Chief Data Officer

UnitedHealth Group•Washington, DC

7d•$225,000 - $375,000•Hybrid

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 will provide the vision, strategic direction, and overall leadership of data initiatives across UnitedHealth Group (UHG). This enterprise leader will define and deliver a comprehensive data strategy that maximizes the value of UHG’s investments in data platforms, tools, and assets while ensuring robust governance and compliance. This individual will closely collaborate with senior stakeholders to empower teams to shape the data and insights strategy, roadmaps, and portfolios—co-creating solutions that enhance value through integration and actionable insights. 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.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive leadership experience in data strategy, governance, and enterprise technology
Deep expertise in global data operations and compliance, including knowledge of international data rights and data security domains (such as GDPR, HIPAA, and emerging AI regulations)
Prior experience serving as a Chief Data Officer for a Fortune 100 company, with a proven track record of delivering enterprise-scale data transformation
Experience leading a global team of 500+ professionals, fostering collaboration across diverse geographies and cultures
Background in regulated industries, with proven ability to engage with regulators and ensure compliance
Track record of influencing C-suite executives, shaping strategic decisions through data-driven insights
History of serving as a thought leader evidenced by speaking engagements, advisory roles, participation in global forums, white papers, contributions to policy development, and/or influencing data related standards
Proven ability to drive transformation and deliver measurable business impact
Demonstrated business, technical, and financial acumen
Exceptional stakeholder management and change leadership skills
All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

Responsibilities

Strategic Data Leadership
Define and evolve UHG’s global data strategy, aligning initiatives with business priorities
Craft and communicate a compelling narrative on data and AI’s transformative potential
Build aligned technology and data solutions that serve the enterprise
Be visible and in service to the organization, collaborating with CIOs to create a clear, transformative technology and data strategy
Lead and influence senior stakeholders through strong relationships, navigating complexity with agility and financial acumen
Identify strategic investment opportunities to accelerate growth and improve outcomes
Enterprise Data Mesh Enablement
Drive adoption of these 5 Data Mesh pillars:
1. Data Mesh Enablement: Federated domain ownership with interoperability through enterprise platforms
2. Centralized Data Mastering: Establish golden records for member, provider, client, and product data
3. Enterprise Standards & Certification: Enforce certification for data products to ensure quality and AI-readiness
4. Self-Service Accessibility: Enable producers and consumers with AI-assisted tools for discovery, reuse, and insights
5. Governance, Compliance & Security: Implement fine-grained access controls, tagging ontology, and compliance frameworks
Responsible AI & Data Governance at Scale
Develop frameworks for ethical AI, including bias mitigation, transparency, and accountability
Implement annotation services and synthetic data management to support AI model training while preserving privacy
Scale governance to support dynamic AI systems, ensuring explainability and compliance across global jurisdictions
Industry Influence & External Advocacy
Shape regulatory frameworks and standards through active participation in global councils and policy forums
Publish thought leadership content and lead collaborations with academia, research institutions and/or industry bodies
Data Architecture & Operations
Build scalable, healthcare-specific data asset for UHG's core businesses
Align corporate data taxonomy and ensure interoperability across platforms
Oversee global data collection, storage, and accessibility with appropriate restriction
Partner with Technology and enterprise leadership to enable secure, governed access to data assets and ensure alignment and business priorities
Data Value Creation
Drive measurable business impact through data-driven decision-making
Partner with business leaders to unlock internal and commercial opportunities using insights
Data Innovation
Lead transformation using emerging technologies for data storage and analysis
Champion modernization initiatives that accelerate enterprise data capabilities
Organizational Leadership
Lead a global team of technologists, including data engineers, data scientists, technical product managers, and software engineers
Create impactful teams that thrive under your mentorship
Optimize team composition to ensure effective & efficient delivery