[Hiring] State Government Senior Account Executive @UnitedHealth Group

Role Description

The Senior Account Executive (Sr. AE) is a senior, autonomous individual contributor responsible for leading and expanding some of OptumInsight’s most complex and high profile State Government client accounts. This role specifically requires prior State Government experience (e.g., Medicaid, HHS, or other state health and human services agencies).

The Sr. AE is accountable for executive-level relationship ownership, long-term account strategy, growth, and retention across large-scale, multi-year, highly regulated contracts. Serving as a trusted, externally facing executive partner to state agency leadership, this role drives modernization, expansion, and enterprise solution integration across Optum’s State Government Solutions portfolio.

Operating in a highly matrixed environment, the Sr. AE functions as the enterprise integrator, aligning Optum-wide capabilities (Data & Analytics, Healthcare Access, Program Operations, and Enabling Capabilities) to deliver measurable outcomes, financial performance, and sustained client satisfaction while influencing without direct authority.

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 primary external, executive-level point of contact for assigned State Government clients, building trusted, consultative relationships with senior agency and state leadership.
• Own and execute multi-year account strategies aligned to state priorities, modernization initiatives, and contractual commitments.
• Drive profitable growth, renewals, and retention across large, long-term State Government contracts (often exceeding $100M in total value).
• Act as a strategic advisor by clearly articulating the value and outcomes of Optum solutions across healthcare access, program operations, and data & analytics.
• Lead and influence cross-functional, matrixed teams across Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, and Optum Rx to deliver against client commitments.
• Oversee account financials, including P&L accountability, forecasting, and executive-level approvals.
• Partner with legal, finance, and contracting teams to negotiate renewals, statements of work, and performance guarantees.
• Ensure delivery excellence by coordinating operational teams, addressing performance issues, and driving continuous improvement.
• Identify and advance expansion and upsell opportunities in partnership with sales and product teams.
• Represent the voice of the State Government client internally to influence product, technology, and service innovation.
• Maintain accurate and timely account documentation within CRM (Salesforce).
• Travel up to 50% to support client engagement and relationship management.

Qualifications

• 10+ 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.
• Proven success building and sustaining relationships with senior state officials and executive leadership.
• Deep experience supporting Medicaid, HHS, or other State Government health programs.
• Solid ability to lead and influence highly matrixed, cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Demonstrated track record of driving account growth, renewals, and measurable outcomes within regulated, politically complex environments, not just delivering contracted work.
• Experience managing large-scale, long-term contracts with regulatory, political, and operational complexity.
• Proven solid strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated track record of portfolio decisions.
• Demonstrated executive presence with exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working across Optum, UnitedHealthcare, or other large, State Government healthcare organizations.
• Demonstrated background with firms such as Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, Cognizant (government healthcare), or similar.
• Proven P&L ownership or financial accountability for client portfolios.
• Demonstrated background in change management and large-scale program transformation.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Incentive and recognition programs.
• Equity stock purchase.
• 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.