Associate Director, Portfolio and Growth Strategy

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. The culture is guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities.

About the role

Provides strategic planning, analysis, and execution support across Optum Whole Health Solutions, including Optum Health Solutions and Optum Behavioral Health. The primary goal is to strengthen proactive strategy development by identifying emerging opportunities, risks, portfolio gaps, and strategic priorities before they become immediate business needs. Leads complex, cross‑functional initiatives requiring additional structure, analytical rigor, stakeholder alignment, or momentum. Evaluates portfolio performance, customer needs, payer and regulatory developments, competitive activity, technology trends, and emerging market opportunities to inform business strategy and long‑range planning. Develops market assessments, business cases, and build‑buy‑partner recommendations to help determine where Whole Health Solutions should invest, grow, maintain, partner, outsource, de‑emphasize, divest, or exit.

Responsibilities

• Independently lead proactive portfolio analysis, market intelligence, and long‑range planning while supporting immediate strategy projects and cross‑functional workstreams.
• Add structure to ambiguous business questions, supplement institutional knowledge with strong market research, and convert findings into clear recommendations, trade‑offs, risks, and implementation plans.
• Work across businesses and functions to resolve barriers, accelerate progress, and support decisions through strong analysis, judgment, communication, and stakeholder influence.
• Effectively use AI to improve the speed and depth of research and analysis while applying human judgment, validating outputs, and accounting for business realities and constraints.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, portfolio gaps, external risks, and strategic questions requiring leadership attention.
• Own complex strategy workstreams from problem definition through analysis, recommendation, stakeholder alignment, and implementation planning.
• Lead or support high‑priority initiatives affecting multiple products, capabilities, functions, or businesses across Whole Health Solutions.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses of markets, customers, competitors, portfolio performance, business models, capabilities, and strategic alternatives.
• Develop business cases and recommendations related to growth, investment, partnerships, acquisitions, outsourcing, portfolio optimization, and other strategic choices.
• Evaluate payer, CMS, reimbursement, regulatory, technology, AI, customer, and competitive developments and translate them into specific business implications.
• Influence senior and enterprise stakeholders without relying on formal authority.
• Exercise independent judgment while escalating material risks, dependencies, and decisions to appropriate leaders.

Required qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in management consulting, investment banking, corporate development, strategic finance, private equity, or enterprise strategy.
• Healthcare experience.
• Experience leading complex, cross‑functional strategy work from problem definition and analysis through senior‑level recommendation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and drive work from initial framing through completion in a matrixed organization.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Preferred qualifications

• Located in Minnesota.
• Adherence to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy for remote employees.

Pay

The salary for this role ranges from $112,700 to $193,200 annually, based on factors such as local labor markets, education, work experience, and certifications.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Incentive and recognition programs.
• Equity stock purchase plan.
• 401(k) contribution.
• Additional benefits subject to eligibility requirements.

Schedule

Travel up to 10% of the time; remote work is permitted in accordance with UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.