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 Linked In 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…