champion opportunities where AI and predictive analytics can improve care affordability, enhance population health management, optimize medical costs insights and signaling and streamline data and insights pipeline operations
- Communicate analytical and predictive insights in clear, actionable terms to support strategic decisions and planning - not in technical terms
What we're looking for
- 15+ years of proven executive leadership experience in advanced analytics, insurance operations, actuarial science or/and applied AI
- Deep understanding of the insurance ecosystem, including medical cost drivers, regulatory frameworks, claims workflows and quality performance metrics
- Proven track record of delivering data science and AI solutions that drive measurable financial and clinical impact
- Solid expertise in predictive modeling, machine learning, data and analytical solution design
- Expect level experience linking a business problem to applied data science techniques leading the hands-on technical talent in model development
- Solid communication and partnership skills, with ability to align complex analytics to business and financial outcomes
Ability to demonstrate value-based leadership aligned to UnitedHealth Group culture and hire, grown and retain data science talent for future success
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 $225,000 to $375,000 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.
Interview process
- Clinical document processing (progress notes, medical records, appeals)
- Claims and prior authorization text extraction/automation
- Named entity recognition for diagnoses, procedures, risk factors
- Large language models (LLMs) for summarization, routing, code capture, member communication