Director of AI Transformation and Business Modernization - Remote

Optum Tech is a global leader in health care innovation. Our teams develop cutting-edge solutions that help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. From advanced data analytics and AI to cybersecurity, we use innovative approaches to solve some of health care's most complex challenges. Your contributions here have the potential to change lives. Join us in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Director of AI Transformation & Business Modernization is a strategic leader responsible for driving large-scale, AI-enabled business transformation initiatives across the enterprise. This role partners closely with executive business leaders, technology leaders, product teams, and operational stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and execute transformational opportunities that improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and deliver measurable business value.

The ideal candidate combines exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills with a strong understanding of emerging technologies, AI capabilities, operating model transformation, and enterprise delivery practices. This leader will orchestrate multiple workstreams simultaneously, influence senior stakeholders, and help shape the future state of how work is performed across critical business functions.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Enterprise AI Transformation Leadership

• Lead large-scale, cross-functional AI transformation initiatives from strategy through execution

• Partner with business and technology executives to identify opportunities to reimagine business processes, operating models, and workforce capabilities through AI and automation

• Develop transformation roadmaps that align strategic objectives, business outcomes, technology investments, and organizational change activities

• Drive adoption of AI-enabled ways of working while ensuring alignment with enterprise governance, risk, and compliance requirements

• Program and Portfolio Leadership

• Manage multiple concurrent transformation workstreams with complex interdependencies across business and technology organizations

• Establish governance models, executive reporting, milestones, success metrics, risks, decisions, and issue-resolution processes

• Ensure initiatives remain aligned to strategic priorities, budget expectations, value commitments, and implementation timelines

• Monitor and communicate progress to senior executives and steering committees

• Executive Engagement and Influence

• Build trusted relationships with C-level executives, senior business leaders, and technology leaders

• Facilitate executive workshops, strategy sessions, and decision-making forums

• Translate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes and executive-ready communications

• Influence and align diverse stakeholder groups without direct authority

• Innovation and Future-State Design

• Identify emerging technologies, AI capabilities, and industry trends that can create competitive advantage

• Lead ideation and innovation efforts that challenge traditional operating models and drive transformational outcomes

• Facilitate future-state process design, organizational redesign, and capability development activities

• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement

• Technology and Delivery Collaboration

• Partner with architects, engineers, data scientists, product teams, and delivery leaders to translate business objectives into executable solutions

• Provide direction and oversight on solution approaches, technology roadmaps, and implementation strategies

• Serve as a bridge between business and technical organizations to accelerate decision-making and execution

• Ensure technical solutions are scalable, sustainable, and aligned to enterprise architecture principles

• Change Leadership

• Lead organizational change initiatives associated with AI-driven transformation programs

• Develop executive communication strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, and adoption frameworks

• Help business leaders prepare their organizations for new processes, roles, capabilities, and operating models

• Promote accountability for value realization and sustainable adoption

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:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience leading large-scale business transformation, technology transformation, consulting, strategy, or program delivery initiatives
• Experience managing highly visible enterprise programs involving multiple stakeholders, workstreams, and executive sponsors
• Experience leading organizational change and operating model transformation initiatives
• Experience working with AI, advanced analytics, automation, digital transformation, or emerging technology initiatives
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and build consensus across business and technology organizations
• Proven exceptional executive communication, presentation, facilitation, and storytelling skills
• Proven solid program management, organizational, and prioritization capabilities
• Proven ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations and executive-level communications
• Proven solid business acumen with the ability to connect technology investments to measurable business outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, navigate competing priorities, and drive results in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Technology Management, Engineering, or related field
• Experience leading enterprise AI, digital transformation, or workforce transformation initiatives
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, governance boards, and operating committees
• Healthcare, payer, financial services, or highly regulated industry experience preferred
• Background in management consulting, transformation management, strategy, or enterprise technology leadership
• Familiarity with generative AI, agentic AI, workflow automation, data platforms, and modern software delivery practices

What Success Looks Like:

• Establishes executive alignment across business and technology leadership

• Converts strategy into measurable execution and business outcomes

• Leads multiple transformation efforts simultaneously without losing momentum or stakeholder confidence

• Identifies innovative opportunities that fundamentally improve how work gets done

• Creates strong partnerships across business, product, data, and technology organizations

• Delivers transformative AI-enabled capabilities that produce sustainable operational and financial value

• All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.

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 - $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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.