Description

Optum Insight is improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system. We remove friction and drive alignment between care providers and payers, and ultimately consumers. Our deep expertise in the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management, quality and revenue growth. Ready to help us deliver results that improve lives? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum Advisory is seeking a Director of Digital & Design to lead and scale our creative & experience design offering within the Payer Technology practice. This role is a unique opportunity to act as both a Creative Director and consulting leader, responsible for building a high-performing creative function while shaping client engagements and driving business growth.
This individual will play a critical role in establishing creative services as a differentiated, in-house capability, elevating the quality and impact of experience design across engagements. In parallel, the Director will operate as a seller-doer, partnering with leadership to originate new opportunities, grow client relationships, and help convert pipeline into revenue.

The ideal candidate brings a balance of strategic vision, creative leadership, and commercial acumen, with a proven ability to build teams, influence senior stakeholders, and deliver high-impact digital and service experiences in complex environments.

While this is primarily a leadership and capability-building role, there will be times where this individual is expected to step in as a consultant - contributing directly to research, design, and key deliverables during critical phases of an engagement.

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

For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Own and scale the Creative & Experience Design capability, establishing it as a core, differentiated offering within Digital & Design
• Serve as a Creative Director across engagements, elevating the quality, consistency, and storytelling of all design deliverables
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of designers, researchers, and creative specialists, strengthening in-house expertise and reducing reliance on external agencies
• Define and implement design standards, reusable assets, and scalable ways of working to improve efficiency and quality
• Act as a senior advisor to clients, shaping experience strategy across digital, product, and service ecosystems
• Lead discovery and definition efforts, translating complex business needs into clear, actionable experience strategies, journey frameworks, and roadmaps
• Provide targeted senior-level intervention during high-risk, high-visibility, or ambiguous phases of delivery, including selectively stepping in to support research, design, or synthesis work when needed
• Own and grow a portion of the Digital & Design pipeline, helping to originate, shape, and close new work
• Play a visible role in sales pursuits, proposals, and executive-level client conversations
• Build and expand client relationships to drive repeat business and long-term partnerships
• Partner with leadership to define go-to-market offerings and position Digital & Design as a strategic differentiator
• Coach and mentor team members, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive culture
• Promote the use of AI-enabled tools and modern workflows to improve speed, quality, and scalability of delivery

Qualified candidates will be expected to effectively demonstrate:

• Solid creative direction and design leadership, with the ability to elevate quality and guide teams toward high-impact outcomes
• Ability to operate as a trusted advisor, influencing senior client stakeholders and navigating complex environments
• A builder mindset, with experience creating or scaling teams, capabilities, or offerings
• Commercial acumen, including the ability to identify opportunities, shape solutions, and contribute to closing deals
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to clearly articulate ideas, strategies, and design rationale
• Ability and willingness to shift between strategic leadership and hands-on execution as needed
• Solid collaboration skills, working effectively across product, engineering, data, and business stakeholders
• Curiosity and adaptability, particularly in applying emerging tools and AI-enabled capabilities responsibly

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 experience in digital consulting, UX/design leadership, experience strategy, or product strategy
• 5+ years of experience leading and developing design or creative teams
• 5+ years of experience executing UX, design, and/or research work
• 5+ years of experience applying human-centered design, service design, or product thinking to complex problems
• 5+ years of experience in a client-facing role, including executive stakeholder engagement
• 3+ years of experience contributing to or leading business development, proposals, or client growth efforts

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in healthcare payer or other highly regulated industries
• Experience building or scaling a creative services capability within a consulting organization
• Experience developing reusable assets, playbooks, or frameworks that improve team scalability and consistency
• Experience leading or contributing to marketing engagements and/or MarTech-enabled solutions, bringing a solid understanding of how experience design connects to acquisition, engagement, and growth strategies
• Background in Creative Direction, UX/UI leadership, or design operations
• Familiarity with AI-enabled design, research, or delivery tools and their practical application
• Proven solid presence in executive-level presentations, workshops, and client engagements

*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 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.