Associate Director of Clinical Growth & Ideation
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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
In healthcare, evolution doesn’t just happen. It takes innovation, imagination, and a passion for solving problems in new and better ways. Innovation is taking place at a lightning‑fast pace every day at Optum.
As the fastest growing part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, we’re expanding our team in Ireland and creating excellent opportunities for those who want greater purpose and more impact in their work. We’ll provide the investment, support, and resources to advance your career. You’ll provide the talent, ambition, and drive.
Associate Director of Clinical Growth & Ideation
The Associate Director of Clinical Growth & Ideation will provide strategic oversight and direction on growth & ideation strategy, and growth portfolio management to maximize opportunity across all claim platforms. This is a leadership role based in Ireland, leading ideation and growth as part of the Payment Integrity operations team. The successful candidate is accountable for driving clinical growth and ideation pipeline end to end, partnering with key value stream stakeholders across the One Payment Integrity Organization.
A successful candidate will have experience in leading ideas and project implementation, helping the Clinical Growth & Ideation team drive incremental/sustainable growth and affordability outcomes.
The Associate Director of Clinical Growth & Ideation will be responsible for supporting and driving incremental savings (pre‑ and post‑pay) via various claim data and trend analysis, and partnerships with Analytics, Concept Research, and Operations. This role will function as a key leader in the team to drive incremental value with effective deployment of concepts across the teams, via effective payment integrity leadership and expertise.
Schedule: Full‑time position with standard working hours Monday‑Friday 9am‑5pm. Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny office and telecommuting from a home‑based office in a hybrid work model.
Primary Responsibilities
Develop Clinical pipeline to deliver upon growth & affordability outcomes that directly contribute to enterprise‑level medical cost savings goals.
Effectively drive initiatives from concept through execution, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and timely delivery of value and value tracked/realized.
Work within the client governance framework (compliance, regulatory, ethical) to ensure timely approvals and deployment to achieve planned affordability.
Cross‑functional collaboration and influence to serve as a strategic connector across Operations, Analytics, Concept Research & Development, Technology, and Clinical teams to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Collaborate with leadership/stakeholders (internal and external (client) partners).
Define and articulate data requirements, and translate complex data to support ideation and growth efforts, including acquisition of new data sources and alignment of data mapping for utility builds.
Develop multi‑year growth strategy referencing medical spend trends, AIML technology opportunities, and industry/landscape changes.
Represent the Clinical Ideation & Growth function in strategic planning sessions, executive reviews, and industry engagements.
Operational integration and value realization delivered via ideation outputs into operational workflows, with clear ownership, accountability, and performance metrics.
Detail oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) with equivalent experience in Business, Change Management, Strategy.
Knowledge of US Healthcare industry, major healthcare entities, Member/Eligibility and claims lifecycle.
Experience with Payment Integrity business, Health Technology or Healthcare Financial Service.
Proven track record in driving Change Management, identifying and driving ideation, managing large scale complex programs within a matrix environment.
Reporting skills in developing requirements, and interpretation of reporting data.
Preferred Qualifications
Extensive United Payment Integrity Experience.
Extensive experience with financial analysis and prioritization of pipeline driven demand.
High degree of proficiency in Microsoft products.
Ability to serve the team in a strategic position in the absence of the Director.
Advanced level of proficiency with clinical processes and application within UHG – must be able to demonstrate facility and professional clinical knowledge.
Soft Skills
Logical, detail‑oriented thought process with the ability to break down a complex problem into individual root causes.
Time management and prioritization skills to meet multiple deadlines; comfortable working in a high‑paced/high production area and reporting to senior leadership.
Ability to maintain understanding of numerous client protocol & governance processes.
Self‑motivated, ability to work independently and drive change.
Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.
All telecommuters will be required to adhere to the UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalised groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug‑free workplace.
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