Associate Director Business Systems Analyst - Data Governance

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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

As an Associate Director, Business Systems Analysis - Data Governance within Clinical Solutions, you will provide strategic leadership for enterprise-wide data governance and stewardship initiatives. In this senior role, you will lead the end-to-end business requirements process, define and implement governance strategies, and design innovative solutions that strengthen data quality, compliance, and operational excellence across Clinical Solutions and the broader enterprise. 

You will partner with senior stakeholders to influence decision making, challenge existing methodologies, and drive organizational alignment on governance priorities. You will guide cross functional teams, mentor data stewards, and champion continuous improvement to ensure data is reliable, well managed, and leveraged effectively to support business and regulatory needs.

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny office and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Define, implement and drive the data governance strategy for Clinical Solutions in alignment with enterprise objectives
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of governance frameworks, policies, and standards to create a solid culture of data integrity across the domain
• Evaluate technology options and perform risk and impact analyses to support strategic decision making
• Lead assessments of critical business systems and ensure adherence to governance principles across all functions
• Oversee the definition of data ownership, stewardship roles, and cross functional governance operating models  
• Create effective metrics to evaluate and track improvements in data governance and integrity
• Drive innovative solutions that optimize the capture, management, and use of data across Clinical Solutions. Lead the full lifecycle of requirements gathering for complex, cross functional initiatives
• Own the creation and maintenance of high-quality documentation, including requirements, process flows, SOPs, and governance workflows
• Initiate and drive continuous improvement efforts to enhance system efficiency, data quality, and governance operating models
• Establish and track KPIs that measure governance maturity and compliance

Business Understanding and Stakeholder Management: 

• Provide senior-level challenges on governance practices, influencing adoption and organizational accountability
• Partner with engineering and analytics teams to ensure technology solutions support governance needs
• Translate strategic business needs into enterprise-ready data and system capabilities. 
• Influence stakeholders at all levels to adopt governance standards and manage change impacts effectively
• Engage senior business leaders to prioritize governance initiatives and drive decision making. 
• Champion organizational change by ensuring adoption of data governance processes and associated technologies

You will 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 providing development for other roles you may be interested in

Required Qualifications:

• Proven extensive experience leading data governance programs, frameworks, and operating models
• Demonstrated success in a Data Steward Lead, Governance Lead, or equivalent senior leadership role
• Proven ability to influence and partner with senior stakeholders across business and technology
• Proven solid understanding of data engineering principles & relational database concepts; advanced SQL capability
• Proven experience evaluating technology solutions and performing risk/impact analyses 
• Demonstrated expertise in data quality management, compliance processes, and audit readiness
• Demonstrated proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, SharePoint; familiarity with governance platforms and metadata tools
• Demonstrated exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
• Proven ability to lead teams, mentor SMEs, and navigate high ambiguity in a fast paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience with enterprise Data Catalogs, Metadata Management, Lineage, and Governance tools
• Demonstrated knowledge of cloud-based data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks)
• Demonstrated familiarity with Agile methodologies
• Proven solid SQL skills, Python experience
• Demonstrated understanding of GDPR, HIPAA, PHI, PII, and other relevant regulatory standards

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.  

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.


Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug-free workplace. © 2026 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.