Sr Director, Responsible AI Assurance & Validation - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

4d•Remote

About The Position

This role is part of UnitedHealth Group’s Responsible AI Program. The Senior Director, Responsible AI Assurance & Validation will provide technical and strategic leadership for a team of data scientists focused on advancing responsible, ethical, and compliant AI solutions across healthcare applications. This position combines deep expertise in data science with healthcare innovation, AI ethics, and regulatory compliance. The Senior Director, Responsible AI Assurance & Validation will set the technical direction for responsible AI testing and validation methodologies, oversee model risk evaluation practices, and ensure scalable, repeatable governance processes across AI use cases—including Generative AI and traditional machine learning systems. In this role, you will partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Information Security, Business, and AI Engineering teams to proactively identify and mitigate risk. You will lead the development of robust testing frameworks and champion best practices that shape the future of ethical AI in healthcare. This leader will manage and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering technical excellence, continuous learning, and a solid culture of accountability and innovation.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in computer science, applied mathematics, applied statistics, or related quantitative fields
Demonstrated expertise in AI ethics, fairness evaluation, and model risk management
Proven sound analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills
Experience within healthcare systems, including, for example, claims processing, call centers, clinical workflows, and healthcare operations
Experience managing high-performing, experienced data scientists, setting team vision and prioritizing work across multiple concurrent initiatives

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated familiarity with regulatory frameworks impacting AI in healthcare (e.g., HIPAA, CMS guidelines, emerging AI regulations)
Experience with conversational AI systems, prompt engineering, adversarial testing, and red teaming
Demonstrated understanding of information security principles as applied to AI systems
Experience translating complex business needs into scalable technical solutions
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive enterprise-wide adoption of best practices

Responsibilities

Define and execute the technical vision and roadmap for responsible AI testing and validation across AI/ML systems
Establish scalable evaluation frameworks for traditional ML and Generative AI systems, including LLM-based applications
Evaluate and prioritize AI risks based on business impact, regulatory exposure, patient/member safety, and reputational considerations
Distinguish between critical risks requiring remediation and manageable risks addressable through mitigation strategies and monitoring controls
Lead structured risk review discussions and provide clear recommendations
Support the design and implementation of automated testing pipelines and validation methodologies
Ensure comprehensive documentation of testing protocols, validation findings, and risk assessments
Serve as a subject matter expert on responsible AI principles and regulatory considerations
Communicate complex technical findings in practical, business-relevant terms to executive and non-technical audiences
Demonstrate executive presence and sound judgment when advising on high-visibility or sensitive AI deployments
Represent the Responsible AI team in cross-functional working groups and leadership forums.
Stay abreast of the latest developments in AI/ML research and incorporate relevant findings into work
Provide mentorship and guidance to colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement