Senior Business Data Analyst - Remote

Requisition Number: 2345614
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.
Within UHG Trend Analytics, the Data & Research function provides capabilities for Analytics that capitalizes on expertise in data, analysis, advanced methodologies, quality management, healthcare informatics, financial analysis, and custom data integration. A successful candidate will be highly motivated/curious, analytical, and detail-oriented, possess solid technical aptitude with databases, demonstrate the ability to interpret and summarize complex findings, and communicate effectively across diverse and large audiences.
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:

• Define, gather, and review data requirements for health insurer's Eligibility/Membership and Claims databases (e.g., Medical, Pharmacy claims)
• Conduct data profiling and analysis to determine how source data can fulfill business and technical requirements
• Translate business needs into clear, actionable data functional specifications
• Collaborate with data engineers to create new repeatable data ETL processes and/ or update existing repeatable data ETL processes
• Design and perform QA checks ensuring development efforts align with expectations
• Author and maintain comprehensive documentation such as functional specifications, test plans, data flow diagrams, project plans, and data dictionaries
• Research and investigate root causes of data issues and recommend effective solutions
• Work with data engineering team to manage complex, high-volume production data processes with a focus on reliability and scalability
• Develop analyses and insights to assess and communicate code changes/updates to production processes to internal and external stakeholders

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:

• 4+ years of hands-on data analysis of health insurer's Medical Eligibility/Membership and Medical Claims data
• 4+ years Business Analyst experience, gathering requirements and writing data functional specifications
• 4+ years of hands on experience with database technologies such as Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, Teradata, Snowflake
• 4+ years hands on experience writing adhoc SQL against a data warehouse that contains large volumes of data from a variety of different sources
• Intermediate+ hands on experience writing SQL statements using the following commands in a relational database (e.g., select statements with filtering, linking multiple tables, aggregating, sorting, nesting, etc.)
• Intermediate+ experience with Microsoft Excel, including experience creating pivot tables and writing functions (e.g., SUM, VLOOKUP, CONCATENATE, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience identifying, analyzing, and improving business processes through automation and advanced analytics, partnering with technology teams to reduce manual effort, improve data quality, and increase operational efficiency
• Demonstrated awareness of when to appropriately escalate issues/risks
• Proven ability to leverage automation and analytics tools (e.g., workflow automation, low-code/no-code platforms, advanced SQL, or analytics tooling) to streamline recurring reporting, data preparation, or operational processes, with measurable business impact.
• Hands-on experience using AI-enabled tools (e.g., Copilot-class tools, generative AI, or advanced analytics techniques) to enhance data analysis, insight generation, decision support, or documentation-moving beyond ad-hoc use to repeatable, scalable ways of working
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, validate, and responsibly apply AI-generated outputs, combining domain expertise and sound judgment to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to conduct data profiling and analysis and then summarize and present findings to others
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with data engineers, actuarial staff, project leads and manager for data driven deliverables
• Demonstrated ability in conducting in-depth code and data reviews to validate the accuracy and reliability of output
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting data production processes that refresh on a regular cadence
• Experience establishing database connections with query tools (e.g., Toad, Dbeaver, DBVisualizer, etc.)
• Proven advanced SQL skills
• Proven solid analytical skills to assess the impact of upstream database modifications on downstream data integrity, performance, and business processes
• Demonstrated ability to proactively develop and recommend solutions to mitigate or resolve downstream effects to ensure continuity of business deliverables
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret relational data structures to identify dependencies and relationships between database tables and fields

*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 $91,700 to $163,700 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.