Chief Data Officer

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

8d•$225,000 - $375,000•Remote

About The Position

Optum Tech is a global leader in health care innovation. Our teams develop cutting-edge solutions that help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. From advanced data analytics and AI to cybersecurity, we use innovative approaches to solve some of health care’s most complex challenges. Your contributions here have the potential to change lives. Ready to build the next breakthrough? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. The Chief Data Officer (CDO) is responsible for setting and executing UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise data strategy to improve data reliability, accessibility, and business value across the organization. This role defines how data is governed, managed, and used to enable enterprise operations, analytics, and AI at scale. The CDO will reorient the enterprise toward data readiness as a foundational requirement for AI and operational execution, ensuring data is reliable, accessible, and fit for high-value use cases. Operating within a federated model, the CDO establishes enterprise standards, shared capabilities, and decision frameworks while partnering with business and technology leaders to drive adoption and measurable outcomes. 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

15+ years of leadership experience in data, analytics, governance, and/or technology/AI
Proven experience leading enterprise data strategy and transformation in a large, complex, global, matrixed organization
Demonstrated success operating in federated models with clear governance and decision frameworks
Deep expertise in data governance, data management, and enterprise data platforms
Direct experience successfully enabling analytics and AI through enterprise data capabilities
Depth of knowledge of regulatory, privacy, and compliance requirements
Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and deliver measurable business impact
Exceptional communication, leadership, and change management skills
All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Responsibilities

Define and lead the enterprise data strategy aligned to business priorities, operational needs, and AI enablement
Establish enterprise expectations for data readiness to support advanced analytics, AI, and decisioning
Establish and enforce enterprise data standards, governance policies, and clear decision rights across a federated environment
Define the enterprise data operating model, clarifying roles, accountability, and ownership across central and business teams
Partner with CIOs, business leaders, and technology teams to align priorities and drive execution
Lead enterprise investment priorities across data platforms, governance, and core data capabilities
Establish enterprise-wide governance frameworks covering data quality, metadata, lineage, interoperability, and access
Define and enforce expectations for data stewardship, security, and compliance, with clear enterprise guardrails in a federated model
Adhere to standards for responsible AI, including transparency, accountability, model oversight, and risk management
Partner with legal, compliance, risk, and security teams to ensure adherence to regulatory and policy requirements
Define the enterprise data platform strategy to support scalable, reusable, and timely access to data across analytics, AI, and operations
Set direction for enterprise data architecture and core data management capabilities (data quality, metadata, master data, lineage, lifecycle management, and access)
Enable data-as-a-product capabilities, ensuring data is discoverable, reusable, and aligned to business use cases
Define shared data services that enable consistent data management across business units
Ensure enterprise data platforms are secure, resilient, and aligned with business and regulatory needs
Translate data strategy into measurable business impact, including improved decision-making, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes
Increase adoption of trusted data assets and reusable enterprise capabilities
Identify and prioritize high-value opportunities where data and AI can drive transformation
Set the standand and support the shift from reporting-centric data usage toward AI-enabled data insights, and Gen-Bi capabilities
Set standards and prepare data assets for agent usage as we pivot to AI-native operating models, including semantic layer, knowledge graphs, RAG, etc.
Define and track KPIs that demonstrate the impact and effectiveness of enterprise data investments
Advise executive leadership on data, AI, governance, and enterprise priorities through clear, actionable recommendations
Lead enterprise forums and discussions related to data strategy, risk, and investment decisions
Represent UnitedHealth Group in industry organizations, partnerships, and external forums
Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary enterprise data organization spanning governance, architecture, engineering, and data capabilities
Define organizational structure, talent strategy, and operating discipline aligned to enterprise priorities
Build leadership capability and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Ensure effective coordination between the central Data Office and federated business teams