Planning and Communication Analyst

UnitedHealth Group•Minnetonka, MN

10h•$91,700 - $163,700•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. We are seeking a Planning and Communication Consultant to support the Employer & Individual (E&I) Technology leadership team. In this highly visible, individual contributor role, you will serve as a trusted advisor and delegate to senior leadership, owning critical executive rhythms and ensuring strategic clarity, alignment, and follow-through across the E&I Technology portfolio. Operating with high autonomy, you will translate complex, multi-stakeholder inputs into clear, actionable insights and narratives for leaders, teams, and external audiences. You will sit at the intersection of business enablement, executive communications, and technology adoption, helping to drive AI transformation and adoption of cutting-edge productivity tools. If you are a strategic communicator who thrives on operational rigor and has a passion for emerging technologies, this is an excellent opportunity to impact our business on a scale. You will enjoy the flexibility to telecommute from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED
5+ years of overall experience in strategy, communications, business operations, Chief of Staff, or similar leadership-adjacent roles
2+ years of experience supporting senior executives including writing samples with content which must be solely generated by the applicant
2+ years of experience in translating complex, multi-stakeholder inputs and technical information into executive-ready insights and narrative

Nice To Haves

Experience applying UI/UX and information design principles to presentations, communications, and stakeholder materials, with a focus on clarity, usability, and audience engagement
Experience with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Optum Technology, or Employer & Individual (E&I) business segments
Familiarity with UHC/Optum operating rhythms, enterprise communication standards, or executive governance models
Experience with communications strategy, business planning, and goal setting
Experience leveraging enterprise-approved AI tools to improve productivity, reporting, or communication effectiveness
Experience with AI or digital transformation initiatives and translating technical work into tangible business outcomes
Familiarity with portfolio/program management (PPMO) frameworks and cross-functional coordination
Exposure to Copilot, AI productivity tooling, or similar digital transformation initiatives
Background working in healthcare or highly regulated environments
Proven experience operating independently with high visibility and influencing without direct authority
Strong organizational discipline with a proven track record of managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end coordination of month-close reporting, including synthesis of inputs, preparation of executive-ready materials, leadership summaries, and facilitation of review meetings with documented actions and accountability
Lead internal and external communications strategy and planning for E&I Technology, including Town Halls, leadership forums, Monthly Operations Reporting (MOR), brown bags, other events, newsletters, Viva Engage content, and executive-level LinkedIn posts
Support business planning, goal/MBO development, and progress reporting, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and leadership expectations
Maintain visibility across key programs, initiatives, deadlines, and deliverables, surfacing risks, dependencies, and decision points for leadership
Plan and execute virtual and in-person leadership and strategic working sessions, including agendas, materials, and follow-up
Serve as a key integrator across AI transformation, business enablement, and executive communications, driving visibility, adoption, and operational rigor across strategic initiatives
Maintain and align key technology and AI tracking and reporting systems to ensure consistency, accuracy, and leadership-ready outputs
Lead AI and Copilot enablement sessions, stakeholder demos, and adoption reporting to increase awareness and business engagement
Leverage approved generative AI tools and productivity aids to streamline workflows, automate recurring tasks, and drive continuous improvement within executive communications and operations
Evaluate emerging technology and AI trends to inform solution design, strategic innovation, and operational frameworks
Aggregate major accomplishments and value realization updates, maintain inputs in enterprise portfolio tracking tools, and prepare executive-ready summaries for MOR and related leadership forums
Create and manage a forward-looking communications backlog, including future topics, presentations, and messaging priorities
Act as a portfolio/program manager across select strategic initiatives, tracking dependencies, risks, milestones, and deliverables to support leadership decision-making
Design, develop, and deploy AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with emphasis on responsible use of AI