Lead Data Governance Specialist

Requisition Number: 2354456
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.
Team Overview: Data Solutions builds trusted, reusable data products and analytics that power Network and Data offerings. We partner with the Chief Data Office to ensure governed, compliant, discoverable data foundations that scale insight and AI.
The Lead Data Governance Specialist defines and drives data governance for the Network Data Solutions domain and acts as the Data Steward for the domain. This role partners with Product and Engineering to operationalize data quality, metadata, and compliance, and serves as the domain liaison to the Chief Data Office in a hub-and-spoke model.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Governance operating model: Define standards, routines, and adoption plans aligned to enterprise governance
• Chief Data Office liaison: Represent domain needs and drive alignment in a hub-and-spoke model
• Metadata and documentation: Maintain definitions, classifications, and lineage so data is discoverable and usable
• Data quality and stewardship: Define measures, enable monitoring, and partner on remediation and prevention
• Embed governance in delivery: Create repeatable patterns integrated into product and engineering workflows
• Compliance and risk: Partner with privacy/security to implement controls and support audits/assessments along with Data Use Rights
• Enablement and reporting: Train teams, influence adoption, and report progress via clear KPIs
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regards to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in a related field
• 11+ years of overall industry experience in software development and relevant domains
• 8+ years in data governance/data management, including implementing or operating a governance program
• Experience with US healthcare data or regulated data environments - e.g., experience ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations like HIPAA, US state privacy laws, and understanding of US healthcare data standards
• Experience working with enterprise data offices and hub-and-spoke governance models
• Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake) and integrating governance into agile delivery
• Knowledge of Data Mesh concepts (data as a product, domain ownership, federated governance)
• Working knowledge of data governance fundamentals (quality, metadata/lineage, stewardship) and how to embed them in delivery
• Familiarity with modern data platforms and governance/quality tools; comfortable working with data models and queries
• Proven solid cross-functional influence and communication skills (Product, Engineering, Analytics, Privacy/Security)

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