Account executive, state government - remote

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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum Insight is standing up a new State Government Market structure to strengthen long term partnerships with Medicaid and Health & Human Services (HHS) agencies across the United States. This role supports Optum’s strategy to partner with states at a more strategic level—helping them address complex healthcare, technology, and operational challenges through integrated, enterprise wide solutions.

The Account Executive (AE) is an externally focused, individual contributor responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of State Government client relationships, with a primary focus on middle tier and smaller revenue accounts. The AE serves as the primary relationship owner for assigned states and is accountable for client satisfaction, retention, and growth. This includes understanding each state’s priorities, budget environment, legislative landscape, and long term objectives, and aligning Optum’s capabilities to meet those needs.

Acting as a trusted advisor to senior state officials and agency leadership, the AE leads multi year account planning, identifies expansion opportunities, and partners across Optum Insight, UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, and Optum Rx to deliver measurable outcomes aligned to state priorities. The role requires solid state government expertise, executive presence, and the ability to influence across a highly matrixed organization.

Success in this role requires experience managing external, executive level client relationships, comfort operating in complex environments, and the ability to connect client needs with Optum’s broad portfolio of analytics, healthcare access, program operations, BPO, and technology solutions.

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

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the single point of accountability for assigned State Government clients (Medicaid / HHS)
• Build and maintain trusted, executive level relationships with state officials (CIO, HHS leadership, agency executives)
• Lead multi year account planning aligned to state priorities, budgets, and legislative direction
• Identify and drive growth opportunities across Optum’s portfolio (Analytics, Healthcare Access, Program Operations, BPO, Technology)
• Translate state needs into enterprise-wide solutions, partnering across Optum Insight, UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, and Optum Rx
• Represent the voice of the client internally, influencing without direct authority
• Support contract renewals, expansions, and performance outcomes in partnership with sales, operations, and product teams
• Spend the majority of time externally with clients, not managing day to day delivery

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:

• 7+ years of experience working directly with State Government clients or agencies (e.g., Medicaid, HHS, or other state health and human services programs)
• 5+ years of demonstrated external, client-facing experience serving as a primary account lead or trusted advisor to senior government stakeholders
• 5+ years of experience in account management, managed services, consulting, or advisory roles supporting complex State Government contracts
• Experience partnering with sales, product, technology, and operations teams
• Proven experience growing and retaining accounts, not just delivering contracted work
• Demonstrated track record of client trust, expansion, and long term partnership building
• Solid ability to lead and influence highly matrixed, cross-functional teams without direct authority
• Demonstrated ability to drive account growth, renewals, and measurable outcomes within regulated, politically complex environments, beyond simply delivering contracted work
• Demonstrated solid executive presence and ability to influence across highly matrixed organizations
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in state government consulting, government healthcare vendors, or Medicaid focused organizations
• Experience working across large, complex enterprises
• Background with firms such as Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, Cognizant (government healthcare), or similar
• Exposure to P&L ownership or account financial leadership

*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.