[Hiring] Senior Associate General Counsel, Client Contracting @UnitedHealth Group

Role Description

The Senior Associate General Counsel, Client Contracting is a senior‑level attorney responsible for leading the negotiation, drafting, and execution of highly complex, high‑value client contracts, primarily involving pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and related health services. This role serves as a first‑chair negotiator on the organization’s most strategically significant client agreements and acts as a trusted legal advisor to executive‑level business leaders.

The position requires deep substantive expertise in commercial contracting, solid judgment in assessing legal and business risk, and the ability to manage sophisticated negotiations against seasoned consultants and opposing counsel. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy and is expected to proactively identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, and reputational risk while supporting the organization’s strategic and financial objectives.

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

• Contract Leadership & Negotiation
  • Serve as lead (first‑chair) attorney on complex, high‑dollar, and highly customized client contracts, including master services agreements, PBM agreements, amendments, renewals, and terminations.
  • Lead negotiations of contracts that may span hundreds to thousands of pages and involve significant financial exposure and enterprise‑level risk.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate non‑standard contract terms, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives.
  • Oversee contracts throughout the full lifecycle, including proposal support, execution, interpretation, dispute resolution, and termination.
• Strategic Legal Advisory
  • Advise senior business leaders on legal, regulatory, and contractual risk, including potential liability exposure and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Clearly and concisely communicate complex legal issues and risk assessments to executive leadership to support informed decision‑making.
  • Operate in a strategic and proactive manner, anticipating issues and providing practical, business‑focused legal solutions.
• Business Partnership & Collaboration
  • Partner closely with sales, account management, finance, compliance, regulatory, and operations teams to support client relationships and enterprise initiatives.
  • Collaborate with other internal legal teams across the enterprise on cross‑functional matters impacting clients and the business.
  • Support resolution of client disputes outside of litigation when appropriate.
• Leadership & Professional Impact
  • Serve as a senior legal resource and subject‑matter expert for complex client contracting matters.
  • Contribute to the development of best practices, templates, playbooks, and negotiation strategies for client contracting.
  • Mentor and provide guidance to junior attorneys on complex legal and negotiation issues as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 10+ years in complex commercial PBM contracting, within healthcare, PBM, managed care, insurance, etc.
• Demonstrated experience leading high‑stakes negotiations as first‑chair counsel.
• Demonstrated exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PBM agreements, healthcare services agreements, or large‑scale enterprise client contracts.
• Experience advising on regulatory and compliance considerations impacting client contracts.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.

Competencies & Success Factors

• Advanced Legal Analysis: Applies sophisticated legal judgment in complex and evolving business environments.
• Negotiation Excellence: Demonstrates solid negotiation skills against experienced opposing counsel and consultants.
• Executive Presence: Effectively communicates risk and recommendations to senior and executive leadership.
• Strategic Mindset: Aligns legal advice with enterprise goals and long‑term business strategy.
• Resilience & Judgment: Maintains composure and sound decision‑making under pressure and tight timelines.

Level & Scope

• The position has material impact on enterprise revenue, risk exposure, and client relationships.
• Decisions and recommendations frequently influence high‑profile, multi‑billion‑dollar client agreements and long‑term strategic partnerships.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Incentive and recognition programs.
• Equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).

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.