Senior Director, Innovation and Strategy - Life Sciences

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

1d•$159,300 - $273,200•Remote

About The Position

Optum Insight is improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system, using industry expertise and innovative technology to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management, quality, and revenue growth. The organization aims to improve healthcare through people-led, responsible AI. As Senior Director, Innovation and Strategy – Life Sciences within Enterprise Strategy, you will lead the design, packaging, and commercialization of AI solutions across the Life Sciences portfolio. You will translate advanced AI capabilities into market-ready offerings and partner with go-to-market, engineering, and operations teams to deliver measurable client value and business growth. The role involves advancing AI technologies for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technology partners and delivering outcomes across global health communities. The position is remote from anywhere within the U.S., with travel to client locations required. You will define the AI solutions portfolio and roadmap, equip sales and delivery teams, lead client-facing work, convert research and emerging AI capabilities into commercial offerings, develop pricing strategies, manage external partnerships, support responsible AI use, and track portfolio performance. The role offers performance recognition, direction on success, and development opportunities for other roles. The stated annual salary range is $159,300 to $273,200 based on full-time employment. Benefits include a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, an equity stock purchase plan, and a 401(k) contribution, subject to eligibility requirements. Remote employees must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, product delivery, technology transformation, analytics, or AI-enabled solution delivery.
10+ years of experience working directly with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical technology, or related life sciences organizations.
10+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary client engagements from strategy through technical implementation and value realization.
8+ years of experience as the primary day-to-day client lead for senior stakeholders, navigating delivery risks and executive decisions.
5+ years of experience with a management consulting firm or equivalent, including leading client engagements and delivering executive-level recommendations.
5+ years of experience applying AI/ML capabilities, model operations, cloud platforms, data architecture, or productization practices to business or scientific challenges.
5+ years of experience navigating data privacy, cybersecurity, regulatory validation, GxP, or responsible AI governance frameworks.
Ability to travel to client locations; the posting gives a travel estimate of “up to 25-30–40%25.”
Remote employees must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
Candidates must pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Life Sciences, Data Science, or a related field; an advanced degree is also noted.
Solid understanding of AI tooling, model operations (MLOps), cloud platforms, and productization best practices.
Deep understanding of HIPAA, data privacy regulations, and intellectual property management in digital health and AI.
Experience establishing co-innovation frameworks and joint development agreements with enterprise life sciences clients.

Responsibilities

Define and manage the AI solutions portfolio and roadmap, aligning it with client needs and enterprise business goals.
Equip sales and delivery teams with solution narratives, competitive positioning, and support for executive client relationships.
Partner with engagement leaders to lead client-facing meetings, workshops, and status updates, translating AI capabilities into measurable business value.
Use AI capabilities to address complex challenges, create commercial opportunities, and drive business growth.
Prioritize and translate research outputs and emerging AI capabilities into commercial offerings with internal and external partners.
Develop pricing strategies and commercial guardrails with operations and finance.
Build and manage relationships with external technology partners and industry collaborators; coordinate with Legal and Compliance on intellectual property, HIPAA-related data privacy and security, and commercialization quality.
Champion ethical, transparent, and accountable AI use across the product and solution lifecycle.
Set and track KPIs for portfolio growth, profitability, and customer impact.