Associate Director - Credit Strategy and Analytics - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Draper, UT

6h•Remote

About The Position

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 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. The Associate Director - Credit Strategy & Analytics is a senior individual‑contributor and team‑enabling role responsible for advancing Optum Bank’s credit policy, segmentation strategy, and portfolio analytics across Consumer and Small Business lending. This role requires deep credit expertise, solid analytical capability, and the ability to independently execute data-driven assessments that shape policy and strategy. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable diving into complex datasets, writing policy, influencing executives, and representing credit strategy in cross‑functional initiatives, regulatory interactions, and vendor discussions. 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Economics, Statistics, Business, Engineering, or related field
8+ years of experience in credit risk, credit policy, underwriting, or portfolio analytics
Hands‑on data skills: SQL required; Python/SAS/R preferred
Experience with segmentation, pricing strategy support, and risk‑based decisioning
Proven experience writing or maintaining credit policy and underwriting frameworks
Understanding of consumer and small business lending products and credit bureau data
Demonstrated ability to work across all organizational levels from analysts to executives
Demonstrated solid storytelling and presentation skills for diverse audiences
Demonstrated ability to independently lead cross‑functional projects
Ability to travel up to 10%25

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a quantitative or finance-related field
Experience interacting with federal/state regulators
Experience with third‑party originators or fintech lending models
Familiarity with healthcare lending or point‑of‑care financing
Background working with decision engines, credit models, and operational processes
Deep proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel and PowerPoint)
Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
Proven sound judgment, problem resolution, decision-making, & experience working under strict deadlines
Proven excellent conceptual, problem solving, and analytical skills
Proven great communication skills, experience in storytelling and deck creation

Responsibilities

Credit Strategy & Policy Development
Develop, maintain, and enhance credit policies across Consumer and Small Business portfolios
Translate analytical insights into underwriting rules, segmentation strategies, and credit criteria
Support pricing strategy development using risk‑return segmentation
Evaluate and refine criteria for eligibility, verification, red flags, and exception management
Portfolio Analytics & Performance Management
Build and manage dashboards, early warning indicators, and portfolio performance monitoring
Conduct deep segmentation analyses to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
Perform forecasting, scenario analysis, and P&L impact modeling
Present monthly/quarterly performance updates to senior leadership and the Credit Committee
Data Extraction & Advanced Analytical Work
Pull, clean, and analyze data using SQL and advanced analytical tools (Python, SAS, R)
Investigate emerging risks, performance deterioration, or operational/systemic gaps
Develop frameworks for ongoing monitoring, reporting automation, and root‑cause assessments
Cross‑Functional & Multi‑Level Collaboration
Work seamlessly with analysts, managers, directors, executives, and Credit Committee members, adjusting communication style to each audience
Partner with Risk, Modeling, IT/Data Engineering, Finance, Underwriting, Operations, and enterprise functions to design and execute credit strategies
Collaborate with third‑party lenders and originators to align underwriting methodologies, ensure credit consistency, and resolve variances in DTI, income, scorecard usage, and verification standards
Governance, Regulatory Support & Audit Readiness
Support regulatory exam preparation, credit policy documentation, and remediation efforts.
Provide data, analysis, and narrative explanations for regulatory requests and internal audit reviews
Maintain solid governance controls across policy, reporting, and decisioning frameworks
Preferred: direct experience interfacing with FDIC, OCC, CFPB, or state regulators
Communication, Presentation & Leadership Skills
Create clear, compelling presentations for executives, committees, and cross‑functional partners
Communicate technical findings in business language appropriate for senior decision-makers
Influence outcomes using data-driven arguments and strategic framing
Mentor junior analysts and guide analytical best practices within the team