Director of Public Affairs

UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well-being company dedicated to improving the health outcomes of millions around the world. We are comprised of two distinct and complementary businesses, UnitedHealthcare and Optum, working to build a better health system for all. Here, your contributions matter as they will help transform health care for years to come. Make an impact with a diverse team that shares your passion for helping others. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Position Summary

The Director of Public Affairs will serve as a key leader supporting the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs in advancing UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise-wide public affairs strategy. This role is responsible for developing and executing integrated campaigns across federal and state landscapes, driving engagement with strategic coalitions, and coordinating third-party advocacy efforts. The Director will help ensure alignment across policy, government affairs, and communications teams to elevate the company’s voice on critical issues and strengthen relationships with policymakers and opinion leaders.

Primary Responsibilities

Campaign Development & Coalition Engagement

Design and execute public affairs campaigns that support priority policy objectives at both the state and federal levels.

Lead day-to-day engagement with public affairs coalitions, strategic allies, and third-party validators.

Partner with government affairs teams to align campaign strategies with legislative and regulatory developments.

Support development of unbranded and branded efforts to inform the public and policymakers about key health care issues.

Stakeholder Engagement & Message Amplification

Coordinate enterprise-wide strategies to engage advocacy groups, think tanks, and key influencers.

Identify and cultivate trusted third-party voices to amplify UHG’s policy and reputational messages.

Support executive thought leadership through op-eds, collateral content, and external engagements.

Cross-Functional Alignment & Strategic Execution

Collaborate closely with Government Affairs, Policy, Communications, and Strategic Alliances teams to ensure message and priority alignment.

Track progress of public affairs initiatives against KPIs and reporting metrics; optimize based on performance.

Provide strategic counsel to internal leaders on public affairs risks and opportunities.

Rapid Response & Issue Management

Assist in developing and implementing rapid response communications strategies during legislative, regulatory, or reputational events.

Monitor political, media, and advocacy environments to proactively shape narratives and mitigate risk.

Qualifications

Required:

5+ years of experience in public affairs, advocacy, policy, government relations, or political campaigns.

Demonstrated success leading public affairs campaigns or coalition efforts with measurable impact.

Strong political and strategic acumen with a deep understanding of state and federal legislative landscapes.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level messaging.

Proven ability to collaborate across functions and manage multiple complex projects in a matrixed environment.

Preferred:

Familiarity with health care policy and regulatory issues.

What We Offer

In addition to a competitive base salary, UnitedHealth Group offers:

Comprehensive benefits package

Incentive and recognition programs

Equity stock purchase plan

401(k) contribution plan

Pay is based on several factors including location, education, experience, and certifications. The salary for this role will range from $110,200 to $188,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Information

Application Deadline: This posting will remain open for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool is collected. The posting may close early due to volume of applicants.

Our Mission

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. We are committed to mitigating our environmental impact and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes.

Equal Opportunity & Drug Policy

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.