Associate Innovation & Strategy Director - Remote

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.

The Associate Innovation & Strategy Director will play a critical leadership role on the Optum Financial Consumer Directed Spend Team, leading strategy and product build efforts for innovation products within the S3 Directed Spend payment network. This leader will identify emerging opportunities, shape product vision, and partner across product, design, engineering, and business development to take ideas from inception through functional proof of concept and into scalable market‑ready solutions.

The ideal candidate brings a solid blend of strategic thinking, technical fluency, and execution discipline, along with hands‑on experience using AI‑assisted development models such as Codex and Claude to accelerate innovation, experimentation, and delivery.

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.

• Lead the strategy, incubation, and product development for innovation offerings supporting the S3 Directed Spend payment network
• Partner across product, design, engineering, operations, and business development to move concepts from idea stage to functional proof of concept and pilot readiness
• Develop innovative approaches to solve complex business, technical, and customer experience challenges
• Anticipate customer needs and proactively develop solutions that improve value, usability, and scalability across consumer-directed spend products
• Perform complex conceptual analyses to evaluate new business opportunities, product concepts, technical feasibility, and market potential
• Serve as a key resource on complex and/or critical issues, helping teams navigate ambiguity and make sound strategic decisions
• Solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions that align customer needs, business goals, and platform capabilities
• Leverage AI-assisted models such as Codex and Claude to accelerate ideation, prototyping, requirements development, and solution exploration
• Forecast and plan resource requirements across initiatives, including talent, timelines, and cross‑functional dependencies
• Authorize deviations from standards when appropriate to enable innovation, experimentation, or accelerated learning while maintaining sound governance
• May lead functional or segment teams or projects, ensuring alignment, accountability, and execution against strategic objectives through influence

• Serve as a leader and mentor to team members and cross‑functional partners, helping elevate product thinking, execution discipline, and innovation capability
• Review the work of others and provide recommendations for improvement to strengthen quality, clarity, and execution outcomes
• Be sought out as an expert for innovation strategy, emerging product opportunities, and early‑stage product development practices
• Influence decision‑making across a highly matrixed organization through solid communication, sound judgment, and strategic insight
• Build trust and alignment with senior leaders and key partners by translating complex ideas into practical plans and measurable outcomes

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.

• 6+ experience leading product development efforts from concept through proof of concept, pilot, or…