Senior Associate General Counsel, Client Contracting - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

10d•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 Senior Associate General Counsel, Client Contracting is a senior‑level attorney responsible for leading the negotiation, drafting, and execution of highly complex, high‑value client contracts, primarily involving pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and related health services. This role serves as a first‑chair negotiator on the organization’s most strategically significant client agreements and acts as a trusted legal advisor to executive‑level business leaders. The position requires deep substantive expertise in commercial contracting, solid judgment in assessing legal and business risk, and the ability to manage sophisticated negotiations against seasoned consultants and opposing counsel. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to proactively identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, and reputational risk while supporting the organization’s strategic and financial objectives. 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. You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
10+ years in complex commercial PBM contracting, within healthcare, PBM, managed care, insurance etc.
Demonstrated experience leading high‑stakes negotiations as first‑chair counsel
Demonstrated exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level communication

Nice To Haves

Experience with PBM agreements, healthcare services agreements, or large‑scale enterprise client contracts
Experience advising on regulatory and compliance considerations impacting client contracts
Proven ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment

Responsibilities

Serve as lead (first‑chair) attorney on complex, high‑dollar, and highly customized client contracts, including master services agreements, PBM agreements, amendments, renewals, and terminations
Lead negotiations of contracts that may span hundreds to thousands of pages and involve significant financial exposure and enterprise‑level risk
Draft, review, and negotiate non‑standard contract terms, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives
Oversee contracts throughout the full lifecycle, including proposal support, execution, interpretation, dispute resolution, and termination
Advise senior business leaders on legal, regulatory, and contractual risk, including potential liability exposure and risk mitigation strategies
Clearly and concisely communicate complex legal issues and risk assessments to executive leadership to support informed decision‑making
Operate in a strategic and proactive manner, anticipating issues and providing practical, business‑focused legal solutions
Partner closely with sales, account management, finance, compliance, regulatory, and operations teams to support client relationships and enterprise initiatives
Collaborate with other internal legal teams across the enterprise on cross‑functional matters impacting clients and the business
Support resolution of client disputes outside of litigation when appropriate
Serve as a senior legal resource and subject‑matter expert for complex client contracting matters
Contribute to the development of best practices, templates, playbooks, and negotiation strategies for client contracting
Mentor and provide guidance to junior attorneys on complex legal and negotiation issues as appropriate