Director of Communications (Eden Prairie, MN or Washington D.C.)

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.

Optum is seeking a senior communications leader to own internal communications for its global Operations organization and serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Operating Officer. This role sets the strategy for how operational priorities, transformation efforts, and leadership messages are communicated to a large, diverse, global workforce.

The director will lead a small, high-impact communications team and partner closely with executive leaders to shape messaging that drives clarity, alignment, and engagement. This is a highly visible role requiring solid judgment, executive presence, and the ability to translate complex business strategy into clear, human-centered communications.

What You'll Do:
Executive Communications & Advisory:

• Serve as a primary communications advisor to the Chief Operating Officer, providing strategic counsel on messaging, narrative development, and leadership communications
• Shape executive messaging across key moments, including operational updates, transformation initiatives, employee engagement forums, and leadership events
• Partner with senior leaders to ensure communications reinforce strategic priorities, align with enterprise messaging, and build trust across the organization
• Anticipate communications risks and opportunities in a dynamic operating environment and advise leaders on effective approaches

Communications Strategy:

• Own the communications strategy for Optum Operations, ensuring employees clearly understand business priorities, operational goals, and how their work contributes to outcomes
• Develop and execute integrated communications plans for large-scale initiatives, organizational change, and ongoing operations

Global & Audience-Centered Communications:

• Design communications approaches that resonate across geographies, cultures, and roles
• Assess audience needs and engagement data to determine the most effective channels, formats, and cadence
• Ensure communications are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with Optum's culture and values

Team Leadership & Cross-Enterprise Partnership:

• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of communications professionals, setting high standards for quality and performance
• Collaborate with channel owners and enterprise communications partners to ensure seamless execution across platforms
• Partner with UnitedHealth Group (UHG), UnitedHealthcare (UHC), and other internal teams to align messaging and ensure integration with enterprise narratives

Measurement, Quality & Storytelling:

• Establish success measures for communications efforts and use data and insights to continuously improve effectiveness
• Uphold high standards for writing, storytelling, and content quality, ensuring consistency with style guidelines and best practices
• Apply solid storytelling principles to help employees connect to leadership priorities and organizational purpose

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.

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of corporate communications experience, with a significant focus on internal communications
• Experience developing and executing multi-channel communications strategies
• Experience working with global stakeholders and diverse audiences
• Demonstrated success advising senior and executive leaders on communications strategy and messaging
• Proven ability to lead communications for complex, matrixed, or global organizations
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to distill complex topics into clear, compelling narratives

• Solid business acumen and sound judgment in fast-paced, high-visibility environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in health care, technology, or other highly regulated or complex industries
• People leadership experience, including managing and developing communications teams
• Experience using data and analytics to measure communications impact and inform strategy
• Comfort with modern communications tools, platforms, and emerging channels
• Strategic mindset with solid analytical and systems-thinking skills

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $134,600 to $230,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

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 marginalized 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.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.