Planning and Communication Analyst

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. We are seeking a Planning and Communication Consultant to support the Employer & Individual (E&I) Technology leadership team. In this highly visible, individual contributor role, you will serve as a trusted advisor and delegate to senior leadership, owning critical executive rhythms and ensuring strategic clarity, alignment, and follow-through across the E&I Technology portfolio. Operating with high autonomy, you will translate complex, multi-stakeholder inputs into clear, actionable insights and narratives for leaders, teams, and external audiences. You will sit at the intersection of business enablement, executive communications, and technology adoption, helping to drive AI transformation and adoption of cutting-edge productivity tools. If you are a strategic communicator who thrives on operational rigor and has a passion for emerging technologies, this is an excellent opportunity to impact our business on a scale. You will enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. Primary Responsibilities: Own end-to-end coordination of month-close reporting, including synthesis of inputs, preparation of executive-ready materials, leadership summaries, and facilitation of review meetings with documented actions and accountability Lead internal and external communications strategy and planning for E&I Technology, including Town Halls, leadership forums, Monthly Operations Reporting (MOR), brown bags, other events, newsletters, Viva Engage content, and executive-level LinkedIn posts Support business planning, goal/MBO development, and progress reporting, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and leadership expectations Maintain visibility across key programs, initiatives, deadlines, and deliverables, surfacing risks, dependencies, and decision points for leadership Plan and execute virtual and in-person leadership and strategic working sessions, including agendas, materials, and follow-up Serve as a key integrator across AI transformation, business enablement, and executive communications, driving visibility, adoption, and operational rigor across strategic initiatives Maintain and align key technology and AI tracking and reporting systems to ensure consistency, accuracy, and leadership-ready outputs Lead AI and Copilot enablement sessions, stakeholder demos, and adoption reporting to increase awareness and business engagement Leverage approved generative AI tools and productivity aids to streamline workflows, automate recurring tasks, and drive continuous improvement within executive communications and operations Evaluate emerging technology and AI trends to inform solution design, strategic innovation, and operational frameworks Aggregate major accomplishments and value realization updates, maintain inputs in enterprise portfolio tracking tools, and prepare executive-ready summaries for MOR and related leadership forums Create and manage a forward-looking communications backlog, including future topics, presentations, and messaging priorities Act as a portfolio/program manager across select strategic initiatives, tracking dependencies, risks, milestones, and deliverables to support leadership decision-making Design, develop, and deploy AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with emphasis on responsible use of AI You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in. Required Qualifications: High School Diploma/GED 5+ years of overall experience in strategy, communications, business operations, Chief of Staff, or similar leadership-adjacent roles 2+ years of experience supporting senior executives including writing samples with content which must be solely generated by the applicant 2+ years of experience in translating complex, multi-stakeholder inputs and technical information into executive-ready insights and narrative Preferred Qualifications: Experience applying UI/UX and information design principles to presentations, communications, and stakeholder materials, with a focus on clarity, usability, and audience engagement Experience with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Optum Technology, or Employer & Individual (E&I) business segments Familiarity with UHC/Optum operating rhythms, enterprise communication standards, or executive governance models Experience with communications strategy, business planning, and goal setting Experience leveraging enterprise-approved AI tools to improve productivity, reporting, or communication effectiveness Experience with AI or digital transformation initiatives and translating technical work into tangible business outcomes Familiarity with portfolio/program management (PPMO) frameworks and cross-functional coordination Exposure to Copilot, AI productivity tooling, or similar digital transformation initiatives Background working in healthcare or highly regulated environments Proven experience operating independently with high visibility and influencing without direct authority Strong organizational discipline with a proven track record of managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously *All Telecommuters 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 $91,700 - $163,700 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 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. #RPO #GREEN Apply To This Job